Growth In Mark Twain's The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn

In “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”, Huck ultimately demonstrates significant change and growth as a result of the events of the novel. Throughout the story, Huck is faced with a number of challenges and moral dilemmas that push him out of his comfort zone and force him to confront his beliefs and values. As he navigates these challenges, Huck undergoes a significant transformation, ultimately emerging as a more compassionate, empathetic, and courageous individual.

One of the key ways in which Huck demonstrates change and growth is in his relationship with Jim, a runaway slave. At the beginning of the novel, Huck is deeply ingrained with the racist beliefs of his society and sees Jim as nothing more than a piece of property (Twain 12). However,

At the beginning of the story, Huck is isolated and has few close friends. However, as he travels down the river with Jim, Huck forms a strong bond with the runaway slave, who becomes like a father figure to him. Through their shared experiences and adventures, Huck learns to see Jim as a person, rather than just a slave, and comes to value their friendship. As Huck says, "I warn't expecting to see him [Jim] again by a long sight, but after all I warn't sorry he come back" (Twain 94). This quote shows how Huck's feelings towards Jim have evolved from ambivalence to genuine

When Huck first meets the Grangerfords, he is struck by their wealth and refinement, and he is initially impressed by their lifestyle (Twain 35). However, as he spends more time with them, Huck comes to see the dark side of their society, and he is horrified by the ongoing feud between the Grangerfords and the Shepherdsons (Twain 50). This experience causes Huck to question the values of society and the corrupting influence of wealth, as demonstrated in the following quote: "I couldn't seem to strike no places to harden me against him, but only the other kind. I'd see him standing my watch on top of his'n, 'stead of calling me, so I could go on sleeping; and see him how glad he was when I come back out of the fog; and when I come to him again in the swamp, up there where the feud was; and such-like times; and would always call me honey, and pet me and do everything he could think of for me, and how good he always was; and at last I struck the time I saved him by telling the men we had small-pox aboard, and he was so grateful, and said I was the best friend old Jim ever had in the world, and the only one he's got now." (Twain 67) This quote shows that Huck has come to understand and appreciate the true value of friendship and loyalty, and he is able to see beyond the superficial differences between himself