Why Is Huck Finn Wrong

“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

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

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