Influence of society in Huckleberry Finn
Through out life, people are taught the simple idea of conformity. Pressures from all elements are applied to make society believe and act like a single body. In Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, freedom is a major theme in all aspects of the novel. The only way to be completely free is to be secluded from civilization. Society's constraints unable the ability to be one's true self, make decisions based on the heart, and to enjoy the simple pleasures of freedom. Since he was born, Huckleberry Finn has been a witness to the worst of society. Pap, Huck's father, is an alcoholic and is abusive. Widow Douglas is a great provider, but understands little about who Huck really is and what he desires. Even Tom tries to motivate him to be like his other peers during the planning of Tom's gang. He yearns to be his true self and to be free from all of society's constraints. Civilization has stripped him of his youth and innocence by trying to change him to meet accepted standards. "Pretty soon I wanted to smoke, and asked the widow to let me. But she wouldn't. She said it was a mean practice and wasn't clean, and I must try to not do it any more" (Twain 12). Huck escapes from his problems at home and finds his sanctuary on t
(Twain 12)When Huck finally gets away in his canoe and joins forces with Jim, he begins to think from his heart. Huck has been a spectator to slavery his whole life, and never really thinks twice to the morality of abusing African Americans until he finds Jim on Jackson's Island. Everyone Huck has come in to contact with during his short life has tried to impress their ideas on him, never letting him think for himself. The only way Jim can achieve his happiness is through his freedom. [He] said I was the best friend old Jim ever had in the world, and the only one he's got. He will have escaped being sold and separating his family. To Jim, the river is his only way of escape from his life of bondage. He has been taught that slavery is right, but after voyaging down the Mississippi River, his beliefs change. After supper she got out her book and learned me about Moses and the Bulrushers, and I was in a sweat to find out all about him; but by and by she let it out that Moses had been dead a considerable long time; so then I didn't care no more about him, because I don't take stock in dead people. Likewise, the Mississippi River means freedom to Huck. "'We's safe, Huck, we's safe! Jump up and crack yo' heels! Dat's de good ole Cairo at las', I jis knows it!'" (Twain 93). When Jim is captured and taken to Phelp's farm, Huck has to decide whether or not to rescue him from bondage.
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