Religion In Huckleberry Finn Essay

Religion is one of the most constant targets of Twain's satirical pen. In Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain portrays contemporary religion as shallow and hypocritical. He criticizes the hypocrisy of conventional religion by comparing it with the true religion of Huck.

Morality has always been defined as having either a good or evil conscious. There is always a choice that a character makes that defines their moral integrity in a literary work and distinguishes them as the hero. In Mark Twain’s story, “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”, not only does Huck encounters a number of moral circumstances where he or other characters displays situations in which moral ethics is called to questioned, but it proves that despite the religious influence and social expectation, it is through Huck that in order to do what is morally right, one must challenge the moral teaching of the world. Through observation of his world, Huck makes morally ambiguous choices that though may be against his moral teachings. Choice

In the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain mocked the social institution of organized religion. He also mocked slavery, which in that era, was supported by organized religion. Twain protested slavery and organized religion by using his writings to make fun of them as well. In doing so, he invited readers to laugh at society’s crimes. Maybe he hoped that his satirical exposure of what he believed to be wrong with America would incite readers to a change in societal behaviors and expectations.

In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain provided social commentary on southern society and beliefs. Twain addressed a number of significant issues throughout the novel, including religion and slavery. There are a number of instances where Huck, the 14 year-old protagonist, pushes back against the idea of organized religion. Similarly, Huck encounters a personal and moral dilemma when it comes to the practice of slavery. This idea of rebellion against society is a major concept explored in the book. Small instances of Huck’s rebellion culminate with him eventually freeing a runaway slave. The main examples include Huck’s refusal to learn the Bible, Huck’s decision against not to turn Jim in, and Tom and Huck’s choice to set Jim free at the end of the story. Huck’s refusal to conform to and demonstrate the social norms of the South illustrate the theme of rebellion against society.

The people in this church are easily able to give money to pirates, who are known for being crooks and liars, inviting them to stay in their homes as an honor. Thus, Twain shows his disdain for religious beliefs by satirizing their blind faith and gullibility.

Mark Twain once described his novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, as “a struggle between a sound mind and a deformed conscience”. Throughout the novel, Huck wrestles with the disparity between his own developing morality and the twisted conscience of his society. In doing so, he becomes further distanced from society, both physically and mentally, eventually abandoning it in order to journey to the western frontier. By presenting the disgust of Huck, an outsider, at the state of society, Mark Twain is effectively able to critique the intolerance and hypocrisy of the Southern South. In doing so, Twain asserts that in order to exist as a truly moral being, one must escape from the chains of a diseased society.

Now huck just sees religion as an opinion of sorts and he proves that by saying “Then she told me all about the bad place, and I said I wished I was there. She got mad, then, but I didn’t mean no harm. All I wanted was to go somewheres;”(mark twain ch 1 pg 2). Today religion is as I said a touchy subject because there are many opinions about it. Like there is no god or spirituality, the universe there are different takes on it which means that it’s different than what was believed back in the 1840s.

Huck emphasizes that he wants a “change” from society’s stereotypical beliefs, such as those in religion. According to Huck, hell is more favorable than heaven if he is not bound by the rules of society. Although Huck pursues individuality over conformity, he does not confront society’s stereotypes. At this point, Huck has a vision to pursue freedom, but not to yet challenge society as he “first hated school, but by and-by could stand it” (Twain 11). As Twain emphasizes Huck’s position as the “ego,” he highlights Huck’s indecisiveness towards the concept of morality, but also molds Huck into a rebel against society’s

A major theme of the novel is the hypocrisy and double standards that are evident in the society surrounding Huck. This trait is found especially within Christian and religious types in the novel. Twain shows almost every good Christian in the novel as having a generous and kind side, which completely contradicts much of their actions. Twain believes that this hypocrisy is the underlining element that makes religion skeptical. As it is seen in the book, almost every good Christian contradicts himself or herself in some way. Perhaps Huck's first example of this was when the Widow Douglas did not allow him to smoke, as it was a mean practice. However, “she took snuff too; of course that was all right, because she done it herself” (Twain 2). Another example was the Grangerfords. Huck described this family as very nice and kind and even considered Buck a good friend. But once again, the hypocrisy of religious types was bound to come into play. These same people are slave owners and have a feud with a similar family, the Shepherdsons for reasons they don't remember. Perhaps the biggest example of this hypocrisy was when Huck went to church with the Grangerfords and the Shepherdsons. As Huck explains, “the men took their guns along, so did Buck, and kept them between their knees.... it was pretty ornery preaching all about brotherly love” (Twain 83). It is obvious that the two families had their guns in their laps while the preacher talked about

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, is a satirical piece of writing meant to criticize the justification of slavery using the Holy Bible. In the book the main character Huck, embarks on a significant journey along the Mississippi River in an attempt to free a slave named Jim. His journey strongly resembles that of Moses, who in the Holy Bible is a freer of slaves. Huckleberry Finn is a twelve year old boy who notices an unsettling truth about the world he is living in. In a desperate need to save himself from the tainted South and the abuse of his drunken father he decides to leave the only home he knows. Huck lives in a world that endorses racism and use religion to justify it, a world that is hypocritical and continuously lets

Not only does Twin satirize slavery and human nature, he also satirizes religion. Religion was a big aspect of life back then and most of the kids including Huck were taught about all the stories even though they never really grasped the full meaning behind them. When Huck was explaining the story of King Solomon to Jim, he was trying to clarify to Jim that King Solomon did not actually want to split the child into two, but did not do a good job of explaining so. Whereas Jim thought it was dumb to split a child into two and how a man with only one child would be more grateful of his child than a man with a million children (78). This is satirizing religion because it shows how many people read religious texts and support a certain religion,

In the book The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain, Twain makes many references to religion in just about every chapter. Religion is presented through the teachings of christianity by Miss Watson or the Widow, and also through his friend Jim, who warns Huckleberry about going against nature, and the spirits, in the ways of witchcraft. Some might argue that Twain put his own thoughts and ideas into the characters and made them portray his religious points of view; however, I cannot make any claims towards Twain's personal beliefs, but it is also possible that his characters can portray other people in Twain's life.In the book we know that Huckleberry comes from a very dysfunctional family.However, when Huckleberry is with the Widow

    Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn is perhaps one of the most controversial novels the North American Continent has ever produced.  Since its publication more than a hundred years ago controversy has surrounded the book.  The most basic debate surrounding Twain's masterpiece is whether the book's language and the character of Jim are presented in a racist manner.  Many have called for the book to be banned from our nation's schools and libraries.  Mark Twain's novel is about a young boy who was raised in the south before slavery was abolished, a place where racism and bigotry were the fabric of every day life.  The novel is the account of how Huck Finn, who is a product of these

In Mark Twain’s, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, an interesting and engaging story about a young boy on a journey down the Mississippi River is told. However the book is also used to criticize the cultural and religious aspects of society during the books setting and also during the time in which he wrote it. Social hypocrisy is sprinkled throughout the novel and represents a large portion of the social commentary present. Characters throughout the book are represented as strong Christians who believe in the words of Jesus, but have no problem owning a human being and in fact believe it as an outrage when a slave wants to be free. Throughout the novel the theme of social hypocrisy is present.

Mark Twain’s novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, is a story of a boy, Huck Finn, who runs away from home and travels down the Mississippi River with a “runaway nigger” named Jim. Huck’s father, Pap, is a drunken low life who doesn’t seem to care for his son. He comes from a poor, troubled family and isn’t very educated which is something he seems to embrace. “Huck Finn runs away not only from an abusive father but also from his good-intentioned guardian, Miss Watson, who tries to civilize Huck, educate him, and make him a Christian” (Sienkewicz). Whether he knows it or not his journey down the river isn’t just an escape, it is a learning experience. Huck learns a few life lessons from dealing with his conscience, to friendship and