Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, published in 1884, is a story following a young Huck Finn as he undertakes challenging adventures which frame his life. Through his adventures, Huck Finn displays immoral characteristics based on years of stealing, trickery, and ridicule of religion. His denial to accept religious idealism leads him to make unconscientious and overall selfish decisions. In Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain follows Huck Finn through his adventures on a journey down the Mississippi River and reveals his opinions of religion as well as his sense of morality.
Huck Finn does not value or understand religion. He considers it to be pointless and a waste of time. In chapter 3, Huck mentions that Ms. Watson and the widow attempt to teach him how
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The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines morals as “the principles of right and wrong in behavior.” Since Huck is not particularly influenced by religious beliefs, his ideas of moral behavior are a tad different. In Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Twain shows Huck grow as a character from the start where he faked his own death, to the end where he decides to not turn in Jim. Huck considers Jim to be a friend, and the story reveals how Huck holds this friendship higher than other moral actions. Jim is a complicated subject for Huck because on one hand, he “steals” Jim from the widow, supports a runaway slave, and harbors a fugitive. However, on the other hand, he protects Jim from the “runaway capturers,” listens to his advice, and apologizes when he feels bad about hurting Jim’s feelings. When Huck decides not to turn in Jim, he instead tricks the “runaway capturers” into giving him money to help his Pap with smallpox. These men are “right down sorry” (96) for Huck and give him 40 dollars to help his “sick dad.” This whole encounter, however, is for Jim’s benefit because Huck cares more about Jim’s safety than obeying moral