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Huckleberry Finn Morality

Decent Essays

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Essay
Morality and consciousness are complex elements of human nature. Renowned writer Mark Twain is acknowledged for his understanding of elements such as these through his character Huckleberry Finn in the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The Widow Douglas is civilly raising young and conflicted Huckleberry Finn after his uncouth drunkard father abandoned him. Huckleberry Finn, who first appears truthful, later reveals his dishonesty and inner mischief. In order to aid his friends, Huck alters his sense of morality to allow for deceit.
Huck first appears honest with a strong sense of morality. Often, Huck would remain truthful even when faced with controversy. One such conflict involved the return of his abusive …show more content…

Lying and providing misleading information are Huck’s preferred ways of getting out of trouble. Following an unfortunate river accident in which Huck was thrown overboard by a steamboat collision, Huck finds himself in the company of the Grangerfords family. In response to an array of questions posed about his life thus far, Huck fabricates tales of his prior adventures, “I told them how pap and me and all the family was living on a little farm down at the bottom of Arkansaw... and then there warn't nobody but just me and pap left… so when he died I took what there was left… and started up the river… that was how I come to be here” (110). Fearful of being discovered as a runaway, Huckleberry Finn decides to spew lies of hardship and loneliness to be accepted by the loving family of Grangerfords. This tendency towards mendacity as opposed to truth is proof of Huckleberry Finn’s inner dishonesty when faced with conflict. Having received comfort and new friends from his previous lies, Huck continues to lie throughout the novel. Accompanied by two men who call themselves the Duke and King, Huck is an accomplice in robbing a mourning family of their deceased father’s property. Speculation has arose of this scandalous heist and Levi Bell, the lawyer in charge of the will, accusingly confronts Huck, “I reckon you ain’t used to lying, it don’t seem to come handy; what you want is practice. You do it pretty awkward” (189). Plainly …show more content…

Jim has accompanied Huckleberry Finn throughout his adventures and with the backing of a youngster’s cunningness; Jim was able to escape the most unfavorable of situations. Embarking on a journey towards freedom, Jim has found himself once more captured and forced into slavery. Faced with a moral dilemma of stealing or continuing on with his own life Huck explains his decision, “I shoved the whole thing out of my head, and said I would take up wickedness again… And for a starter I would go to work and steal Jim out of slavery again” (201). Transforming his conscious and sense of morality, Huck justifies his wickedness when attempting to save Jim. A friend’s life is valued higher to Huck than a clean soul. No prayer can allow Huckleberry Finn to cope with the loss of his friend as opposed to coping with misbehavior. In cooperation with Tom Sawyer, Huck goes to extreme lengths to save his companion, Jim. Strategic planning between the two boys leads Huck to express, “Letting on don’t cost nothing; letting on ain’t no trouble; and if it’s any object, I don’t mind letting on we was at it a hundred and fifty year. It wouldn’t strain me none after I got my hand in. So I’ll mosey along now…” (225). Disregarding the amount of time or effort he has to contribute, Huckleberry Finn is determined to save Jim at any cost. He’s even stated he will begin right away. Tricking the adults into

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