charhf Character in Huckleberry Finn Essay examples

The main character of Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn, Huck Finn, undergoes a complete moral change while having to make life changing and moral questioning decisions throughout his journey on the river. Huck appears first as a morally inferior character caused by living with a self absorbed and abusive father, because of his alcoholic habits. Throughout the whole book Huck is guided by Jim, a runaway slave who goes with him and helps Huck gain his sense of morality. During these encounters, he is in many situations where he must look within and use his judgement to make decisions that will affect Huck’s morals.

"If there is no struggle, there is no progress"(BrainyQuote). This quote is from Frederick Douglass, a former slave who later became an abolitionist and a writer. Frederick Douglass also experienced struggles in slavery and therefore became a stronger and better abolitionist. He wrote about these hardships in some of his many books that he published. In the story of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain writes about the ethical issues of the late 1800’s.

Huck would pull jokes on Jim all the time, just because he thought they were funny. "That all comes of my being such a fool as to not remember that wherever you leave a dead snake its mate always comes there and curls around it." (Twain 40) Huck learns that jokes have a limit to them at times and need to be thought out more clearly. (123 HelpMe) Huck later in the novel finds out, that’s not how you deal with life and figures out that’s not how you get to keep friends and grow up. Huck is very uncomfortable living in a decent house, sleeping in a good bed, wearing decent clothes and shoes, eating normal food, and not being allowed to curse, swear, or smoke. (Cliffs Notes)

American author Mark Twain was one of the most influential people of his time. Twain is perhaps best known for his traditional classic, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, a novel about an adventurous boy named Huck Finn as he traverses about on the Mississippi. Under first impressions, Huckleberry Finn would be considered nothing but a children’s tale at heart written by the highly creative Mark Twain. However one interprets it, one can undoubtedly presume that Twain included personal accounts within its pages, humorous and solemn opinions on the aspects of the diverse societies around him during his life. Throughout the entire story, Huck Finn would often come into conflict between choosing what was consciously right and what was morally

Huck tries to paddle back to Jim and the raft, but the fog is too thick and the river to rough, forcing him to wait for things to clear up. After a lonely time adrift, Huck reunites with Jim, who is asleep on the raft. He wakes Jim up and proceeds to trick him into thinking that Jim dreamed up their separation, and he had been worried about Huck being dead for nothing. Jim is quick to realize he had been tricked, and gets mad at Huck for making him seem foolish after he had been so worried and scared for Huck’s safety. “It was fifteen minutes before I could work myself up to go and humble myself to a nigger,” (148) Huck says, showing moral courage in willing to apologize to Jim after realizing what he did was wrong, even though society would say

Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain is a book about a boy who travels down the river with a runaway slave. Twain uses these two characters to poke fun at society. They go through many trials, tribulations, and tests of their friendship and loyalty. Huck Finn, the protagonist, uses his instinct to get himself and his slave friend Jim through many a pickle. In the book, there are examples of civilized, primitive, and natural man.

In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, Huck Finn experiences many tough decisions and meets a variety of people. Huck meets those whom he can trust and those he cannot. Growing, Huck starts to find who he is meant to be and his stance on topics during his time. Throughout his journey down the Mississippi, Huck encounters crooks, caregivers, and racists who positively influence his moral growth.

Early in the novel, Huck scampers away with his good friend Tom and his other buddies. The boys form a gang and then decide one of their tasks in the gang will be to kidnap people and, hold them

     There is a major argument among literary critics whether the adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, is or is not a racist novel. The question focus on the depiction of Jim, the black slave, and the way he is treat by Huck and other characters. The use of the word “nigger” is also a point raised by some critic, who feel that Twain uses the word too often and too loosely. Mark Twain never presents Jim in a negative light. He does not show Jim as a drunkard, as a mean person or as a cheat.

In one part of the novel Huck and Jim are traveling down the river by themselves, trying not to have jim caught for being a runaway slave. Huck tells the audience, “I made Jim lay down in the canoe... Because if he set up people could tell he was a nigger a good ways off” (39). Despite Huck using derogatory language to describe Jim, Huck still means the best for Jim and wants him to not get caught and to end up being a free man. When Jim was talking to Huck about being free, Jim calls Huck his best friend, “Huck; you’s de bes’ fren’ Jim’s ever had; en you’s de only fren’ ole Jim’s got now” (67). Being a slave, Jim does not have many people that care for him, also known as friends. Since Huck is also a child, it brings a sense of innocence to when Huck does say the word, or use other stereotypes. The use of derogatory language and harsh stereotypes can be excused due to the fact that Twain is making a clear statement against

As Huck and Jim continue on their expedition to freedom, Huck and Jim begin to develop a friendship, and along with it Huck’s point of view begins to evolve. For instance, after Jim finds out that Huck was playing tricking him into thinking that it was only a dream, Jim becomes angry with Huck and leaves the scene. Huck is sitting on the raft contemplating what he should do and finally he apologizes to Jim, but “It was 15 minutes before I humbled myself to a nigger” (Twain 100). Even though Huck is reluctant to apologize to Jim, his conscience makes him feel guilty and after he humbles up to Jim, he “warn’t even sorry for it afterwards” (Twain 100). Huck’s sincere regret in fooling Jim shows that his conscience is beginning to change what Huck

Throughout The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, certain characters help influence the development of Huck’s morality immensely. For instance, Jim gave Huck a sense of loyalty and respect, Meanwhile Huck’s father and the con men Huck encountered allowed him to see how not to treat others and what not to value. With all these influences weighing on Huck, he was able to progressively learn how to choose between the rights and wrongs amongst the decisions made by himself and others around him. Huck’s moral development as a character is mostly credited to himself in learning how to analyze situations and people in his life and deciding whether or not they keep strong values and morality.

His whole life has been taught that “niggers” are property and are not meant to be free but In his heart he knew helping Jim was the right thing to do, no matter what anybody else says. “both Huck and Jim are depicted as characters who are capable of learning from their own mistakes, empathizing with others, and acting on the behalf of others” (Evans). As the journey down the river continues they run into two con men. These men pretend to be the Wilks brothers in order to rob this family of all of their possessions. Huck couldn’t see them do this poor family wrong. He spends some time really contemplating telling one of the girls, Mary Jane, the truth about these liars (Twain 175). He knows inside that it is the right thing to do but he doesn’t want to put himself at risk. He plans out every little detail of how he is going to tell her and how he is going to expose these men (Twain 175-178). His actions result from his sympathy for others and his conscience and show major growth as the story continues.

.” (Twain, ix) He openly and firstly acknowledges the irregularities in this story and explains that it is not on a whim that he uses this specific type of language but with the purpose to expose the world to a new and original form of literary design. The main character in this story is Huckleberry Finn, the complete opposite of a traditional European hero; he is not the typical king or nobleman that traditional stories tell of. He is an everyday boy uneducated and seemingly unworthy, Huckleberry Finn is the epitome of a real American every day hero. Mr. Twain writes this book as a way to show that just by simply maturing and growing up so that Huckleberry Finn can make the right decisions in all aspects of his life; it makes him a noble character. “We are asked to trust this not as a sport, but rather as a well-considered and well-honed document. . . We are invited to experience and to appreciate this narrative in terms of its thought, its thoughtfulness, and its craft.” (Fertel, 159 –Free and Easy”)

Their morality allows deceit and betrayal, as long as there is a benefit. Huck takes pity on these men and allows them to ride in his boat to safety. The Duke and Dauphin begin by conversing about their true identities, and how they are both connected to royalty. In Huck’s narration, he states that “these liars warn't no kings nor dukes, at all, but just low-down humbugs and frauds” (Chapter 19). Huck is able to see right through their deceitful tendencies. Huck however, does not want any trouble, so he lets them continue the charade. These men have no regard for damage that they cause through their lies. Huck is not fond of them, and believes that they are genuinely bad men. Furthermore, Mark Twain portrays the Duke and Dauphin more as silly, and unaware than damaging to others. Through Huck’s narration, Mark Twain is able to convey the message that these men are rascals and will never amount to anything more. For example, as the Duke and Dauphin travel through towns, they con the people by demanding money for tickets to their show, and putting on bad or short performance. In one town, they put on a performance called “The Royal Nonesuch” (Chapter 22). The Duke and Dauphin convince the townspeople to buy tickets to see a play for three nights. All goes well until the third night. On the last night, their comedy act successfully get the audience laughing; however, the play only lasts