Even though Huck does not like his father (and rightly so), his father’s viscous racial beliefs follow him when he escapes to the river with Jim. Pap is completely resentful of other people who are more successful than he is. He especially begrudges black people who are more successful than he is. His opinions work to shape Huck’s ideals of racism, much like Miss Watson and the Widow’s beliefs on religion shape Huck’s overall outlook on life and what kind of person he should be. These things run parallel to construct Huck’s deformed conscience. After living with his father for some time, he decides to leave this life behind. “But by-and-by pap got too handy with his hick’ry, and I couldn’t stand it. I was all over welts” (120). In N.S. Boone’s
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Jim finds a dead body in the house but does not allow Huck to see it. It is not revealed here, but the body Jim finds is Pap Finn’s. Jim’s refusal to show Huck the body shows a kind of parental care for Huck, and that Jim is caring, loving, gentle, intelligent human being – something that slavery does not permit to blacks. In “Huckleberry Finn and Moral Motivation,” Alan Goldman is right to say that “…it is clear that his trip on the river and away from the corrupt society he flees constitutes and in the novel symbolizes a moral transformation, and that this transformation is prompted by his developing emotional attachment to Jim” (4). This transformation will lead Huck into making the decision later in the story to set Jim …show more content…
Miss Watson and the Widow try to civilize Huck, and teach him the ways of Christianity (according to how they view it). Miss Watson is very critical of Huck and the way he acts – she has a strict set of rules for him to abide by. Although Miss Watson wants to civilize Huck and teach him what is “right,” she is also a hypocrite because she owns a slave, Jim. Huck’s long-time friend Tom Sawyer also plays a role in shaping Huck and what kind of person he becomes. Tom’s master double-dealing follows Huck on his journey with Jim, which causes a small drawback in Huck and Jim’s relationship. Huck’s father also clouds his conscience because Pap Finn is an illiterate drunk that portrays the attitude of a classic southerner who has a problem with freed slaves - this ideology also accompanies Huck throughout the story. From the very beginning of their adventure down the river, Huck and his deformed conscience transform as his relationship with Jim strengthens. After his long fight with the beliefs of the voices that have followed him, Huck overcomes the hypocrisy of society, decides to do the right thing, and set Jim free. Huck’s decision is based on what he whole-heartedly thinks is the right thing to do. Huck does not know this, but he will most certainly not be condemned for bringing Jim, a slave, out of bondage, to justice, and into
Jim finds a dead body in the house but does not allow Huck to see it. It is not revealed here, but the body Jim finds is Pap Finn’s. Jim’s refusal to show Huck the body shows a kind of parental care for Huck, and that Jim is caring, loving, gentle, intelligent human being – something that slavery does not permit to blacks. In “Huckleberry Finn and Moral Motivation,” Alan Goldman is right to say that “…it is clear that his trip on the river and away from the corrupt society he flees constitutes and in the novel symbolizes a moral transformation, and that this transformation is prompted by his developing emotional attachment to Jim” (4). This transformation will lead Huck into making the decision later in the story to set Jim …show more content…
Miss Watson and the Widow try to civilize Huck, and teach him the ways of Christianity (according to how they view it). Miss Watson is very critical of Huck and the way he acts – she has a strict set of rules for him to abide by. Although Miss Watson wants to civilize Huck and teach him what is “right,” she is also a hypocrite because she owns a slave, Jim. Huck’s long-time friend Tom Sawyer also plays a role in shaping Huck and what kind of person he becomes. Tom’s master double-dealing follows Huck on his journey with Jim, which causes a small drawback in Huck and Jim’s relationship. Huck’s father also clouds his conscience because Pap Finn is an illiterate drunk that portrays the attitude of a classic southerner who has a problem with freed slaves - this ideology also accompanies Huck throughout the story. From the very beginning of their adventure down the river, Huck and his deformed conscience transform as his relationship with Jim strengthens. After his long fight with the beliefs of the voices that have followed him, Huck overcomes the hypocrisy of society, decides to do the right thing, and set Jim free. Huck’s decision is based on what he whole-heartedly thinks is the right thing to do. Huck does not know this, but he will most certainly not be condemned for bringing Jim, a slave, out of bondage, to justice, and into