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The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Question #1

In chapter 15 ofThe Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1885) by Mark Twain, Huck deceives Jim

into believing Jim only did dream(88) their separation in the monstrous big river (85). Huck

pretended he had been laid down under Jim's nose (87) the whole time after Jim worried he was dead

(En you ain dead 87). Huck realizes this was a mean [trick] (89) and wouldn't [have] done that

(89) if Huck knew Jim would feel like a fool (89). Feeling so mean that he would have almost

kissed [Jim's] foot, his heart pushes him to humble [him]self (89). Despite the conscience preventing

Huck from work[ing] [him]self up to (89) apologize to Jim (89), Huck never regrets his decision to

overcome his Southern proclivity for racism (warn't ever sorry for it afterwards 89). This internal

struggle is highlighted by his use of diction in the word nigger (89); Huck battles his original notions of

black slavery with his affection for Jim. Twain wants the reader to listen to their heart over their

conscience. In Twain's depictions, the heart is generally good and just, while the conscience is fabricated

by society.

Later, in chapter 16, Huck debates whether or not he should have paddled ashore and [told]

somebody that Jim was a runaway slave. Persuaded by his deformed conscience's reasoning of Miss

Watson's kindness (see her nigger go off and never say a single word 91) and Jim's ambitions (give

a nigger an inch and he'll take an ell 91), Huck almost decides to paddle ashore and tell (92) but

Huck's friendship- his sound heart- take[s] the tuck all out of him (90) and prevents this egregious

mistake. Huck's innate views of African Americans as property from Southern mannerisms impedes him

from understanding his own hypocrisy; Huck is stunned by the fact Jim would steal his children (91)

although Jim should obviously have the right to be with his own kin without pay. Ignoring his pride ( I'd

lick boots for shame 215), diverting the plain hand of Providence (215), ripping Miss Watson's note

(Miss Watson your runaway nigger is down here 216 tore it up 217) and, finally, proclaiming he

would go to hell (217), Huck ultimately values Jim's emancipation and their friendship above societal

norms influenced by his conscience.

Twain , Mark. Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn . Updated ed. New York: Bloom's Literary Criticism, 2007. Print.