Freedom In Mark Twain's The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn

Chloe Curlee
Mrs. Payne
A.P. Language
April 9, 2018
Huckleberry Finn Freedom Essay Mark Twain, the author of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, writes about a boy named Huck living in Missouri during the time before the Civil War. Huck is a free-spirit and constantly feels imprisoned by the society and the rules that he is required to follow. Huck lives with Widow Douglass, an extremely religious woman that makes Huck follow harsh rules. The other main character in the story that Twain writes about is named Jim. Jim is an enslaved black man that becomes close friends with Huck. Though Huck and Jim come from very different walks of life, Twain allows their friendship to strengthen over their mutual desire to be free. Huck dreams of being

Pap is an alcoholic and he plans to kidnap Huck in order to get his money. Pap is a racist and is almost threatened by his son because Huck is getting an education. Huck learned to read and in return Pap said, “You're educated, too, they say—can read and write. You think you're better'n your father, now, don't you, because he can't (21)?” Pap constantly made Huck feel bad about himself. Pap was not the loving and supporting father that Huck needed. Not only all of that, but Pap is also an abusive father and because of this, Huck fakes his own death in order to get away from him. Huck wanted freedom from his father’s abuse and scrutiny; this is when he finally heads away on his journey with

Huck knows that he loves Jim and cares about their friendship, but he also knows that Jim is a slave. Huck is letting the social norms of the society take over him and he is staring to doubt whether or not he should turn Jim in to his master. The war that is going on inside of Huck is revealed when he says the thoughts “stayed with me, and scorched me more and more (94).” Huck also starts to feel bad for Miss Watson, the owner of Jim. He feels like he has stolen from her and that he should return Jim. He says to himself, “What did that poor old woman do to you that you could treat her so mean (94)?” This inner conflict consumes Huck all throughout the adventure and Huck’s decision is very hard for him to make. In fact, Twain had to put a halt on the writing of the novel in order to deeply consider the implications of Huck’s choice. Twain knew the huge consequences that Huck’s choice would have no matter which way he went. If Huck turns Jim in, the reader sees him as an evil racist, but the society would praise him for his actions. If Huck continues his search for freedom with Jim, the reader sees Huck as a hero, while the society sees him as a wrongdoer. In the end, Huck ends up realizing that his friendship with Jim is more important than the way the society views him. The freedom that they are seeking together overwhelms the consequences that he might face for his