Huckleberry Finn's Formative Journey The novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, revolves around the protagonist, Huckleberry Finn, as he travels with his former slave by the name of Jim across 1830s America in search of Cairo. As the story progresses, one can see how the characters that Huck interacts with over the course of his journey contribute to his moral and psychological development. Without people of authority telling Huck the difference between right and wrong, he is able to construct his own moral compass based on the interactions that he shares with the people he meets throughout his journey. The physical journey that Huck undergoes throughout the novel directly impacts his internal struggle pertaining to human equality. During the beginning of the novel, Huck struggles with outside influences and who to trust. His morals are almost completely dependent on the people that surround him on a day to day basis. The beginning of his journey commences in his home town, where he is surrounded by a slew of societal norms and expectations, many of which seem difficult for Huck to achieve. Most of the people he is surrounded by, such as Widow Douglas, attempt to, as Huck says "sivilize" him in a way that entails following the social norms that were set in place during that time period (Twain 2). However, these norms included negative and unjust ways of living such as slavery and all around racism. The only thing keeping Huck from completely embracing the Koziolkowsky 2 unjust norms around him is the state of nature he was born into. In the terms of Lockean philosophy, a state of nature is one almost without laws, and only natural right. As said by John Locke in his Two Treatises of Government in a state of nature, "No one ought to harm another in his life, health, Liberty, or possessions" (Locke Sec. 6). Huck's original internal belief that all men are created equal subconsciously fuels his motives to help and free Jim, even though he is not completely aware of it. Huck proceeds to flee from his home life and abusive father to an uninhabited island near by known as Jackson's island. On Jackson's island Huck reunites with his now runaway slave Jim, who plans to venture off towards the town of Cairo so that he can be a free man. Huck and Jim become friends, living off of the land with no discrimination towards one another. The reader can see how without social influences to tell him different, Huck is naturally inclined to think of everyone as equal and not discriminate based on skin color. They become so friendly in fact, that Huck plays a prank on Jim by placing a snake skin close to Jim as he slept, to scare him. Although this prank resulted in the injury of Jim, it was meant by Huck to be a mere joke. Actions such as this on Jackson's island further show that in the beginning of the journey there was no thought of discrimination between the two runaways; however, this is not the case in future chapters. As Huck's journey continues, he begins to question his morals for assisting in Jim's escape to Cairo. He begins to question whether or not it is right for him to be going against widow Douglas by facilitating in the unlawful escape of her slave. These questions are sparked by the second, and consequently the last prank that Huck plays on Jim. When Huck reaches the Koziolkowsky 3 Ohio river with Jim they are surrounded by a "solid white fog" (Twain 84). Huck and Jim are separated and when they reunite Huck attempts to convince Jim that they were never separated and
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The different people that Huck is surrounded by throughout his journey directly impact the creation of his moral compass and for better or for worse. In the end, Huck's journey is successful in helping him build his own conscience, one the sees equality in all people, regardless of skin color. However, his journey is unsuccessful in giving him the strength to be his own person and do what is right no matter what the cost. He is still easily manipulated by others with stronger power of will, regardless of whether or not their views
The different people that Huck is surrounded by throughout his journey directly impact the creation of his moral compass and for better or for worse. In the end, Huck's journey is successful in helping him build his own conscience, one the sees equality in all people, regardless of skin color. However, his journey is unsuccessful in giving him the strength to be his own person and do what is right no matter what the cost. He is still easily manipulated by others with stronger power of will, regardless of whether or not their views