How Does Huck Finn Go Against Society

Since Huck’s intent is to help the family’s well being--in spite not benefiting himself--his actions are moral. However, other instances throughout the novel show that honesty does not always result in morality. Towards the end of the book, Huck debates over the decision on whether to turn in Jim to Miss Watson, until at one point he makes up his mind. “I got a piece of paper and a pencil, all glad and excited, and set down and wrote: Miss Watson your runaway nigger Jim is down here two miles below Pikesville and Mr. Phelps has got him and he will give him up for the reward if you send. Huck Finn.” (Twain 222) Huck wants to

An example of a child growing up in the world thinking there is only one appropriate way to do the right thing is Huck Finn. In the novel Adventures of Huckleberry Finn written by Mark Twain, Huck has a hard time realizing that in order to make himself happy, he needs to do things he was taught not to do. For example Jim and Huck meet and decide to run away together, never in a million years did Huck think he was going to help a runaway slave. Throughout his adventure, Huck realizes that everything he thought might be wrong, so he chooses what he thinks is right. Mark Twain used an emphasis on showing the difference between right and wrong in an adults point of view, and a child 's point of view.

In the novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, the protagonist, learns basic manners and expectations of society and religion. However, his drunkard father, who is rarely ever home, returns home only to abuse Huck. This led to Huck faking his death and running away from his dad and thus running away from society. During this journey, Huck is skeptical with many taught norms of society and decides to believe in superstitions. Lawrence Kohlberg developed a theory about the three stages of moral development, pre-conventional, conventional and post-conventional morality.

He is not only doing it for Tom Robinson, he is doing it for himself as well. Secondly, Atticus stands up for what is right because the moment he is asked to take Tom Robinson’s case he doesn’t think twice. He knew that someone who is innocent should not have to go to trial for something they did not do. He thinks racism should have an end. By taking this case he not only opens the eyes for his children, he opens the eyes of his peers and community members.

The Dauphin is a con-man, who to feed his drinking habit, sells Jim for forty dollars. The Dauphin’s actions disgust Huck, who was previously blissfully unaware of society’s harsh and cruel nature. Huck, by ripping up his letter to Ms. Watson, and vowing to “steal Jim out of slavery again,” refuses to conform to the society and slavery (223). Huck’s non-conformist attitude conveys his progressiveness and emphasizes society’s archaic view on slavery. Thus, Huck’s experience with the Duke and Dauphin, shows him the cruel reality of slavery as well as the heartless reality of society.

Although the society’s standards and his father are repressing, Huck has his own inner voice and would listen to them. That’s why when he meets Jim, a running away slave, Huck helps to save Jim and runs away with him. By the society’s standard, running away slave is intolerable and has to be caught and punished. However, Huck acts against the society’s standard even though he knows it’s wrong to help Jim run away. There exists so much racism in the society.

“But somehow I couldn’t seem to strike no places to harden me against him, but only the other kind.” Huck has written a letter to Mrs. Watson and is prepared to send the letter off, letting her know where the man is, but he can not bring himself to do it. He is beginning to question what is right and wrong, beginning to wonder why Jim needs to be a slave, if he really deserves that. At the end of this section, he still believes he is doing the wrong thing by ripping up the letter, but he doesn’t care, because black or white, Jim is his friend. This kind of change can also be seen in John Dunbar in Dances with Wolves. As he meets this group of Indians and begins communicating with them he starts to view them differently than he used to.

(41)” This is situational irony because Johnny is kidnapped and he does not want to leave even though when you are kidnapped you are supposed to be scared and are longing to go home. O. Henry uses situational irony to make the reader again feel the emotion humor when the kidnappers were attempting to collect a ransom from Red Chief's father but the understood what a pain Johnny is and that he could use that against the kidnappers. Eventually Johnny’s father sent a letter back to the kidnappers proposing his trade. ‘“you bring Johnny home and pay me two hundred and fifty dollars in cash, and I agree to take him off your hands. (52)”’ This statement is an example of situational irony because when a parent's child is kidnapped it is an instinctive reaction to do whatever you can to get your child back.

He defends Tom Robinson despite the fact that he knows that the odds of him winning the case are extremely slim because he is trying to defend a black man against a white woman. Atticus continues to remain optimistic although, he hopes that the jury will change and look past the racial difference. Atticus sees how the town of Maycomb has changed due to the great depression saying “Cunninghams are country folks, farmers, and the crash hit them the hardest”. (Lee 33) Having a character such as Mr. Finch is important to the plot, someone who can see the town of Maycomb for how it truly is. When Boo Radley saves Jem and Scout from Mr. Ewell it begins a new relationship between Atticus and another outcast, Boo Radley.

As they travel down the river, the relationship between Huck and Jim grows. Huck goes against the law to help his friend become free, something that if he were to be caught he would be tarred and feathered or thrown in jail. Huck’s loyalty to Jim is a significant sign of true family and Jim's feelings towards Huck reciprocate as Jim says "Pooty soon I'll be a-shout'n' for joy, en I'll say, it's all on accounts o' Huck; I's a free man, en I couldn't ever ben free ef it hadn' ben for Huck; Huck done it. Jim won't ever forgit you, Huck; you's de bes' fren' Jim's ever had; en you's de only fren' ole Jim's got now."(83). Jim is trusting Huck with his chance for freedom, something he values so much.