Huckleberry Finn: Mark Twain

Slavery in the South was flourishing and was considered personal property. Anyone who sought to deny that was typically criticized or executed. In Mark Twain’s classic novel, “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” we see how a young boy fights against Southern culture to emancipate a runaway slave named Jim. While dealing with an internal conflict, the boy reflects on his own developing conscience, friendship, and morals. After all, he is helping a runaway slave. Furthermore, as he escapes to find “the free states,” Huck runs into thieves, con artists, white supremacists, and more.

In the beginning of the story, we see that Huck was placed in a Widow’s home, where he became a well mannered and educated boy. However a year later, Huck’s abusive father finds him, scrutinizes him, and earns back full custody of his son. In turn, Huck is locked up in his father’s cabin located in the middle of nowhere, where he eventually escapes on a canoe that he found. When he finds a runaway slave named Jim, he questions what would be the right thing to do. Huck feels that with the current pressing issue of slavery, he should turn Jim in because that would be the right thing do to. However, as he begins to deny what Southern culture taught him and realizes how society failed him by putting him in the hands of his father, he matures and develops a mind of his own. Since residing on the raft, he is free from what society taught him which also lets him become friends with Jim. Over time, they start to learn about one another and find out things they have in common such as superstition, looking for freedom, and storytelling.

Friendship also comes into play and Huck and Jim both learn what it’s like to look after each other. While Huck takes care of Jim by finding information in town, Jim cares for Huck by finding shelter and food. They learn that it’s possible to be friends under the circumstances that they are in, and even under the pressure society forces upon them. However, not all is just dandy. An obstacle they run into frequently is facing many criminals. Huck questions who he should trust, and what he has to accomplish to help Jim. Two infamous con artists from the novel are the Dutch and the Duke, and they travel with Huck and Jim because they know the runaways’ secrets. Although, Huck knows that they are clandestinely cheating people from town to town. As we see, Huck and Jim try to escape the crooks repeatedly and when they finally have the chance to, Jim is sold to a family.

As Jim is sold to Tom Sawyer’s family, Huck realizes the importance of getting Jim out. Even though throughout the story he’s contemplated the idea of turning Jim in, Huck’s main objective becomes for him to find his close friend and to save him from slavery. Soon his best friend, Tom Sawyer, arrives and is destined to seek adventure with Huck. He’s always been keen on escapades so he encourages Huck to take Jim and run away. However, Huck considers what would happen, who he would hurt, and what obstacles they might come across.

Through a series of events like running away, hurting Tom Sawyer’s family, and more, Huck comes to terms that Tom Sawyer is not such a good influence. At the end of the book, Tom Sawyer reveals that he is even more manipulative and heartless than expected. He revealed that he had known Jim's owner, Ms. Watson, was dead for 2 months and that in her will, Jim was freed. Tom’s whole scheme was to use Jim and Huck’s adventure as his plaything. In a sense, the end result contradicts the whole novel itself. The entire adventure was meaningless for Jim since he was already freed. Nevertheless, Huck matures throughout the book. He learns what is right, wrong, good, bad, and is able to decipher what people to trust and not to trust. As a result, his internal conflict for his developing conscience, friendship, and morals dissolves. Thanks Tom Sawyer.