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Individualism In Huck Finn

Decent Essays

As a US Citizen we conform to regulate and maintain the foundation that connects us as a whole. The whole is made up of multiple people who share the same values, and is necessary in a long term successfully running society like the USA. But in times of change, we must stand out as individuals and refrain from the collective unit in order to redirect the long-term path of society. Time and time again displayed throughout history, men and women have departed from the collective whole in order to change their surroundings. Often it’s these type of individuals, such as Steve Jobs, Martin Luther King, and Bill Gates; who revolutionize the world they live in.
In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, the main character Huck, is introduced to a black slave named Jim. As the story develops, the idea of standing out as an individual is present. In the society in which Huck lives in, there is an enormous stigma surrounding “niggers” like Jim. Huck develops a relationship with Jim and stands out as an individual by refraining from treating him like the rest of the town would. Huck’s individualism is the spark that leads to a small-scale example of community change. Refusing to treat Jim as a slave, Huck sets an example to the readers about standing out as an individual and neglecting to conform to societal norms. However, the opposite is shown in a nonfiction story by George Orwell called “Shooting An Elephant”. In this story, a police officer is met with a distress call of

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