In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, Twain compares "sivilzed" behavior to uncivilized behavior throughout the novel. Each comparison helps the reader and Huck discover the difference between the two. When Huck plays tricks on Jim, when Huck helps Jim, and when he explores the characters Pap, the Duke and the King helps show the reader the difference between "sivilized" behavior and uncivilized behavior. Each experience helps educate the reader and helps further Huck's development as a character.
Huck becomes an uncivilized person each and every time he plays tricks on Jim and when he plays on Jim's superstitions. Huck plays on Jim's superstitions when Huck first arrives on the island, when Jim thinks huck is a ghost. " "Doan" hurt me-don't! I hain't ever done no harm to a ghos""(Twain 54). Twain shows how Huck is uncivilized because of the way he acts towards Jim at first. Huck at this point does not care about Jim, only about how funny it will be when Jim reacts to Huck's tricks. " Found a rattlesnake in there. I killed him, and curled up on the foot of Jim's blanket, ever so natural, thinking there"d be some fun when Jim found him there"(68). Twain shows how Huck's childish behavior puts him in the uncivilized category. Huck's tricks end when he pulls a trick on Jim that makes Jim show his real feelings for Huck. "No, you ain" dead! You's back ag"in, "live en soun", jis de same ole Huck-de same ole Huck, thanks to goodness!" "What's the matter with you, Jim? You been a-drinking?""(108). Jim told Huck how he felt about him, it helped Huck figure out that Jim is a person and he has feelings too. Huck can be uncivilized when he does childish things like playing tricks on people, but he also helps Jim even though he thinks it is wrong. .
Huck can be a "sivilized" person when he goes against his conscience and he helps Jim become a free man. When Huck hears that people are going to the island to find Jim and turn Jim in, Huck goes back to warn him.