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Moral Compass of Huckleberry Finn

 

            In "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," by Mark Twain, Huckleberry Finn is influenced by many different forces that shape his moral compass and affect his values, beliefs, and actions. In the beginning of the book, Huck learns what it means to be "sivilized". Huck does not enjoy to be "civilized" so he breaks away by running away. Huck also fights with two main voices, one siding with society, having him turn in Jim, and the other is keeping Jim safe because he is a friend.
             Huck learns from Widow Douglas what it means to be "sivilized" and he could not stand acting that way so he ran away the first time. To be "sivilized" you need to believe in God, be religious, but Huck has no interest in this, "After supper she got out her book and learned me about Moses and the Bulrushers; and I was in a sweat to find out all about him; but by-and-by she let it out that Moses had been dead a considerable long time; so I didn't care no more about him; because I don't take no stock in dead people" (2). Huck does not really care for Moses because he is dead and has been for a long time. Huck also meets Widow Douglas sister, Miss Watson. After meeting her, he is unwilling to act civilized for Miss Watson because of his dislike for her, "She said it was wicked to say what I said; said she wouldn't say it for the whole world; she was going to live so as to go to the good place. Well, I couldn't see no advantage in going where she was going, so I made up my mind I wouldn't try for it" (2). Huck does not see any good coming out of going to where she would be going, which would be heaven. He would not want to be there if she was also there, so he decides to not do anything worthy of letting him get into heaven. The significance of his behavior is that he does not want to act like everyone else, who are civilized, who are well-behaved, polite to their superiors, and sticking to the status of their race.


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