Huck Finn Essay

Macda Gerard
AP English 11: Mr. George
March 25, 2009
Huck Finn Essay

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2) Societal constraints have been a large influence on Huck’s life and behavior, but that soon changes with the renewal of his mind. In the novel, society is displayed as unjust and excessive. Miss Watson forced Huck to eat, speak, and think properly against his will. Pap allowed Huck to escape the formality of society, while still constraining Huck through his lenient influence, but also his violent nature. Both were responsible for molding Huck’s decision making, but also hindering his ability to think for himself up until he rids himself of the differing views and creates his own path. Society is demanding of Huck’s conformity, but ultimately fails, which gives him the opportunity of acting outside of the corrupted society.

Huck finds felicity and contentment in the woods because that is where he was raised and feels most comfortable. He did not have the luxury of attending school, nor of having nice clothes, so when such things are offered to him, Huck feels constricted and uncomfortable:
“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 in all her ways; and so when I couldn't stand it no longer I lit out. I got into my old rags and my sugar-hogshead again, and was free and satisfied” (Twain 9).
At Miss Watson’s house, Huck was forced to act with great propriety and attend school. Proper etiquette and education were of the utmost importance, and valued over what Huck was taught by his father. One can hold the supposition that being educated and instructed on proper etiquette is what Miss Watson and the Widow Douglas believed was truly best for Huck; however, this does not prevent him from going against these restrictions and reverting back to what he is accustomed to.

Pap was indeed lenient in raising Huck; however, he was also partly responsible for influencing Huck’s decisions. Society calls for a high sense of propriety and good manners, but Pap and Huck were certainly lacking: “I didn’t want to go back no more. I had stopped cussing, because the widow didn’t like it; but now I took to it again because pap hadn’t no objections. It was pretty good times up in the woods there, take it all around” (34). Huck could do and say whatever he pleased without having to walk on eggshells. His rebellion against the proper rules and regulations of society is a direct result of the fact that he was not born into such a system. Nonetheless, Pap certainly held societal influenced beliefs that contributed to Huck formulating his own views.

Miss Watson and Pap unquestionably have differing opinions and values regarding a child’s upbringing. Pap shows this when recognizing that Huck is attending school: “You’re educated, too, they say; can read and write…I’ll take it out of you. Who told you you might meddle with such hifault’n foolishness, hey?” (29). Pap does not value education and good manners, while Miss Watson’s sole attempt for the betterment of Huck was through proper etiquette and education. While offering a contrasting view on manners, both Miss Watson and Pap share the same societal view about slavery.

With the enormous disparity of beliefs between Pap and Miss Watson, it is difficult to grasp how they could possibly agree on anything. Nonetheless, they both share common beliefs regarding slavery. Society teaches that slavery is acceptable and a necessity. It makes blacks subordinate to whites regardless of if a white man is at the top or bottom of the class structure. With Miss Watson and Pap disagreeing on the good part of society, but agreeing on the shameful aspects of society, one is forced to question the sensibleness of the belief. Slavery is such an abominable practice and for Miss Watson to disagree on the good and agree on owning human being, it makes slavery seen absurd. These influences certainly aid in Huck’s formulation of his own ideas.

Huck goes off on his own escaping societal pressures, and later finds refuge with Jim on the river. In every decision Huck makes, it is evident that he draws on the influences of Miss Watson and Pap, often attempting to find a mean between the disparate views. Doing so is not always successful and simply forces him to formulate his own morals and values: “Well, I says to myself at last, I’m agoing to chance it; I’ll up and tell the truth this time, though it does seem most like setting down on a kag of powder and touching it off just to see where you’ll go to” (200). Huck’s muddled moral process was unclear solely because of the many influences he had in his life. However, it is clear that Huck overcomes his muddled thought process and decides to go out on a limb and tell the truth for once: “here’s a case where I’m blest if it don’t look to me like the truth is better, and actuly safer, than a lie” (200). Huck forming his own thoughts can also be seen through his relationship with Jim.

Huck had always understood, from both Miss Watson and Pap, that slavery was a standard practice that was acceptable. However, when hearing such different views on other matters, and finally hearing an agreement on the subject of slavery, Huck is forced to reevaluate slavery and create his own opinion. Informing Tom of his plan, “ ‘You’ll say it’s a dirty low-down business; but what if it is—I’m low down; and I’m agoing to steal him, and I want you to keep mum and not let on’” (240), Huck is blatantly choosing to act against what society deems to be normal.

With the onset of Huck’s moral dilemma, he took on others’ opinions in decision making and determining what was good and bad. Escaping such influences placed Huck outside of society, which gave him the opportunity to make independent decisions. Huck’s bad upbringing gives him the opportunity to be just in an unjust society, ultimately resulting in his independence.