FREE ESSAY ON HUCK FINN'S JOURNEY TO MORALITY

HUCK FINN'S JOURNEY TO MORALITY

Huckleberry Finn's Journey to Morality
In Mark Twain's novel Adventures of Huckleberry Finn we see through the eyes of a
brilliant child, the prejudice world he lives in, and the reality that is thrown at him
in his journey down the Mississippi River. He learns to see the true society he is a part
of by encountering many different characters. These characters will unknowingly turn this
innocent and perceptive young boy into a moral-based and caring young man. Miss Watson
tries to show Huck the good of Christianity, while the King and Duke prove to him that
there are always some people left in the world who are inhumane. With both of these
influences, Huck's morals become as strong as they possibly can. He goes against society
to save a man whom he never considered would be a friend for life. 
Huck is unable to grasp Miss Watson's religion. He does not care for the past and takes
"...no stock in dead people"(Twain 4). Miss Watson tells Huck that if he prays for
something, he will get it. Huck tests the theory and is let down. He says, "It warn't so.
I tried it. Once I got a fish-line, but no hooks. I tried for the hooks three times, but
somehow I couldn't make it work" (Twain 12). The hypocrisy is that Huck prays for the
hooks, does not receive them, and wonders why. What he does not realize is that he cannot
pretend to act like he understands the whole concept, and expect to receive the hooks.
After Huck is taken by his father and escapes down the river, he gets hungry, and bread
reaches him down the river. Huck thinks the bread is sent to him because of Miss Watsons'
prayers. He realizes he may not understand it all but says, "...there's something in it
when a body like the widow or the parson prays, but it don't work for me, and I reckon it
don't work for only just the right kind"(Twain 37). 
Continuing on his way with Jim, Huck comes upon two classic characters, the King and
Duke. From the beginning, the two hypocrites never once are their true identities, and
Huck is aware of this. Huck says, "Then he turns around, blubbering, and makes a lot
idiotic signs to the Duke on his hands, and blamed if he didn't drop a carpet bag and
bust out a-crying. If they warn't the beatenest lot, them two frauds, that I ever struck"
(Twain 157). What Huck doesn't realize are the great lengths the two will go to, to get
what they want. The two frauds do their best to play the role of the Wilks' brothers and
try to corrupt Mary Jane and her sisters. Huck is morally against the King and Dukes'
plan. He realizes he has got to get the money and expose the two frauds because of his
adoration for Mary Jane. Huck reaches a moral dilemma and decides to tell the truth for
the first time in his life. He says "...I'm blest if it don't look to me like the truth
is better and actuly safer than a lie"(Twain 180). 
As Huck continues on his journey, Jim has become a companion in Huck's eyes. Jim is no
longer just another slave, but a real person to Huck. After Jim is captured and taken
away from Huck, Huck will face the greatest challenge he has ever faced. He has to go
against society, or go with his morals and save Jim. Huck tries to tell God he will be a
better person, but deep inside he knows he will not. He says, "I was letting on to give
up sin, but away inside of me I was holding on to the greatest one of all" (Twain 205).
This realization in Huck is so great and so morally mature that he understands he is
unable pretend to be something he is not. Before he tears up the letter to Miss Watson,
he says, "All right, then, I'll go to hell" (Twain 206). It is obvious that Huck is the
only moral character in the story. For a boy of such young age to sacrifice himself for
another human being and realize that fact is absolutely amazing. Huck knows what is right
and understands what he does is completely unethical to anyone else. To grow in the ways
that he does, Huck is truly an honest hero.
Throughout his journey Huck learned many things. He saw the cruel and unjust society he
was a part of the whole time. The only difference is that he realized it was morally
wrong. Huck learned to spot hypocrisy not only in others but also in himself. Huck began
not necessarily a bad person, but more unaware of the potential he was capable of
achieving.