Essay/Term paper: Huck finn: conflict between society and the individual

Essay, term paper, research paper:  Huckleberry Finn

Huck Finn: Conflict Between Society and The Individual


The conflict between society and the individual is a theme portrayed
throughout Twain's Huckleberry Finn. Huck was not raised in accord with the
accepted ways of civilization. He practically raises himself, relying on
instinct to guide him through life. As portrayed several times in the novel,
Huck chooses to follow his innate sense of right, yet he does not realize that
his own instincts are more moral than those of society.
From the very beginning of Huck's story, Huck clearly states that he
did not want to conform to society; "The Widow Douglas she took me for her son,
and allowed she would sivilize me... I got into my old rags and my sugar
hogshead again, and was free and satisfied."
When Pap returns for Huck, and the matter of custody is brought before
the court, the reader is forced to see the corruption of society. The judge
rules that Huck belongs to Pap, and forces him to obey an obviously evil and
unfit man. One who drinks profusely and beats his son. Later, when Huck makes
it look as though he has been killed, we see how civilization is more
concerned over finding Huck's dead body than rescuing his live one from Pap.
This is a society that is more concerned about a dead body than it is in the
welfare of living people.
The theme becomes even more evident once Huck and Jim set out, down the
Mississippi. Huck enjoys his adventures on the raft. He prefers the freedom
of the wilderness to the restrictions of society. Also, Huck's acceptance of
Jim is a total defiance of society. Ironically, Huck believes he is committing
a sin by going against society and protecting Jim. He does not realize that
his own instincts are more morally correct than those of society'.
In chapter sixteen, we see, perhaps, the most inhumane action of
society. Huck meets some men looking for runaway slaves, and so he fabricates
a story about his father on the raft with smallpox. The men fear catching this
disease and instead of rescuing him, they give him money and advise him not to
let it be known of his father's sickness when seeking help. These men are not
hesitant to hunt slaves, yet they refuse to help a sick man. This is
contrasted to Huck's guilt felt for protecting Jim when he actually did a
morally just action.
Huck's acceptance of his love for Jim is shown in chapter thirty-one.
Huck writes a letter to Miss Watson to return Jim, yet he ends up ripping the
letter and wishes to free Jim. "'All right, then, I'll go to hell'- and he
tore it up." Here, we see that Huck concludes that he is evil, and that
society has been right all along.
The ending is perhaps most disappointing because it seems as though
through all the situations that it seemed he was growing up and accepting his
innate ideas of right, he hasn't grown at all. When he is re- united with Tom,
he once again thinks of Jim as property(get quote).
(write conclusion). Huck functions as a much nobler person when he is
not confined by the hypocrisies of civilization.