Morally righteous (miranda gray)
Huck Finn’s narration revolves significantly on his internal moral struggles with his wants and beliefs. Growing up, Huck was raised to believe that Caucasians were the superior race and that African-Americans were inferior. He was forced to reconsider his personal feelings and friendship for an escaped slave, whom it was morally wrong to associate with. However, later in the novel he becomes friends with this slave, named Jim, and he gives him a one-hundred and fifty dollar cross to him for just one dollar. Before he hands him this gift to help out his family, he tells Jim, "Please take it," says I, "and don't ask me nothing – then I won't have to tell no lies" (22). Although lying and conceiving others is a major theme seen throughout the novel, the beginning of the novel shares its own special aversion of deception. Huck experiences through the course of the story to trust his moral instincts despite that the society may frown upon him. An example of this would be when Huck meets Jim on the island and although he is against the idea of Jim running away. The following conversation of the boys illustrates that although Huck felt morally wrong, he kept it a secret in order to say this man's life:
"Well, I b'lieve you, Huck. I – I RUN OFF." -- Jim
"Jim!" ... -- Huck
"But mind, you said you wouldn' tell – you know you said you wouldn' tell, Huck." -- Jim
"Well, I did. I said I wouldn't, and I'll stick to it. Honest INJUN, I will. People would call me a low-down Abolitionist and despise me for keeping mum – but that don't make no difference. I ain't a-going to tell, and I ain't a-going back there, anyways. So, now, le's know all about it." -- Huck (55).
Although readers get the hint that Huck enjoys making up tales, he values a great deal on keeping his word. In fact, keeping his word to Jim appears to be more important to Huck than the fate of his own reputation. He was amazingly strong-willed and deeply in-touch with his own personal sense of morality to turn away from society’s pressures and the law’s threats.
"Well, I b'lieve you, Huck. I – I RUN OFF." -- Jim
"Jim!" ... -- Huck
"But mind, you said you wouldn' tell – you know you said you wouldn' tell, Huck." -- Jim
"Well, I did. I said I wouldn't, and I'll stick to it. Honest INJUN, I will. People would call me a low-down Abolitionist and despise me for keeping mum – but that don't make no difference. I ain't a-going to tell, and I ain't a-going back there, anyways. So, now, le's know all about it." -- Huck (55).
Although readers get the hint that Huck enjoys making up tales, he values a great deal on keeping his word. In fact, keeping his word to Jim appears to be more important to Huck than the fate of his own reputation. He was amazingly strong-willed and deeply in-touch with his own personal sense of morality to turn away from society’s pressures and the law’s threats.