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How Does Twain Use Superstition In Huck Finn

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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

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Huckleberry Finn was quite the mischievous kid. In fact, in our culture today, he would be found atrocious. Huck may act in misconduct, but he didn 't have much guidance growing up. His family certainly didn 't provide leadership. Huck, being in such a situation, doesn 't seem to have faith.

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When one reads The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, written by Mark Twain, themes involving morality and conscience become heavily prevalent. The protagonist, Huckleberry Finn, portrays a manifest dynamic character. His actions and statements ranging from the outset of the novel through its ending show Huck’s development of a more concise sense of morality and conscience prevailing over the societal influences of “right and wrong”. In the nineteenth century American South, the inescapable system of slavery and social hierarchy would have discouraged an interracial bond. Yet Huck, while escaping his abusive father, chooses to befriend Jim, the runaway slave whom he encounters, and shares a pivotal stage in his life with his newfound companion, whereby contradicting

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Jim- I do wish I'd never laid eyes on it" (page 96). Huck wasn’t ever really apart of anything that was based on beliefs, except for his own beliefs. After living and spending time with someone who believes in superstition, Huck starts to believe in it too by following his friend’s example, and living

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Samuel L. Clemens, widely known as Mark Twain, is popular for his work if satrzing common aspects of life such as romantic novels, feuds, and the widely controversial topic, religion. Mark Twain criticizes arranged religion and certain aspects of it quite frequently. He is against traditional rites and often attacks conventional customs where followers of religion often practice. He shows us disinterest in religion and how senseless it can be sometimes His point of view can be displayed in the character Huck Finn from The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, , in a compilation of essays written by Twain tilted “The Bible According to Mark Twain” and how Twain narrates events in his novels in a way where he associates religion with negative connotationsand allusion .

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Everybody has someone in his or her life who teaches him or her how to be a better person. Throughout the novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain uses Jim, a slave, as a source of symbolism for Huck’s maturity. First, Jim teaches Huck about what it truly means to be civilized. Next, Jim shows Huck about the value of family. Lastly, Jim teaches Huck about racial inequality and how to accept people.

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In this selected passage Huck decides he is not going to send the letter he wrote to Miss Watson with the intention of turning Jim in. Huck initially writes the letter because he is thinking about God and his state of sin, as he believes he is committing a sin by stealing another person’s property. He never sends the letter because he realized how much he trusts Jim and doesn’t see him as his property, but rather as a best friend. Previously he has stayed with Jim because it was easy, but this scene marks the time when he is able to stay by Jim’s side even when he believes it will come at a great personal cost.

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Huck has been burned with the idea that he is to blame for Jim’s escape. Huck ultimately feels guilty because he knows he has not done wrong but he has no reason not to believe what society thinks because he was only taught one way. Huck imagines an alternate scenario, thinking “s’pose [he]’d’ a’ done right and give Jim up, would [he] felt better... No…[he'd] feel bad” (91). Huck is aware that the right decision based on society is to give up Jim.

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Specifically, through the controversy of slavery at the time, Huck learns how to listen to his intuition and conscience. His slight hesitation escaping with Jim makes him question the authenticity of his morality. He says, “I begun to get it through my head that he was most free--and who was to blame for it? Why, me … But you knowed he was running for his freedom, and you could ‘a’ paddled ashore and told somebody”

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