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Huck Finn Freedom Theme

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A theme in Huck Finn is the idea of freedom. The central idea to this theme is Huck’s quest for freedom. Does Huck obtain freedom? In his own definition (which will be specified later), Huck does not attain freedom due to the fact that he is still restricted by people trying to civilize him and is held back by the ideas of his friends. The first point that must be discussed is Huck’s definition of what freedom is. He believes he is free when he can do what he wants without being limited by others. This can be seen on the first page where he describes life with Widow Douglas where she is trying to civilize him. He says that it was “rough living… considering how dismal regular and decent the widow was in all her ways” so he “...lit out. [He] …show more content…

They are part of society because these people try and put the traditions of society in Huck by civilizing him. Almost every person who is put in charge of Huck is in some way restrictive to him. Widow Douglas doesn’t let Huck be as wild as he wants. Aunt Sally plans on civilizing Huck just as Widow Douglas did. The only one who doesn’t restrict Huck is Jim. For the most part, Jim allows Huck to do whatever he wants, only interfering occasionally. In these instances, Huck sometimes listens to Jim, but when Huck doesn’t listen, Jim doesn’t seem to mind. Huck never considers Jim in the way of his freedom- in fact, he feels the most free when they are alone on the river together. The people here that affect Huck at the end of the novel are Jim and Aunt Sally. Jim does not restrict Huck’s freedom, but Aunt Sally is a different story. At the end of the book, Huck says that “Aunt Sally she’s going to adopt me and sivilize me and I can’t stand it. I been there before.” and that he plans to run away. This is remarkably similar to how he describes being with the Widow Douglas, who “took [him] for her son, and allowed she would sivilize [him]” and how when he left her, then feeling “free and satisfied.” Aunt Sally is restricting Huck, not allowing him to be what he thinks is

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This is a pivotal scene where Huck ultimately decides that there is no reason Jim shouldn 't be free. I think that he was far enough into the trip with Jim where their bond had grown to be that of either brothers or father and son. This allowed him to think independently with his own memories and emotions, not society 's. He also realizes that his bond with the Widow is insignificant when compared to the love and protection that Jim has provided to Huck. This renouncement appalled me because she provided Huck with a home and education when both of Huck 's parents were absent. Will Huck learn to love the Widow for her generosity after Jim is

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752 Words | 4 Pages

At the very end of the book Huck says, “Aunt Sally she’s going to adopt me and sivilize me and I can’t stand it. I been there before” (296).   Throughout the book, Huck constantly battles society and their

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602 Words | 3 Pages

Everyone in life deserves nothing less than freedom and no matter their color of skin, age, or religion everyone deserves nothing less. The novel uses experiences, people, and symbols to convey the message of freedom. To begin, Experience is the best teacher anyone can have. Twain uses experiences all throughout Huck Finn to convey his message of freedom. While Huck’s alcoholic father was away, Huck saws his way out of the cabin he was locked in and escapes to freedom.

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650 Words | 3 Pages

He wasn’t used to having a father figure in his life because his actual father was an alcoholic and was abusive. “Would always call me honey, and pet me, and do everything he could think of for me, and how good he always was,” (Document E). This shows that not only did Huck care about Jim, but Jim also cared about Huck’s well being, too. Having a father figure was very important to Huck because his actual father wasn’t really a father figure to him at all. Since someone actually cared about him and treated him with respect and care, it meant the world to him.

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382 Words | 2 Pages

(1) Huck’s idea of freedom isn 't being civilized but being out having adventures in his rags and not having a care in the world. He enjoys being in nature. It 's the place where he feels the most free. Like when he has just escaped the feud and is back on the raft with Jim and he states “You feel mighty free and easy and comfortable on a raft.” (116) Huck says he is mcomfortabke and free on a raft.

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440 Words | 2 Pages

Huck and Jim’s adventures down the Mississippi make the theme of conflict between society and individual more apparent. During their journey Huck mentions, “Nothing could be better”(Twain 115). Huck is very content with Jim and Huck’s new life on the river, at least at the start. Being a runaway slave like Jim and Huck helping him, Huck questions at many points in the book whether he should continue to help Jim or turn him in and follow society’s rules about slaves. This could possibly be Huck’s most important individual conflict throughout the book, considering he questions his choice many times.

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1042 Words | 5 Pages

That is a question often asked by many but the meaning has considerably changed over the years. Huck’s decisions can often be seen by many and many can argue depending on the perspective, whether it is truly right or not. Huck’s choices, regardless of right or wrong, do have an impact on who he is and each one changes and shapes Huck in a different way. For example, in the book it states that "Dah you goes, de ole true Huck; de on'y white genlman dat ever kep' his promise to ole Jim" (Twain, Chapter 16) - meaning that Huck, one of the only known white people to keep his promise to a black man or a slave, did ultimately what was right but not of that time period. This shows that Huck was not one to conform to society after truly living an experience with Jim.

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780 Words | 4 Pages

As stated in the text,” The widow rung a bell for supper, and you had to come to time. When you got to the table you couldn't go right to eating, but you had to wait for the widow to tuck down her head and grumble a little over the victuals, though there warn't really anything the matter with them,”(Twain 6). Since Huck was living with the widow he was compelled to uphold the rules and order that are considered correct within common society. However, huck rebelled against society's accepted rules, behavior, and ethics because he is not able to discern the necessity of following rules and order that dictate his thoughts and actions which in turn causes his behavior against the rules and structure of society to conflict to several systems to

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466 Words | 2 Pages

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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738 Words | 3 Pages

Throughout the rest of Huck 's journey he continues to meet people along the way that believe themselves to be good civilized people but they all contradict that in some way. The Grangerford 's are in a murdering feud with another family, the Phelps own slaves and are trying to get a reward for Jim, the townspeople that feather and tar the Duke and King without a trial, the execution of Boggs, even the Widow tells Huck not to smoke but takes snuff herself. Huck spends a large amount of time in the book pondering over how to be good and do the right things, and at the end of the book when he decides to go West and leave it all behind he has finally realized that he 's not the one that 's bad, society is. Huck heads back out into the world not for more adventure, but to get away from

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655 Words | 3 Pages

Freedom in Huck Finn was when Huck’s father (Pap) took Huck away in a cave and he had to stay there, while his father was out drinking. When his father came back he would be drunk and just mean, one day Huck escaped and didn’t take anything with him. He ran into the woods, he felt free from people controlling him, he could’ve went to the widow but he didn’t like it there either. Huck was a very smart boy, he knew what he wanted to do with his life he just needed to get away from the past and people who bring him down. Freedom means the world to Huck, he gets to pretty much whatever he wants without getting cussed at or corrected.

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636 Words | 3 Pages

The different kinds of freedom in the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn are being mentally free and literally or physically free. The main characters, Jim and Huck, experience these types of freedom. However, the ways in which they experience them largely differ. Jim was a slave and therefore was confined more physically rather than mentally. Jim was slightly allowed to express his ideology concerning witches, superstition, etc..

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884 Words | 4 Pages

Throughout their journey, Huck is aware that Jim has escaped but does not know whether or not to turn him into the authorities. Huck’s mentality about society matures and he realizes his need to protect Jim from dangers. As the novel progresses, Huck begins to realize the flaws in society. Huck ultimately chooses to follow his own

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1083 Words | 5 Pages

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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1655 Words | 7 Pages

International laws are, by definition “A body of rules established by custom or treaty and recognized by nations as binding in their relations with one another” (www.oxforddictionaries.com). International law is a very significant topic because it affects everyone globally. In this research report, I would like to explore the advantages and disadvantages of international laws and consider if they should be enforced in all countries. The modern system we use today was developed in the 17th century in Europe and is still used worldwide (Stratton, 2009). After the Second World War, international unity became very popular (Neff).

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