Diego Beltran Mr. Yim English 2, Period 6 5 March 2023 Deciding Between Two Wrongs It can be challenging to make the right choice for oneself in a society where doing so could lose you respect, status, and dignity, or even leave you in jail. In Chapter 31 of Mark Twain's "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," Huck faces the internal struggle of having to choose whether to do what he deems morally right and what he’s been told is right his whole life. In Edwards’ sermon, he says those who have not lived by the church's teachings will face consequences. Huck decides to not turn Jim in, a decision viewed as impermissible in the church’s eye. The church teaches against the help of slaves and leans toward the confederacy. This is problematic because …show more content…
His decision is ultimately decided by the bond he and Jim have. Huck initially decides to write a note telling Miss Watson where Jim is. Huck says, “Why, it was astonishing, the way I felt as light as a feather right straight off, and my troubles all gone. So I got a piece of paper and a pencil, all glad and excited…”(Twain, 216). Huck feels alleviated after knowing that turning Jim in would not garner any further punishments. Huck believes that by writing the note he washes his hands of all his “wrongdoings.” He thinks that God will no longer punish him for his actions. Huck even decides to pray to God, and repent for his “sins.” After writing this note Huck remembers all the good times he had with Jim. He says, “...said I was the best friend old Jim ever had in the world, and the only one he’s got now; and then I happened to look around and see that paper”(Twain, 217). By looking back at these small moments with Jim Huck realized how much he cared for Jim and how much Jim cared for him. Huck felt a deeper connection with Jim and no longer viewed him as just a runaway slave he was helping. Jim was there when he had nobody else to support him. Jim was loyal and kind, and never hurt or betrayed Huck. This leads to Huck regretting writing that note and he decided to not go through with it. He says, “I studied a minute, sort of holding my breath, and then says to myself: ‘All right, then, I’ll go to hell’—and tore it up” A couple of lines back Huck was praying and ready to atone for his “sins,” but now he changes his views completely. After everything he's been through with Jim, he decided to rip the note and save him instead. He even says he would “go to hell” because of it. This shows that loyalty goes both ways, and Huck does not want to break his promise of helping Jim become a free man. Huck decided to do the complete opposite of what Edwards said a sinner should do.