Huckleberry Finn Individual Vs Society Analysis

Individual vs Society “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” is largely an example of humanity 's struggle between societies morals and their own individual beliefs. Throughout the book, Huck goes through a roller coaster of trying to decide whether Jim is a human being or a slave. His development is back and forth through most of the book. Huck begins his journey by humbling himself to Jim. Their relationship evolves into a friendship. Huck isn 't sure if it 's right for him to help Jim but eventually decides his own morals are right and society is wrong. Growing up in the 1830’s, the societal morals were that black people were slaves, below white people. It was unheard of for a white person to sympathize with or humble themselves to a

Despite their friendship, however, Huck still doubts helping Jim escape. Huck wants to, “write a letter to Tom Sawyer and tell him to tell Miss Watson where [Jim] was.”(page 213 Twain). Huck feels bad about helping Jim runaway. He feels like he, “Was stealing a poor old woman’s N. that hadn 't ever done [him] no harm.”(page 213 Twain). He begins thinking about Mrs. Watson and her religion, thinking he would go to hell for helping Jim get away. He tries to pray but finds he can’t, so he writes out the letter and tries again. Huck then rips up the letter and exclaims, “ Alright then, I’ll go to hell.” (page 214 Twain). This is the climax of Huck’s evolution to individual morality. Huck realizes that his friendship and loyalty to Jim is bigger than anything in or out of this world. Their friendship prevails through society’s morals. “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” is an intense and frustrating roller coaster of emotions as Huck’s development rocks back and forth from following society’s morals and his own. He begins a product of society, but through his friendship and personal relationship with Jim, Huck’s journey to individual morality is eventually accomplished. Through many trials, Huck loyalty to Jim is tested and proven genuine. In the end, Huck breaks free from society’s thoughts and finds his own moral compass through his