The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

In the novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain discusses many themes. The most important theme with in this novel is Huck's struggle between society and his own conscience, while the theme also conveys the symbolism of freedom. Twain shows us what is going on inside of the Huck's head many times within this novel. Although Huck battles with society for long periods of time; and on most occasions, his conscience seems to win the fight, helping Huck choose the right thing. The theme of freedom comes into play with the river; Huck goes on the river to get free from becoming civilized and to get away from his pap and Jim uses the river to get freed from slavery.

Twain went against society using the characters in his books, to state his opinion about slavery, without really coming out and saying that he was against slavery. One of these conflicts occurs when Huck realizes that it is morally wrong for him to be helping a runaway slave. The conflict occurs when Huck tries to decide if he should keep on helping the runway slave, or if he should turn the slave in. Huck's conscience tells him that he should help the slave, whose name is Jim, where as society says that if Huck helps a nigger, then he will surely go to hell. But when Huck realizes that Jim has become his friend, he decides that he would rather go to hell then do something to Jim that would hurt him.

Later in the story Jim is turned in by the king and the duke. When Huck finds out he is outraged; after thinking for a while he vows to steal Jim, and help him get to freedom. Again Huck goes against society, by rescuing Jim. When Jim is recaptured, Huck is scared and doesn't know what to do. He doesn't want to betray Jim's friendship, but he also doesn't want the town to know that he was involved in helping Jim escape. In this instance society wins over Huck's conscience, and instead of helping Jim, Huck keeps quiet about his involvement.

Huck gets a raft to go down the river to get away from his pap and so he is no longer living in civilization. Jim on the other hand is afraid of being sold by Widow Douglas so he runs away and is trying to get freed from slavery. He also goes down the river with Huck and uses it as his path to freedom. When Jim is being chased he can always get away on the river. The King and the Duke get in trouble many times by scamming different towns to get money by lying and pretending to be people they really aren't. Every time they get away by going on the river. When they finally get caught they are on land, away from the freedom of the river.

Twain's theme of Huck's conscience verses society is repeated many times throughout this novel. Sometimes Huck wins and sometimes society wins. No one can every truly be free of societies influence, and Huck was no exception. The river always is a freedom for Huck,

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