Huck's Moral Struggles

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Morals, and ethics are the guiding influences for many people’s lives, and in the story Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Huck struggles deeply with his conscience and decisions. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is the heartwarming story of a boy during the pre civil war era, or the , Huck who is in the midst of becoming civilized, when his drunk father takes him away, refusing to allow him to better himself. Huck is brought to a cabin and kept hostage by his father. Huck breaks out and escapes onto Jackson’s Island. While seeking refuge on the island Huck meets Jim, a slave belonging to the family who was previously civilizing him. After finding out they are about to be discovered they escape downstream on a raft. This raft acts as a home base, and as the two travel and encounter many unique characters, while having numerous adventures. Throughout their travels Huck and Jim become best friends, although Jim partly fills in the father sized hole, in Hucks heart. Huckleberry Finn struggles deeply with his morals, and conscience throughout the story, his challenges include the themes of stealing, equality, and conforming to societal ethics which become tangled in his caring relationship with Jim.
Huckleberry Finn’s conscience is revealed early on in the book when he steals candlesticks. “Laid 5 cents on the table for pay.” (Twain 16). To many the act of stealing candlesticks would be insignificant, especially in the antebellum period. Huck though, seems to be troubled by the thought of stealing and decided to “pay” for the candlesticks. This reveals Huck’s struggle with his consciousness. “Huck's main struggle in the book is with his conscience, the set of morals with which he has been raised.” (Telgen) Diane then goes on to talk abo...

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... my argument and supports my ideas of Huck being morally sound despite his rough upbringing.
Twain, Mark. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, "Tom Sawyer's Comrade" New York: Signet Classics, 2008. Print.
Yates, Norris W. "Huck's Struggle with Conscience." Bloom's Literature. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 31 Mar. 2014 . This database is centered around the struggle Huck has with his conscience during the book. It specifically cites a few examples, one of which I am using, when Huck decides to go to hell and help Jim to freedom, rather than watch him become enslaved once again. This source has helped me with my argument and refined my ideals about my topic of morals. The source also talks about Twain's life and the reasoning behind his emphasis of morals and ethics in the book.

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