The Moral Development of Huck Finn.
Moral development is the process of becoming yourself, forming your own ideas, opinions and principles. Moral development is made through personal experiences and observations, rather then from others" rules and opinions. In Mark Twain's novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Huck Finn is able to separate himself from his normal, civilized environment, when he runs away. Because Huck is very self-sufficient and adaptable he has no trouble surviving away from civilization. When away from civilization Huck is able to be away from rules and outside opinions and influences, this allows Huck to more-freely think for himself and form his own morals. In his run-away journey Huck Finn morally develops by leaps and bounds but ultimately, when he is put back into civilization, he ends up in the same niche he started in. .
Huck's first step in moral development occurs when he runs away from his drunk, abusive father, who had kidnapped Huck and was denying Huck any moral or physical freedom. Huck's father kidnaps Huck so that Huck will not be more educated and civilized then him and in hope that he will get some of Huck's money.
"I"ll take you down a peg before I get done with you. You"re educated, too, they say - can read and write. You think you"re better then your father, now, don't you, because he can't? I"ll take it out of you. Who told you you might meddle with such hifalut"n foolishness, hey?" (19).
Although Huck doesn't care much for education, civilization, or money and he is content living without them, he cannot live with the abuse of his father. To get away from his father's abuse and to be able to live by his own principles Huck realizes he must run away from his father and civilization. In an elaborate escape Huck is able to free himself from his father and run away. By separating himself from his father Huck puts himself a situation where he can make his own moral decisions rather then his father controlling his morals.