The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain - 1434 Words

When one is presented with a difficult choice, two paths reveal themselves - the selfish path and the philanthropic one. Many times, unknowingly, a single choice shapes an individual and his whole future. An uninformed, impromptu decision can lead to an individual becoming infatuated with self-indulgence, even at the cost of others. Correspondingly, the same choice can lead an individual to living an altruistic lifestyle. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain, Huckleberry Finn, the main character, is an uncivilized, carefree individual whose life is devoted to pulling pranks on others. This easy-going personality, leads him on an adventure. As he tries to escape the grasps of Miss Watson, on his journey, he is challenged†¦show more content†¦In Jim, he sees kindness, compassion, and integrity. Ultimately, this is what dissuades him from turning Jim in - Huck remembers Jim s company, Jim would always call me honey and do everything he could think of for me, an d how good he always was (Twain 95). Jim treats Huck with kindness and respect. Huck slowly realizes that even Jim, a slave, is a human-being. He questions the beliefs that had been inculcated in him from an early age. He goes on to help Jim evade imprisonment by lying to men who are trying to capture runaway slaves. Huck tells the men that his father has smallpox and deceives them into letting him, and Jim, leave. Huck’s action goes against everything he knows. He feels guilty for tricking the men (not turning in Jim), but conclusively states, â€Å"So I reckoned I wouldn’t bother no more about [right and wrong], but after this always do whichever comes handiest at the time†(Twain 120). Huck begins to realize that he should not feel shame for something that he feels is right. He learns that as an individual, he has the right to a set of beliefs - molded from his experiences - and that he does not have to do what is â€Å"socially acceptable†. As the story progresses, Huck s views change drastically. Scattered instances of childish, irresponsible actions still occur, but they are accompanied by periods of reflection. An example, is when he tricks Jim into believing that he was dreaming about the fog. When