Huck Finn Freedom Theme

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]

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