Hypocrisy Of Slavery In Huck Finn

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In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain demonstrates the immorality of slavery through Huck, a young boy and the narrator the story. Twain portrays controversies such as hypocrisy, slavery, and flaws within society. Through the characters of Huck and Jim, Twain demonstrates that in order to gain personal freedom, one must escape the confines and hypocrisy of society.
Huck escapes society in an attempt to find his purpose in the wild, a setting which allowed Twain to convey his points through the characters freedom. Prior to Huck's escape, the author demonstrates Huck’s rebellious nature through living with Widow Douglas. “The Widow Douglas, she took me as her son, and allowed she would sivilize me; and so when I couldn’t stand it …show more content…
En you ain’ dead - you ain’ drownded - you’s back agin, live en soun’, jis de same ole Huck - de same ole Huck, thanks to goodness!” Jim exclaims his relief and excitement at Huck’s return, showing the friendship and love founded in their relationship. And thus Jim becomes not only Huck's companion but his friend, confiding in each other. In addition to this, Jim becomes a father-like figure for Huck, providing for him as a guardian would. When the two are separated, Huck exclaims his sorrow for losing Jim “Old Jim was gone so I get down and cried” (159). The development of their relationship has taught Huck that slaves can be good natured and intellectually capable. A relationship which could never exit while in society, they had to be in the wild to gain their new found perspectives on race, through each other.
Huck starts to develop his own thoughts on race due to this relationship with Jim, but demonstrates the influence society has already placed upon him,“I see it warn’t no use wasting word - you can’t learn a nigger to argue. So I quit.” (60) The intellectual capability of African American’s was believed to be nonexistent throughout society during the time of this story. Huck believes that Jim is unable to learn due to his race. A myth which was widely viewed as a fact during the that time. Twain demonstrates that a child, Huck, can still possesses values manufactured …show more content…
You can’t pray a lie - I found that out” (161). Huck explains that turning Jim in would be going against what his own morals, but feels an obligation to do what society has told him the “right thing” is. And thus Huck begins to write a letter to Jim’s owner, once he’s finished he says “I felt good and all washed of sin” (161). Though Huck explains that he feels washed of sin, he does not feel as though he’s actually doing the right thing, and resolves to follow his moral compass, “All right then, ill go to hell.” (162). Though he states that he will not be sending the letter, and feels satisfied about his decision, the language he uses implies that by not turning in Jim, will be doing the wrong thing
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