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Huckleberry Finn Lies Analysis

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The Cycle of Lies
In an attempt to comprehend the complex world of American politics, historian Arthur Schlesinger proposed the Cyclical Theory, which stated that the attitudes of the American public towards certain issues fluctuate over time, in a cyclic manner. These observations are mirrored in the attitudes of the characters in Mark Twain’s novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The novel is the companion to the American classic, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Continuing the story after two young boys, Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn discover hidden treasure in a cave, the novel starts off when Huck is adopted by Miss Watson and is trying to learn to be civilized. Miss Watson teaches him many skills that society has deemed to be important, …show more content…

He uses the development of Huck’s character over time to mirror the issue of racism by presenting it in a circuitous manner and thus concluding the characters’ moral journey to escape the pressures put …show more content…

Towards the end of the book, after a complex scheme put together by Tom Sawyer, Huck “[returns] to anonymity.” The ending in this regard mirrors society’s arguments about racism because even after changes happen, problems are still occurring with the same issues that were problematic even after decades have passed. In the end, Huck’s character development comes full circle as does society’s stance towards racism. He returns to his previous simple life after his short moment in the spotlight. At one point, Huck needed to apologize succeeding an argument with Jim and he stated that “It was fifteen minutes before [he] could work myself up to go and humble [himself] to a nigger; but [he did] it, and [wasn’t] ever sorry for it afterwards, neither.” In the beginning Huck is hesitant about apologizing to Jim due to his race but he slowly realizes that Jim isn’t any less of a person despite their racial differences. In the end, Huck develops a bond with Jim, slowly growing to understand why his previous approach to racism is problematic. His shift in view is evident in the ending of the novel as he goes out of his way to ensure Jim’s freedom. As simulated by Huck’s views shifting, often times issues come into light in the public eye and as the general public gains information on the issue, their viewpoints begin to shift. Jim is on what is referred to as a

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708 Words | 3 Pages

The dramatic situations Huck and Jim share create trust, which strengthens their relationship despite society's view on black people. The juxtaposition of society and Hucks morals are put to test during the scene when Jim and Huck get separated due to fog. Huck believes it is a good idea to lie to Jim and tell him that's it was all a dream. Jim becomes angry at Huck, not for lying, but for not understanding the consequences of his actions. Huck was truly remorseful, and against society, he was willing to apologize to Jim, even though he was a black man.

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876 Words | 4 Pages

In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, you see how much people lie. People lie to protect others or for selfish reasons is a recurring theme shown through Huck, the Duke and the Dauphin and Tom Sawyer. Huck lied to protect himself and Jim throughout their journey. Right from the beginning of the book, Huck was lying.

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1660 Words | 7 Pages

Society has engraved in Huck that helping a colored person is an awful sin, however Huck thinks of Jim as a friend, and would be feel terrible if he turned Jim in. Huck begins to get overwhelmed on whether to betray Jim, and must choose whether to follow the restrictions of society or to follow his own heart. Huck finally deals with his struggles, and chooses what he feels is the moral thing to do. First, to escape society’s standards, Huck runs to nature. The peacefulness of nature is what Huck wanted the entire time, he finally has freedom, comfort, and most importantly, his free will.

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743 Words | 3 Pages

This book proves that not everyone who grew up around racism was cruel, as Huck began to love Jim for who he is, despite the society he grew up in. An example of Huck maturing could come from chapter forty, "I knowed he was white inside, and I reckoned he'd say what he did say - so it was all right, now, and I told Tom I was agoing for a doctor." (Twain 301). This quote clearly shows that Huck is maturing, and seeing past the color of Jim's skin. The book shows us how hard it was to grow up in a racist society and not be racist.

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617 Words | 3 Pages

Similarly, Huck’s evolving view of Jim plays into the racist message contained in this novel. At the beginning we can see Huck disrespect Jim, when he is trying to escape Mrs. Watson’s home. Jim and Tom decide to play a trick on Jim, and they tie him to a tree and Tom puts Jim’s hat on the branch above. Huck thinks this is unnecessary because it was risky, not because they were being disrespectful to Jim. Huck does not regard Jim as a human being with emotions.

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490 Words | 2 Pages

The attachment to family and fear resulting from being thrown into situations outside of your comfort zone are things even readers today can identify with. Huck might not have had an ideal family life, but he realizes the commonalities of Jim and white people. He can also connect with being thrown into this new scary environment since they have both lived in that area all their lives until they were forced to leave due to unjust circumstances. Huck's response towards Jim’s family is also much more empathetic than it previously was. In chapter sixteen on page 92, Huck responded to the prospect of a seemingly free Jim attempting to liberate his family with an old vulgar phrase, “Give a nigger an inch

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1428 Words | 6 Pages

As Canadian journalist Craig Taylor writes, “Huck manages to do the morally right thing despite what his conscience, a conscience distorted by racism, tells him he ought to do.” (Taylor) Huck’s actions mark a step forward from his earlier immaturity and lack of respect towards Jim where he would prank him without thinking about Jim’s feelings. By prioritizing his moral conscience over the expectations of a flawed society, Huck demonstrates a newfound sense of empathy, showing growth from his previous attitudes and actions. Huck's actions symbolize his evolution into a more mature and morally principled individual, willing to stand up for what he believes is right regardless of the consequences. Despite the growth that Huck demonstrates through his actions, Huck regresses to his immature self when he encounters Tom again.

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1266 Words | 6 Pages

In this moment of reflection, Huck is therefore able to remove the stigma society places on him being friends with Jim because of their races; he is able to think for himself without the fear of society’s influence or thought on his choices. When Huck wakes up in the

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1223 Words | 5 Pages

The Things They Carried is an excellent story by Tim O'Brien. What is most interesting about this book is that it reads like a collections of stories told by the people who are involved. Sometimes the author acts as a narrator, and sometimes he is a direct character in the novel. The story is one of deep emotion and symbolism. I will discuss the three most important themes in the book.

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178 Words | 1 Pages

“The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” is a book of lies, both good and bad, told by our unreliable narrator Huck Finn. “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” is a book about a young man and a slave running away together on the Mississippi River and the resulting adventure. Huck Finn lying to everyone he meets before and during his journey is a large part of the plot, and people he meets along the journey take part in these lies. These lies were used by Mark Twain to criticize and mock the society of America in the 19th century. Because of the number of lies that are present in “Huckleberry Finn” and used as a satire to society, to fully comprehend the book is to see the deeper meaning behind Huck's lies as an expression of his unwillingness to

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1752 Words | 8 Pages

Huck defies the societal hierarchy, beginning to see Jim as an equal. He not only apologizes to a black person, but he also tries to help thieves and potential murderers, showing that he is looking beyond social categories. After saving himself from the sinking boat where a group of criminals are trapped, “ [Huck] begun to worry about the men—I reckon I hadn’t had time to before. I begun

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1270 Words | 6 Pages

Huck realizes that, in the world around him, his character often goes against the norms of society. As he witnesses acts of cruelty, such as the lynchings and shootings within the novel, (Chapter 22) Huck realizes that this goes against his morals, solely based on the fact that everyone seems extremely worried about getting revenge instead of focusing on the fact that men are being wounded and are dying. Huck is in constant conflict with these social norms at various points within the novel. The reader can see this unnecessary violence vividly through the Sheperdson vs. Grangerford feud.

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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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1767 Words | 8 Pages

As Twain illustrates, “One of these fellows was about seventy… (Twain 91). Throughout the novel, there is a repeating theme of lying happening. It becomes part of the lives of the characters and through the situations they encounter prove that lying isn’t always wrong. Throughout the entire novel of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the theme of lying is an essential form of survival for the characters.

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1380 Words | 6 Pages

Towards the beginning of the novel, Huck has similar beliefs to his father mostly due to how impressionable he is at his young age. His father was able to enforce his belief that colored people were inferior to him. By how Huck describes Jim when

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