"The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn": Character Analysis

Paper Summary:

In Mark Twain's novel "Huckleberry Finn", civilization and natural life conflict and unwind as a theme which is portrayed throughout the novel. Huck begins to witness first hand countless aspects of society, and by choosing his own individuality and raising himself on instinct, creates an innate sense of morals, which become more civilized then society itself.

From the Paper:

"In Mark Twain's novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Twain uses the characters, Huck and Jim, to develop the plot. In the novel Twain uses these characters to form a statement on the society of this day. Huck and Jim are on the run from civilization and they are both sceptical of the so called "civilized" society of which they are both profoundly sceptical. Huck is seen by the other characters as a dirty, uncivilized, backwards boy, and is constantly under pressure to conform to society's values. Jim, a slave belonging to the widow Watson, is not even considered a real person, but as property. The fact that the duo is traveling on the river in order to escape from civilization lends itself to the possibility of viewing this escape, from land to water as a symbol of the pairs escape from society itself. The difference between life on the river and life in the towns along the river is the first important theme in the novel. Huck throughout the book shows maturity and independence choosing to follow his own instincts before society's conventions. When viewed as a symbol, Huck can be seen to represent a natural way of life. Huck's internal struggle to come to terms with himself and society is a second theme present in this novel. He reasons through any problem he encounters by comparing his own instinctual responses with what is expected by society. He often chooses to on moral course of action of which society expressly disapproves. Huck learns more about Jim and starts to understand that the common stereotype regarding black slaves are morally incorrect. He comes to recognize the fallacy of racism. Huck sees that skin color is the only significant difference between Jim and any white man. Aiding Jim to escape from slavery triggers a crisis of conscious in Huck, which he overcomes when he realizes that his is the moral course of action, and that he cannot betray Jim. "I come to being lost and going to hell and got to thinking over our trip down the river; and I see Jim before me all the time" But somehow I couldn't seem to strike no places to harden me against him how good he always was? I was the best friend old Jim ever had in the world, and the only one he's got now?." During Huck Finns journey down the Mississippi he begins to notice a serious inconsistency between the values of "civilized" society, and those that are natural to him. He eventually comes to reject societies values in favor of his own more moral system."

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