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Why Is Huck Finn Wrong

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“Always do what is right. It will gratify half of mankind and astound the other,” as Mark Twain states on morality. Huck exemplifies this statement perfectly through his morally sound actions and defiance of the crude normalcies of this time. In Mark Twain’s novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the reader can see how Huck’s morals are put to the test through his inner conflict with society’s norms and what they consider to be the right thing to do. Huck confronts slavery, frauds, dishonesty, and social norms. As Huck develops his vital role throughout the novel, the reader can see that his character is being thoroughly challenged. Society creates a difficult atmosphere for Huck to grow up in, but he continues to defy the norms and follow …show more content…

Huck often uses a lie to protect both himself and others, especially when his safety is threatened. In order to protect himself, Huck quickly blames the sold slaves for being in the King and Duke’s room, so as not to be caught during his act of theft. (185) Huck knows this will not harm anyone, therefore being both morally sound and dishonest in the same moment. Another display of Huck protecting another person with a lie comes about when he hides the truth about Miss Sophia’s whereabouts after she runs away. Huck thinks to himself, “I judged I ought to told her father about that paper and the curious way she acted, and then maybe he would’a’ locked her up, and this awful mess wouldn’t ever happened.” (115) Huck feels as though he should have been honest and turned Miss Sophia in, but he lied in order to protect her. Although Huck exemplifies honesty, there are some moments when he falls short of this image. Huck decides to fool Jim, taking advantage of his ignorance by lying to him, saying that he never left him on the river, it was only a wild illusion. After 15 minutes, Huck realizes his lie was wrong, leading him to apologize. Huck says, “It was fifteen minutes before I could work myself up to go and humble myself to a nigger, but I done it, and I warn’t ever sorry for it …show more content…

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. (115) As Huck witnesses the killing of children by adults, it is evident that this social “norm” is not morally correct. This adds to the cruelty of the times while displaying the harsh normalcies as well. Along with violence, Huck questions religion and the reason behind praying. (10) Huck views religion as ineffective because he never seems to receive what he prays for. This norm is evident throughout the entire novel as Huck is honest toward religion and the hypocrisy he seems to find within

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Although Huck seems to morally and ethically mature throughout the two-thirds of the novel, for the most part, as he is isolated from society, his development cannot be confirmed as permanent. Huck spends most of his time exploring islands with Jim, crossing rivers on the raft, and visiting various towns with two conman. Overall, Huck does not have enough substantial interactions with society for a long time. As Huck is a teenager, his values are constantly changing and developing, and he is vulnerable to his surroundings. When Huck and Jim are in isolation at various islands, Huck is free from society’s influence.

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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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Huck is gives it his all to fight the urge and avoid the mob mentality and trusts his gut to go with his instincts, which later on proved to be for the greater good later on in the

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After lying to Jim and getting caught, Huck thinks on his actions. “It was fifteen minutes before I could work myself up to go and humble myself to a nigger; but I done it, and I warn’t ever sorry for it afterwards, neither” (86). Huck knows that his actions are wrong but struggles to apologize to Jim because he is conditioned to believe that Jim has no real value. Huck tries to break free from the influence of society and in doing so, he realizes that his actions are not morally acceptable. With no interference from society, Huck is therefore able to humble himself to Jim and treat him in a way that opposes society’s expectations.

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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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In Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, readers are shown the development of a young boy named Huckleberry Finn. Twain shows Huck develop in morality, character, and attitude as he takes steps into maturity while going down the Mississippi River. These developments are shown through his search for freedom from a corrupt and immoral society and his own personal observations of that society. Most importantly, we understand what is going on in Huck's head when he is faced with a difficult moral decision.

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In the novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, people and the society often disagree with one another. Huckleberry Finn is very indecisive throughout the book and relies on others such as the country, his family, and his surroundings to make moral decisions during his adventures. From the beginning to the end Huck Finn struggles with the existence of different forms of education, racism and slavery, and civilized life. At the beginning of the book Huck is living with two women Miss Watson and Widow Douglas.

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It would be hard to argue that Huckleberry Finn is not a mischievous novel. However, in classifying the novel that way, the temptation is to create an overly simplistic binary relationship between Huck and society. However, though Huck is in many ways an outsider, he does not resist establishing himself within various people. Huck is a loner at times, but he needs people too, and he is open to spending a little time until something happens. This realization is important in studying Huck's moral decisions since his awareness of contingencies is bound up in his sense of his surroundings.

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Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn explores the morality of Huckleberry Finn, an adventurous, young boy growing up in Missouri during the time of slavery, who rafts down the Mississippi River. Specifically, while still with the Widow Douglas, Huck is taught about spiritual gifts from God that allow a person to put others before himself and aid them whenever necessary; however, Huck sees “no advantage about it—except for the other people,” and denies the idea of helping others (11). This is highly ironic because continuously throughout the novel, Huck demonstrates that he helps people and is hence inherently good: he hides the late Peter Wilks’ money from con artists, tries to rescue the robbers on the Walter Scott steamboat, and

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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

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Theodore Roosevelt once said, “ To educate a man in mind and not morals is to educate a menace to society.” Through The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain depicts the oppression of the lower socioeconomic class and blacks in society during the post-civil war era. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is about a young uncivilized wayward boy and his desire to escape from society. Huck is not well-educated or behaved which is evident in his dialect and grammar as well as his flippant attitude toward rules and cultured society.

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The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain explores the concept of human morality through the characterization of a young child. Huckleberry Finn, as a young boy, faces difficult challenges of life and his trip through the Mississippi river is a representation and a realistic reflection of a divided nation during the time period in the country. In addition, the trip through the Mississippi river is an ultimate test of morality through the situations Huck Finn endures. The character of Huck Finn demonstrates to readers that despite the influence of society, people at the end of the day, fight internally with their conscience to make the right choice when certain situations appear to test the free will of a person, even if it means crossing

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It is through his mastery of lies and language that Huck gains the social power he did not have on his own. Huck’s sense of place in society is impressed upon him by the people of

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Mark Twain's novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a classic piece of American literature that has been the subject of much debate and analysis since its publication in 1885. The central issue in the book revolves around Huck's internal struggle between his moral compass and the societal norms of racism and slavery prevalent in the South during that time period. One of the key themes explored in the novel is the idea of freedom, both physical and mental. Throughout the story, Huck struggles with his desire to break free from his abusive father and escape to a life of independence on his terms.

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In the novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the reader gauges morality through the misadventures of Huck and Jim. Notably, Huck morally matures as his perspective on society evolves into a spectrum of right and wrong. Though he is still a child, his growth yields the previous notions of immaturity and innocence. Likewise, Mark Twain emphasizes compelling matters and issues in society, such as religion, racism, and greed. During the span of Huck’s journey, he evolves morally and ethically through his critique of societal normalities.

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