Adversity Leads to Maturation “Maturity is achieved when a person postpones immediate pleasures for long-term values.” This quote from Joshua L. Liebman outlines the deeper theme in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. In the novel, the main character Huckleberry Finn, matures through adversity. Huck encounters immoral situations on the shore of the Mississippi River. The deformed conscience of the people on land force Huck to question his moral compass and overcome the stupid conformity of society. To begin, Huck’s struggles within the deformed conscience of an entire society leads to his maturation. Throughout the book, Huck struggles within himself whether or not to follow his heart or to follow society’s deformed views. In one situation, Huck begins to feel guilty about helping a runaway slave, Jim, to freedom. Huck narrates, “My conscience got to stirring me up hotter than ever, until at last I says to it, ‘let up on me- it ain’t too late yet- I’ll paddle ashore at first light and tell’” (89). This is just the beginning of Huck’s journey to maturation. This is one of the first times Huck begins to question his heart. Following society’s views, Huck believes he’s doing the wrong thing helping Jim run away, when in fact he is doing the correct action. Later on, Huck continues his battle with his moral compass, and his view of the world. Huck still …show more content…
The deformed conscience of all society effects Huck but he is able to overcome it. The immoral views society has makes Huck question his moral compass yet in the end he follows his heart in a matured way. Mark Twain writes the novel to be able to highlight unethical practices of society. Yet Huck is able to see past the twisted views and follows his long-term values proving Huck’s maturity just as Joshua L. Liebman quote claims “Maturity is achieved when a person postpones immediate pleasures for long-term