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Examples Of Hypocrisy In Huckleberry Finn

Decent Essays

During the era in which Mark Twain wrote The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, society was seemingly divided into two separate belief systems. These systems included the racial and religious systems. The religious system promoted equality and fellowship among people while the other encouraged the complete opposite. Due to these two varying systems, many people were divided into two separate groups: the “civilized” and the “other.” These two discriminatory and hypocritical belief systems were something that Mark Twain highly opposed and this was evident in his most popular tale. The main theme in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is the social hypocrisy between society and religion. It is through Huck’s experiences with Jim and his own upbringing …show more content…

Many southerners during this time labeled themselves as devout and righteous Christians despite their views and treatment towards people of other races. Many of these Christians are brainwashed into thinking that slavery is moral and acceptable. The Watson’s are the biggest examples of this backward way of thinking. In chapter 1, Widow Douglas criticizes Huck for his habit of smoking and calls it “a mean practice.” However, he later notices that she has double standards and uses snuff instead. Huck states that it is only acceptable “because she done it herself (6).” This observation already begins to show the hypocrisy within the religious teachings and what it deemed as right and wrong. Her hypocritical nature is also exposed when she urges Huck to “help other people” and “do what he can for others” in the name of God. If these words were true however, Widow Douglas would be opposed to owning and mistreating other people. Somehow, helping those in need only applies to certain people in society. It’s more surprising when her sister Miss Watson states “fetch the niggers in for an evening prayer (7).” It is shown how dedicated and devout she is to her religion that she still prays but is it also hypocritical how she manages to include her slaves in the customs. The relationship between a slave and his owner was often seen as humane and

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