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Huckleberry Finn's Dilemmas

Decent Essays

Though it is at times referred to as a classic, youth novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn can also be described as a story about an unlikely friendship taking place within a historically race-based background. Huckleberry Finn, often referred to as “Huck”, finds himself in many difficult situations while with his friend Jim, thus causing him to have to make equally tough decisions. Because Jim just so happens to be a runaway slave, Huck is not only faced with external, but internal, conflicts throughout the book. While Jim may be running from the law, Huck is also running from a variety of things. His father, Miss Watson, and his unique situation may all be contributing factors that prompt Huck’s decision to venture off on his own. While on this adventure, Huck comes upon a …show more content…

Having been born in a predominantly southern value based environment, Huck Finn grows up accepting the idea of slavery being a vital and ordinary establishment. It was how the southern culture worked and it took a whole war to change that mindset. Huck was torn between the cultural influences that he was raised on and his inner personal morals. Even with the southern culture he found his conscience telling him otherwise. Miss Watson and the Widow try to give Huck a proper education, and teach him manners of a civilized person. When all of the drama and influence drive Huck to confusion he decides running away before his father beats him to death is how to conquer the situation. These events cause Huck to only trust his personal judgement which affects the decisions he makes throughout the rest of the book. Somehow Huck looks past the threats of aiding a runaway slave and decides to help and even become friends with him. Helping Jim is a much larger deal than the author, Mark Twain, makes it out to be. It was not only against the law but also against southerners morals to help a

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