How Does Twain Present Miss Watson In Huck Finn

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Twain uses Miss Watson is a character who is used to mock societies values and norms. Watson is an ideal woman in society because she is enculturated and religious. Miss Watson is used as an example by comparing her morals to the reality of the actions she takes because of the society’s norms that were placed on her. The Bible teaches that one must always be good because of the rewards they would get when they die. Owning another human being- especially to use them as a slave or tool of work- would definitely not be classified as ‘good’ or even morally right. Despite her morals and values she owns slaves. Jim being one of the slaves she owns who was lucky enough to escape. Later in the book we hear Jim saying that Miss Watson was “telling de …show more content…

Huckleberry Finn is not enculturated and consumed by norms. Twain uses Huckleberry Finn to provide the audience with clear insight into the difference between free-will and enculturated choices. Huck shows moral development throughout the journey on the Mississippi in many ways. The first being his relationship with Jim. Huck soon realized that not all black men are bad through his time with Jim. He came to this conclusion based on Jim’s morality and humanity. Twain communicates that Miss Watson’ hypocritical lessons did not impact Huck too greatly because he mostly matured away from them. This is significant because it shows that since Huck has not been enculturated he makes his own decisions based on his free-will. Huck isn’t motivated by rewards and punishments and other things his society accepted and approved of. We see proof of this when Huck says “All right then I’ll go to hell” (214). By saying Twain causes the audience to realize that Huck’s action aren’t based on the values of the culture at the time. Instead his decisions are made freely and on his own sense of right and