Social Influences In The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn

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Life is series of decisions. Whether to submit to the ideas of the surrounding environment, or act on one's’ individuality and express independent thoughts and opinions. Humans tend to allow social influences affect their way of thinking. It is easy to be impacted by the thoughts of others because of the condemnation one receives if they decide to break away from the obstinate society that confronts us everyday. In “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”, Mark Twain comically captures the society of the United States in the heat of the Civil War. The country was divided between the north and south, while a young boy named Huckleberry Finn was torn between doing what’s right, or what society expects him to do in a predominantly racist environment. …show more content…
His Pap was an abusive drunk who did not care for him, therefore he lived in St. Petersburg,Missouri with an old widow and Ms. Watson, two seemingly kind women who were willing to sell their slave for a profit. Huck craved adventure and a life outside of societal norms, thus he escaped from his father's imprisonment and journeyed to Jackson Island where he encountered Jim, Ms. Watson’s slave who fled from the separation of his family. The two traveled down the Mississippi river and encountered several obstacles, all the while building a tremendous friendship. Along this journey, Huck realizes the difference between right and wrong in a confusing and racist society. Twain satirizes human tendencies through the use of symbolism and irony to illustrate that freedom from the conventions of society can be broken by one’s willingness to follow their own …show more content…
When Huck was on his own without the guidance of an adult, “The Widow Douglas she took me for her son, and allowed she would sivilize me; but it was rough living in the house all the time, considering how dismal regular and decent the widow was an all..” (Twain 1). Twain strategically misspells the word civilize, as to convey Hucks innocence and youth. He wants the readers to see that this child will not conform to the way of life those around him live. Immediately, even from the first page, the readers catch a glimpse of who Huck is, a boy who will not be “sivilized” by a society in which he does not agree with. Huck continues to disagree with the concepts the women try to thrust upon him. In Missouri in the late 19th century, religion is part of life. However as Miss Watson tries to explain the idea of a god or “providence” to Huck he finds it rather hypocritical. "Then Miss Watson she took me in the closet and prayed, but nothing come of it. She told me to pray every day, and whatever I asked for I would get it. But it warn’t so. I tried it" (11). There is this idea amongst society, that if you pray you will be cleansed of the wrongdoings you commit daily. Miss watson believes Huck is a troubled boy who needs salvation from himself. However in actuality, Huck doesn’t believe that religion can help with the difficult decision of
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