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The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain, is about the many exploits of an orphaned boy named Huck, and a runaway slave named Jim. Huck is caught in a struggle between the values he has been taught are right, and the values his conscience dictates. This internal struggle is portrayed in the raft scene in which Huck and Jim encounter slave hunters. This dilemma portrays Huck s biggest test; a situation in which he is required to reach down inside his heart and make a moral choice. In this example and throughout the novel, society s idea of right, and Huck s own beliefs about slavery, and Jim, create internal conflicts that tests Huck s conscience. In the raft scenes, Huck is not doing what is right according to society.
By harboring Jim on the raft, and helping him escape to freedom he disobeys essential teachings that have been taught to him by the Widow Douglas. Through these teachings of the Widow, Huck is conflicted about accepting that slaves are bad. In the novel, Huck has come close to notifying someone about Jim, but his conscience always tells him not to do so. This is exemplified in the following quote: They went off, and I got aboard the raft, feeling bad and low, because I know very well I had done wrong Then I thought a minute, and says to myself, hold on-s pose you d a done right and give Jim up; would you felt better than what you do now?
No, says I. (p. 69) The decision Huck makes about Jim and slavery is effected greatly by their encounter with the slave hunters. At this time Huck is faced with the option of either turning Jim into the two white men or lying to conceal Jim s whereabouts. This is portrayed in the following quote: I got to feeling so mean and so miserable I most wished I was dead (p. 66) This quote shows just how badly Huck was feeling. At this point he rationalizes that returning Jim to the Widow will be the best decision, and right to do. As Huck sets out to get information on Cairo, and at that time tell on Jim, Jim yells out, Jim won t ever forgot you, Huck; you s de bes fren Jim s ever had; en you s de only fren ole Jim s got now. (p. 67) This remark by Jim stirs up Huck s conscience even more, and makes him more reluctant to disclose Jim s whereabouts. In this example it is seen that Huck had the perfect opportunity to turn Jim to the slave hunters.
However, once again, Huck searches his moral feelings, and decides he would rather sin than hurt his friend Jim by giving him to the hunters. As exemplified by these scenes, Huck reaches down into his heart to find out what is right about Jim. It is the strong relationship between Jim and Huck that plays a major role in this process. Before their travels Huck regarded Jim as a piece of property; just another nigger. The friendship transforms Huck s beliefs because before their travels Huck judged a person only by the color of their skin. Now he judges a person from what they have to offer inside not by their outward appearance.
Now because of these new beliefs, Huck considers Jim a human being and a friend. Throughout the novel Huck strives to conform with society s rules and ideas, but after Huck forms a close relationship with Jim, society s beliefs are no longer right according to Huck. With some conflict, Huck tries to find his own definition of right about slavery and Jim. Nowhere is this more evident than in Huck s encounter with the slave hunters. Huck s conscience and heart tells him that it hurts him more to turn against a friend than to be right in the eyes of society.
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Research essay sample on Encounter With The Slave Hunters Slavery And Jim Huck
