Huckleberry Finn Moral Analysis
Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn is a controversial classic that outlines the search for freedom and adventure by a young boy named Huck. This book is controversial due to its depiction of a 1830-40s attitude towards African Americans especially the use of a derogatory term used towards them. Huckleberry Finn is full of lessons surrounding decision making and morality. The debate remains whether or not schools should be able to teach this classic. Several schools have banned the teaching and therefore sheltered their students from learning history through the story. The plot allows the reader to learn the history of the 1830s through a historical fiction's depiction of the events which allows a deeper understanding of the concepts. Decisions
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Morality is the principles that describe the differences between right and wrong. A good moral compass can lead a person in the right direction. In this scenario depicted by the story Huck uses his moral compass to lead him away from the negative aspects of his life and direct him the the ‘right’ direction. A clear picture can be drawn of Huck’s morals as he concludes, “get somebody to go for that gang and get them out of their scrape, so they can be hung when their time comes.” (Twain 76-77) While Huck attempts to help the known thieves claiming to be a king and a duke he does not betray their trust while secretly planning to do as his morals conclude. These men have done illegal things and his morals declare that they should be punished for their acts. Huck decides that the acts committed by these men are wrong and his conscience knows the difference between right and wrong. Jim, a runaway slave who befriends Huck, demonstrates these morals as he speaks, “Dah you goes, de ole true Huck; de on'y white genlman dat ever kep' his promise to ole Jim” (Twain 92) Due to the time period Jim is treated less than a person and Huck’s background enforces this standard although his morals detest it. Jim is treated like a person always while he is with Huck unless it is to protect his identity. Jim sees this differently because he has never been treated like this before. The importance of
Morality is the principles that describe the differences between right and wrong. A good moral compass can lead a person in the right direction. In this scenario depicted by the story Huck uses his moral compass to lead him away from the negative aspects of his life and direct him the the ‘right’ direction. A clear picture can be drawn of Huck’s morals as he concludes, “get somebody to go for that gang and get them out of their scrape, so they can be hung when their time comes.” (Twain 76-77) While Huck attempts to help the known thieves claiming to be a king and a duke he does not betray their trust while secretly planning to do as his morals conclude. These men have done illegal things and his morals declare that they should be punished for their acts. Huck decides that the acts committed by these men are wrong and his conscience knows the difference between right and wrong. Jim, a runaway slave who befriends Huck, demonstrates these morals as he speaks, “Dah you goes, de ole true Huck; de on'y white genlman dat ever kep' his promise to ole Jim” (Twain 92) Due to the time period Jim is treated less than a person and Huck’s background enforces this standard although his morals detest it. Jim is treated like a person always while he is with Huck unless it is to protect his identity. Jim sees this differently because he has never been treated like this before. The importance of