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Why Is Huck Finn Selfish

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In the beginning of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Huck is living with Miss Watson in civilization, where he is forced to go to school, use manners, wear starched clothing, and is pressed upon by religion. His father, Pap, then comes to town and kidnaps Huck, and takes him away to live in a cabin in the woods after learning that he cannot claim Huck’s six thousand dollars. In the cabin in the woods, Huck enjoys being away from society, but despises how his father treats him, and his solidarity. Huck then decides that religion is pointless, and he won’t try for eternal salvation when he says,“She [Miss Watson] was going to live so as to go to the good place. Well, I couldn’t see no advantage in going where she was going, so I made up my mind I wouldn’t try for it. …show more content…

Huckleberry Finn is an opportunist, and does not do anything that will not aid him in some way, shape, or form. He also rejects society by rejecting religion, which is a fundamental part of the society to which he belongs. Huck further rejects society when he says, “It was pretty good times up in the woods there, take it all around. But by and by pap got too handy with his hick’ry, and I couldn’t stand it.”(24). Through this quote, Huck shows his love of nature and the freedom it entails. As Huck becomes less dependent on, and drifts away from society, his opinions and beliefs begin to align with his core beliefs and

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