Mark Twain establishes that anyone can have their own beliefs in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and one way he does this is by using superstition as a primary motif. Huck and Jim have superstitious beliefs, but they obtain their judgements in different ways. Huck seems to use his conscience to persuade his views. However, Jim takes information from outside sources, like people, to establish his superstitious beliefs. Twain also makes mention of a few other character's beliefs near the end of the novel. At the beginning of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Twain establishes Huck's superstition and conscience by saying Huck "warn't comfortable for long, because he happened to think of something" (Twain, 13). Huck's conscience also acted upon him when "the woman looked at him pretty curious" and he "didn't feel a bit comfortable" (Twain, 57), showing how Huck's inner voice acts upon him. Jim's superstition is …show more content…
While Huck tried to secure Jim's freedom, he said his "conscience went to grinding" him and the more he thought about it "the more wicked and low-down and ornery" (Twain, 204) he felt. Huck also mentioned that "It don't make no difference whether you do right or wrong, a person's conscience ain't got no sense, and just goes for him anyway" (Twain, 222). Huck is inferring that maybe his beliefs didn't make any sense, even though he relies on his conscience to make decisions in his life. Twain also mentions superstitious beliefs that the southern people believe. Some of the local southerners thought "sperits" couldn't have set Jim free "no better and been no smarter" (Twain, 269). Twain also writes about a slave named Nat who had "his wool...tied up" to "keep witches off" (Twain, 226). Twain may be stereotypical about southerners and their beliefs, but it does seem they believe in supernatural