Mark Twain introduces the character Huckleberry Finn as a wayward adolescence lacking both direction and a strong moral compass in the novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Twain continues to develop the protagonist throughout the novel with the help of the supporting character Jim until Huck is transformed into a compassionate character with a newly discovered sense of morality and independence, with the capability to make his own decisions based off what he believes to be morally just. This discovery of morality and direction is made apparent to the reader with the multiple obstacles he overcomes on his journey down the Mississippi River. Huck’s low code of ethics is brought to the reader’s attention early in the novel while he is still under the care of Widow Douglas. Huck, Tom Sawyer, and the other boys from town decide to form a gang, in order to join, however, each boy must agree to murder their family in the case of breaking a rule of the gang. Not …show more content…
With an abusive alcoholic for a father and a very close-minded woman for a parenting figure, Huck is left without proper parenting and guidance, leaving him with little to no moral code and a twisted conscious. His childhood cannot be viewed only as harmful to his development, however- on one hand, Huck’s upbringing causes him to have a strong sense of rebellion, which will eventually assist Huck in doing what he believes is right; on the other hand, however, his upbringing has left him selfish and without a strong conscious. His “close-minded” guardian, widow Douglas, relentlessly tries to conform Huck into society’s idea of a model citizen. While Huck is quick to rebel against this upbringing, it nonetheless contributes to his deformed conscious of what is “right” and “wrong.” It is not until Huck meets Jim, who proves to be the most influential figure in Huck’s life, that he truly begins his moral