The Moral Maturation of Huckelberry Finn Essay - 1364 Words

The Moral Maturation of Huckelberry Finn A novel structured on the theme of morality, the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain focuses on Huck Finn’s multifaceted growing up process. Huck, through his escapades and misfortunes is obliged to endure the agonizing process from childhood to adulthood where he attains self-knowledge and discovers his own identity. Throughout the journey down the Mississippi River, Jim, Ms. Watson’s runaway slave, accompanies Huck, and is later joined by two con men. It is during this journey that a great moral crisis in Huck’s life occurs where he must make a painful decision as to whether he is going to give Jim up to the slave hunters or notify Ms. Watson about Jim’s whereabouts and assist him to†¦show more content†¦But that was enough. It made me feel so mean I could almost kissed HIS foot to get him to take it back. It was fifteen minutes before I could work myself up to go and humble myself to a nigger; but I done it, and I warnt ever sorry for it afterwards, neither. I didnt do him no more mean tricks, and I wouldnt done that one if Id a knowed it would make him feel that way.† As a reader, you can noticeably see the number of lies Huck tells, even conning a few people. However, you can understand the importance of his white lies that led to the protection of Jim against slave-hunters by telling them his â€Å"father was ill with the smallpox.† Huck is also burdened with the fact that Jim considers him his best and only friend in the whole wide world, making him consciensously aware that he must now keep Jim protected under whatever circumstance. Pages 87-88 quotes Huck’s attempt at keeping the slave-hunters away from the raft. â€Å"†¦Only one, sir. Well, theres five niggers run off to-night up , above the head of the bend. Is your man white or black? †¦ Hes white. I reckon well go and see for ourselves. I wish you would, says I, because its pap thats there, and maybe youd help me tow the raft ashore where the light is. Hes sick—and so is mam and Mary Ann. †¦ Set her back, John, set her back! says one. They