Huck Finn Vs. 19th Cevtury Ethnics Essay -- essays research papers

Ninetieth Century Morals vs. Hucks ConscienceSometimes making a stand for what is right, especially when it istotally against the customary beliefs of society, washbasin never be an easyaccomplishment.In the novel, The Adventures Huckleberry Finn by, Mark Twain, themain character Huck, encounters many situations involving a question ofmorality. Considering the traditional protocol of his society, Huck must remove between his conscience or public ethics. In many cases Huck goeswith his conscience, which always proves to be proper selection. Ironically,what Huck believes in, unapproved of in the ninetieth century, is the basis of reliable beliefs in our modern world. Huck lives with the guilt that all hischoices could be considered immoral based on his society yet, actually hisbeliefs could be just in coincidence to mans conscience. Three of the majorinstances in the novel when Hucks beliefs contrast those of the ninetiethcentury are when he questions the outcome of Jim, when he t ries tocomprehend the concept of the feud, and when he must decide whether tosave the men on the Sir Walter Scott. Although Hucks choices concerning Jims life can be apprehension to bethe moral and proper choices, Huck is pounded by his societys teachings theBlack men are property. When Huck first escapes from Pap and sets up refugee camp on Jackson Island, he finds Jim has also found refuge there from thewidow and Mrs. Watson. Huck is stunned at first when Jim tells him heescaped, because Huck knows that Mrs. Watson owns Jim, which makes himher rightful(prenominal) property. throng would call me a low-down Abolitionist anddespise me for keeping mum,(Twain 43) Huck knows that if he helped Jimthat would make him an abolitionist, which could not be accepted role in theninetieth century. Huck decides that he would help Jim escape, as he wouldnever return to the town so it wouldnt matter if he took Jim with him. Aftera long raft-ride, Huck and Jim are finally about to reach Cairo, whi ch on theirarrival would make Jim free. With the smell of freedom, Jim rambles onabout how he would buy his married woman and then steal his children. This sets off aspark in Huck, igniting his conscience and making him very uneasy. Huckcouldnt believe that Jim would steal property... ... oftruth and intelligence, and superstar that should be entrusted in every persons soulno matter if they are living in the Ninetieth century or today. This conclave of the three instances shows the dramatic differencebetween Hucks conscience and the standard customs of the Ninetiethcentury. Huck showed great maturity and integrity in standing up for whathe believed was the right choice. Although he believed his choices wereimmoral or unethical, we now know that it was quite the opposite, as themoral standards of this time were in marrow squash the unethical choices andHucks were the proper choices. Huck could see the importance offriendship over possessions, and risked his life saving a run-away slavebecause of the uncomfortable amour propre he would experience had he turnedin Jim. This portrayal of childhood knowledge can be examined in todayssociety also. People grow to be prejudiced against certain types of people,just as Huck was as he was growing up. Luckily, Huck overcame this inbornprejudice by examining what really counts in life, and this is a lesson thateveryone, from previous societies to today, needs to listen to.