Why Is Huck Finn Wrong

712 Words3 Pages
I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid on this work. Austin Spingarn Mrs. Steiner 11/25/14 Huck Finn Essay ET: Start 12:39 End: 1:00 In the novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, Huck Finn experiences conflict between his heart and his intellect from society. His dilemma begins when Huck had to decide to turn in Jim, a runaway slave who belongs to the Widow Douglas, or to allow Jim to escape to freedom. Huck debates with himself if he has made wrong decisions throughout the novel, but the reader knows his decision, although instinctive, is right. Huck is a good person, not a bad person. The use of dramatic irony by Twain shows Hucks development, satirizes society for being racist and for indoctrinating…show more content…
Huck and Jim are on the raft, and Huck sees lights at the shore and paddles out in the canoe as he has pretty much decided to turn Jim in again. As Huck is paddling away, Jim calls out to him about how Huck has been such a good friend and how he'll always be grateful. At this moment, Huck feels bad about helping a slave escape. Society has always taught that it is wrong. Nothing is worse in Huck’s world than being an abolitionist.This would not have been a dilemma for Huck had they not spent so much time together on Jackson island and the raft getting to know one another. Huck now recognizes Jim as a living, breathing, thinking, person. The fact that Jim is black is nearly irrelevant to Huck. Huck considers Jim a friend, not property and this is what changes Huck’s mind. Huck listens to his conscience which is untouched by society, and can't bring himself to turn in his…show more content…
Huck considers writing a letter to Jim’s owner, Mrs. Watson. He believes that this is the correct and moral decision, but his conscience tells him otherwise. Huck rips up his letter and says “All right, then, I'll go to hell" (Twain 210). This quote is significant because Huck has decided to help free Jim despite what society says about slavery. It's an act of independence. Huck says his moral compass is more important than that of others. This shows that Huck has rejected the racist attitudes of society and decided to follow his conscience. He decides that going hell and following his gut and ignoring society’s hypocritical and cruel principles, is a better option than going to heaven. This is ironic because Huck is doing the right thing, but he assumes will be going to hell. This is a perfect example of why questioning what we are taught is imperative to the development of ourselves. This moment of decision represents Huck’s true break with the world around
Open Document