Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain, is a novel about a young boy’s journey down the Mississippi River in search of freedom. Along the way, Huck struggles with the conflict between his own desires and society’s expectations.
Huckleberry Finn is one of the most popular novels in American literature. The story of a young boy’s adventures has captivated readers for generations. While the novel is set in the 1800s, its themes are still relevant today.
One of the main themes in Huckleberry Finn is the conflict between individual and society. Throughout the novel, Huck faces pressure to conform to societal norms. He is constantly torn between what he wants to do and what he feels he should do.
This conflict comes to a head when Huck decides to help Jim, a runaway slave. He knows that he is breaking the law, but he also knows that it is the right thing to do. In the end, Huck chooses to follow his own conscience, even if it means going against society.
This theme is still relevant today. We live in a society where there are many expectations and norms that we are expected to follow. It can be difficult to go against the grain and do what we believe is right. Huckleberry Finn shows us that it is important to listen to our own conscience, even if it means facing criticism from others.
The tension between society and the individual is a major theme in Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. Huck was not brought up within the norms of civilization. Huck faces numerous aspects of society, which causes him to choose his own individuality above civilization. He basically raises himself, relying on instinct to lead him through life. Huck repeatedly chooses to follow his natural sense of justice, despite the fact that he does not realize that his own instincts are more moral than those of society.
Huck Finn is a perfect example of the conflict between the individual and society because he is constantly struggling against the expectations of society, even though it means going against what he knows is right.
One of the most significant examples of this conflict comes when Huck decides to help Jim escape slavery. He knows that helping a runaway slave is illegal, but Huck chooses to follow his own conscience instead of the law. This decision ultimately leads to much trouble for Huck, but he never regrets following his own heart. In fact, Huck Finn eventually learns that being an individual can be more important than following the rules of society. This theme is also evident in Huckleberry Finn’s interactions with other characters in the novel.
For instance, Huck often tells outrageous lies in order to get out of difficult situations. While lying is generally considered immoral, Huck’s lies are usually harmless and sometimes even help other people. In one instance, Huck tells a lie that saves Jim from being captured by slave hunters. In this case, Huck’s decision to lie goes against societal norms, but it ultimately results in a good outcome.
While Huckleberry Finn challenges many of the conventions of society, he also ultimately learns the importance of community and friendship. Throughout the novel, Huck develops close relationships with a number of different characters, including Jim, Tom Sawyer, and the Widow Douglas. These relationships teach Huck the value of companionship and human connection. While Huckleberry Finn may prefer to go his own way, he eventually realizes that it is valuable to be a part of a community.
Ultimately, Huckleberry Finn demonstrates the conflict between the individual and society. Huck constantly struggles against the expectations of society, even though it often means going against what he knows is right. However, Huck also learns the importance of community and friendship. In the end, Huckleberry Finn emerges as a strong individual who is not afraid to stand up for what he believes in.
Huck’s tale starts with a clear declaration that he does not wish to follow society’s norms: “The Widow Douglas took me for her son, and promised she would civilize me… I put on my old clothes and my sugar hogshead again, and was free and happy once more” (Twain, 2). Miss Watson lives with Huck, and she is constantly picking at him, trying to make him conform. According to the essay, The Struggle to Find Oneself , Huck has grown so accustomed to being free that he views the Widow Douglas’ protection just in terms of imprisonment.
Huck’s views of society are rooted in his personal experience with people like the Widow Douglas and Miss Watson, who try to change him. Society for Huck is something that attempts to control him and take away his freedom.
Huck’s interactions with Jim, a runaway slave, also shape his view of society. Huck feels guilty about turning Jim in because he has come to see him as a friend, not just property. In fact, Huck is so uncomfortable with the idea of returning Jim to slavery that he considers it morally wrong: “All right then, I’ll GO to hell” (Twain 77). This internal conflict between what society expects of Huck and what he believes is right demonstrates the tension between the individual and society. Huck is caught between two worlds, the world of slavery and racism that he has been raised in, and the world of freedom and equality that he experiences with Jim.
This conflict is also evident when Huck fakes his own death in order to escape from Pap, his drunken, abusive father. Pap wants Huck to conform to his idea of what a boy should be – someone who stays at home, goes to school, and doesn’t ask questions. However, Huck does not want to live under Pap’s control and decides to run away. In doing so, Huck again goes against societal norms and expectations.
Throughout The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain presents the conflict between the individual and society. Huck is constantly having to choose between what is expected of him by society and what he believes is right. This conflict is resolved when Huck decides to help Jim escape from slavery, even though it goes against everything he has been taught. In making this decision, Huck finally chooses freedom over conformity.