How Does Huck Finn Morally Mature

Despite this progression in Huck’s maturation, Huck only takes into account society’s moral standards and does not think for

Huck 's morality is the only educational thing I believe is in this book, because it 's something you have to piece together and isn 't clear all the time. On page 43, Hucks early morality is a typical southern 's, “‘Well, I b 'lieve you, Huck. I—I RUN OFF.” “Jim!’”. Huck basically states he 's better than Jim in a way, Huck is shocked and mad that Jim has run off but Huck is also a run away so you can see this early racial attitude Huck has.

Jim cares dearly for Huck and treats him like a son. When they were separated Jim is more concerned with Huck’s well being than his own, showing his selflessness and maturity. Huck never having anyone truly care about him, doesn’t know how to react and decides rather than give back affection, to prank Jim: "What's the matter with you, Jim? You been a-drinking?"’(ch 15 p 83), Huck acts like the whole ordeal never even happened to lighten the mood. Eventually when Jim catches on to the prank, he is not at all amused.

Huck is looking for a father, and Jim is looking to join a family. The two complement each other well (4). Helping an escaped slave is a criminal offense during this period of time. It could be argued that Huck is not fully aware of the consequences of his actions, but as the reader sees time and time again, Huck is a very wise, very practical, very street-smart boy.

In the book, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain creates many central questions for his reader to consider. One of these questions is since Huck grew up less civilized than normal children, does this affect his morality? In the story Huck has an alcoholic, abusive father he tried escaping from. His childhood was not that same as most other children who had a full family and a single home. But, this didn’t affect his morality, it might have made him a better person.

In this moment of reflection, Huck is therefore able to remove the stigma society places on him being friends with Jim because of their races; he is able to think for himself without the fear of society’s influence or thought on his choices. When Huck wakes up in the

Huck and Jim’s adventures down the Mississippi make the theme of conflict between society and individual more apparent. During their journey Huck mentions, “Nothing could be better”(Twain 115). Huck is very content with Jim and Huck’s new life on the river, at least at the start. Being a runaway slave like Jim and Huck helping him, Huck questions at many points in the book whether he should continue to help Jim or turn him in and follow society’s rules about slaves. This could possibly be Huck’s most important individual conflict throughout the book, considering he questions his choice many times.

He wasn’t used to having a father figure in his life because his actual father was an alcoholic and was abusive. “Would always call me honey, and pet me, and do everything he could think of for me, and how good he always was,” (Document E). This shows that not only did Huck care about Jim, but Jim also cared about Huck’s well being, too. Having a father figure was very important to Huck because his actual father wasn’t really a father figure to him at all. Since someone actually cared about him and treated him with respect and care, it meant the world to him.

It is clear that Huck discovered his way of life as a kind and thoughtful person before the end of the book. He developed from a kid about fun and games into a man that now sees the new perspectives on

Throughout the rest of Huck 's journey he continues to meet people along the way that believe themselves to be good civilized people but they all contradict that in some way. The Grangerford 's are in a murdering feud with another family, the Phelps own slaves and are trying to get a reward for Jim, the townspeople that feather and tar the Duke and King without a trial, the execution of Boggs, even the Widow tells Huck not to smoke but takes snuff herself. Huck spends a large amount of time in the book pondering over how to be good and do the right things, and at the end of the book when he decides to go West and leave it all behind he has finally realized that he 's not the one that 's bad, society is. Huck heads back out into the world not for more adventure, but to get away from

Although there are numerous instances where Huck’s moral growth can be seen, the individuals around such as Jim, will influence his moral growth greatly. Jim, a runaway slave, is the most influential individual when it comes to Huck’s moral development. During the beginning of the novel, Huck’s morals are primarily based on what he has learned from Miss Watson. Huck begins to become wary of such ideals that Miss Watson has imposed on him, and decided all he wanted “…was a change” (Twain 10).

Throughout their journey, Huck is aware that Jim has escaped but does not know whether or not to turn him into the authorities. Huck’s mentality about society matures and he realizes his need to protect Jim from dangers. As the novel progresses, Huck begins to realize the flaws in society. Huck ultimately chooses to follow his own

Huck moves towards being a conscientious and moral member of society as he progresses through the novel, even though

Along his journey he meets Jim and decides to help him reach the free states. Huck was raised by a white family and understands the practices and beliefs that are expressed among the household; however, he stays true to what he believes. This exemplifies his innocence, as he cannot understand why whites take advantage of blacks and use them as toys. His innocence greatly impacts his character, as he is willing to take all the risk of helping Jim run away from the slave state; innocence also allows Huck to see the world at a different angle. Huck sees this journey as a quest towards freedom for not only Jim but also himself.

Huck matures as he explores and experiences the world. In the beginning of Jim and Huck’s relationship, Huck is immature and a trickster by putting a dead rattlesnake near Jim which leads to Jim being bitten by a rattlesnake. The act shows Huck’s poor judgement and childish ways. Huck grows up in a society that views slavery as the norm, but slavery is against basic human rights. During the course of the story, Huck conflicts on whether to turn Jim in or not, due to the fact it is morally wrong to help a runaway slave.