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What Is The Relationship Between Huck Finn Sound Heart And Deformed Conscience

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Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn consists of, “Sound heart and deformed conscience come into conflict, and conscience suffers defeat.” Twain makes this remark about his book. Huck, the protagonist, is born and raised into an extremely racist society; most of the population owns slaves and do not recognize their humanity. Huck embarks on a journey with Jim, a runaway slave, and eventually Huck and Jim grow to be very close and fond of each others company. Huck contradicts societal norms and battles his conscience on whether or not he should save Jim. Ultimately, Huck’s perseverance leads him to challenge society’s beliefs and save Jim. Huck comes from a troubled home and is raised in a corrupt society. Although Huck conforms …show more content…

Huck tends to take steps back and forth throughout the journey; he takes a few steps forward and follows his heart but immediately after, he takes the steps right back and follows his conscience. While Huck’s “sound heart” tells him to treat Jim as a human being, his conscience is telling him to view Jim as his property. “I didn't answer prompt. I tried to, but the words wouldn't come. I tried for a second or two to brace up and out with it, but I wasn't man enough-- hadn’t the spunk of a rabbit.” (Twain 116) Just before, Huck thinks that these two men ask him if he has a runaway slave hidden on his raft. Huck was trying so hard to rat out on Jim, and do the moral thing by following his conscience but his heart catches up with him at the end and doesn't let him do …show more content…

In Huck’s case, defeat is portrayed positively. Although Huck takes a very long time to perceive Jim as an ordinary person, he finally is able to do so. Not only does Huck see Jim as a typical human being; he also considers him to be a friend. “But somehow I couldn’t strike no places to harden me against him, but only the other kind…’All right, then, I’ll-- to hell’-- and tore it up.” (Twain 267-268) This is Huck’s breaking point in defeating societal norms, and no longer contemplates on whether or not he should have turned Jim in. Huck is now done taking steps back, and only starts to walk forward without turning back around- no matter how tempting it may be. Huck’s eternal conflict comes to a close when he does the unthinkable in his society. Most of the time, defeat conquers those who face it, similar to how Huck’s defeat overpowers his

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