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Moral Dilemma In Huck Finn

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“The truth is better, and actually safer than a lie.” ( Twain, 198), but is this really always the case? The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain, examines this complex question. The novel set in the South, prior to the civil war, and follows the main characters: Huckleberry Finn, the son of the town’s drunk and Jim, a runaway slave, as they travel from Missouri to Illinois for freedom.;Huck, in hopes of escaping his abusive father, and Jim in hopes of escaping the bonds of slavery. Throughout the novel Huck struggles with the moral dilemma of valuing and wanting to be honest but, impulsively being untrustworthy. Twain includes this dilemma as part of Huck’s character because he is trying to make the point that morality isn’t always …show more content…

Often times in the novel, Huck chooses to be honest. For example, Huck finally makes up his mind to tell the truth about the fraudulence committed by the duke and the king to Mary Jane, the “supposed” niece of the two men.“These uncles of yourn ain’t no uncles at all- they’re a couple of frauds- regular deadbeats” (Twain 199). In this scene, Huck confesses out of genuine guilt for being a part of a whole elaborate plot in which Mary Jane and her family ( who have been nothing but kind and hospitable towards him) are being ruthless,conned emotionally and financially. Additionally, he feels sympathy for her as he has already experienced what it is like to have money stolen by a “dead beat”(his father). Since Huck’s intent is to help the family’s well being--in spite not benefiting himself--his actions are moral. However, other instances throughout the novel show that honesty does not always result in morality. Towards the end of the book, Huck debates over the decision on whether to turn in Jim to Miss Watson, until at one point he makes up his mind. “I got a piece of paper and a pencil, all glad and excited, and set down and wrote: Miss Watson your runaway nigger Jim is down here two miles below Pikesville and Mr. Phelps has got him and he will give him up for the reward if you send. Huck Finn.” (Twain 222) Huck wants to …show more content…

Despite Huck the fact that Huck is often shown being dishonest he is not m
Because he wants to do the right thing
Throughout The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain illustrates that morality isn’t always as black and white as it is commonly considered.uck demonstrates that truthfulness and untruthfulness can be decided. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn urges its readers to look beyond the boundaries of good and bad. This War 20th 21st century had

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In chapter thirty-one Huck is feeling pressing guilt for the harboring of Jim. Huck felt the need to write to Miss Watson about the whereabouts of Jim. He writes to her saying “Miss Watson, your runaway nigger Jim is down here two mile below Pikesville, and Mr. Phelps has got him and will give him up for the reward if you send” (213). After writing the letter, Huck feels pure and that his sin of helping Jim escape is gone, and that he can pray now. Huck thinks that this is the right thing to do and that this decision will bring him clarity.

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When one reads The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, written by Mark Twain, themes involving morality and conscience become heavily prevalent. The protagonist, Huckleberry Finn, portrays a manifest dynamic character. His actions and statements ranging from the outset of the novel through its ending show Huck’s development of a more concise sense of morality and conscience prevailing over the societal influences of “right and wrong”. In the nineteenth century American South, the inescapable system of slavery and social hierarchy would have discouraged an interracial bond. Yet Huck, while escaping his abusive father, chooses to befriend Jim, the runaway slave whom he encounters, and shares a pivotal stage in his life with his newfound companion, whereby contradicting

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Huck’s lies vary from nearly immoral to decent and kind natured throughout the story, which constructs a large portion of the spectrum that Twain has so brilliantly defined. Jim, while also being used to combat the traditional belief of the time that black people are slaves rather than human beings, is also used to create the top end of the moral spectrum. Twain’s use of the moral spectrum blurred the line between right and wrong for people of the post-war era of the 1800’s, and changed the minds of many about the morality of lying. The use of this spectrum, along with the building blocks of modern morality, rewrote the way the world thinks about ethical

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In Huckleberry Finn, lying is a self-serving act that everybody does. Despite the idea that many readers see Huck as a moral sinner, he ultimately lies for his own self-interest and protection. The reader sympathizes with Huck because he is the narrator.

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Huck, therefore, sees Jim as his friend and ignores society’s expectations to treat him less than human. After tearing up the letter he writes to Miss Watson, Huck “... studied a minute, sort of holding my breath, and then says to myself: ‘All right, then, I’ll go to hell’” (214). Huck realizes that Jim is in need of assistance so he decides to do what is morally correct, which is to help Jim escape.

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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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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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The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a classic novel that takes the reader on a series of thrilling adventures full of life threatening situations, racism, and slavery. The author Mark Twain, uses the novel to highlight the flaws in society by creating a character like Huck, whose personal sense of morals and justice are more noble than those of the very people trying to civilize him. Throughout this captivating novel Huck endures his fair share of trouble and morally challenging decision but he always comes out on top by following his heart and doing what he feels to be right.

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Through Huck’s fluctuating beliefs he shows how often humanity exhibits hypocrisy without even realizing it. When Miss Watson had taken Huck in she had wanted him to become more respectable, she wanted to make sure he knew what was right and

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Mark Twain emphasizes the theme that a person's morals are more powerful than the corrupt influence of society in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Based on how Huck Finn views the world and forms his opinions, he does not know the difference between right and wrong. In the novel, Huck escapes civilized society. He encounters a runaway slave, Jim, and together they travel hopes of freedom. But along the way, Huck and Jim come across troubles that have Huck questioning his motives.

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He included multiple types of irony, and using Huck, showcased his theme of morality over legality perfectly. Huck's innocence is a dramatic irony in a way that only the reader knows that what he does is actually right when he is told and thinks otherwise. The reader is also able to infer that personal beliefs can trump herd mentality any day, and that insight can only come through first-hand experience. Twain's impact of theme affects the reader just as heavily as it does Huckleberry Finn, crossing the barrier of fact and fiction. He is able to enlighten readers that a better world is among them, although they may need to sift through the cesspool of a poorly influenced society, just like Huck

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Although there are numerous instances where Huck’s moral growth can be seen, the individuals around such as Jim, will influence his moral growth greatly. Jim, a runaway slave, is the most influential individual when it comes to Huck’s moral development. During the beginning of the novel, Huck’s morals are primarily based on what he has learned from Miss Watson. Huck begins to become wary of such ideals that Miss Watson has imposed on him, and decided all he wanted “…was a change” (Twain 10).

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