An important theme in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is that of the individual vs. Huck is portrayed as an outcast in his village. People rejected him because they see him as a troublemaker. When the story starts its clear that Huck does not want to be a part of society. Widow Douglas decides to "reform" him into acting like a proper, young boy. "The Widow Douglas, she took me as her son, and allowed she would sivilize me: but it was rough living in the house all the time, considering how regular and decent she was in all her ways." (1).
She is the matriarch of civilized society, and could not accept someone different into her social group. The "civilized" widow even tried bribery to lure him if the boy didn't give up his individualism. He defends himself by telling her that he does not care about society's ideal heaven, where good people go; or a hell were troublemakers go. "Why don't you behave? Then she told me all about the bad place and I said I wished I was there. She got mad, then, but I didn't mean no harm. All I wanted was to go somewheres; all I wanted was a change, I wasn't particular. She said it was wicked to say what I said; and she couldn't say it for the whole world. She was going to live so as to go to the good place." (3) .
Even though Huck feels comfortable in his rags, the Widow makes him wear clothing more fit for the village. "She put me in them new clothes again and I couldn't do nothing but sweat and sweat, and feel all cramped up." (1) Like the clothing, the Widow Douglas put on him. Huck's new "sivelized" life is cramping him up as well. .
Huck Finn does not wish to cause trouble, he is happy being out on his own. "I got out into my old rags, and sugar -hogshead again, and was free and satisfied." (1) Huck's individuality is smothered by society's rules of proper clothing. .
Even his best friend Tom Sawyer doesn't accept his individuality.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Mark Twain Plot, Character, and Setting Plot 1. ... N/A Conflict 3. The main type of conflicts in this story is man vs. man and man vs. society. The man vs. man conflict is showed with Pap and his son Huck, Huck is constantly beat and is not taken care of at all, he does not know manners and is in trouble until he gets help. Man vs. society is shown with Jim vs. ...
Of all the thematic issues expressed in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn the most apparent if the feature of movement and constant changing of location. ... Widow Douglas is attempting to assimilate Huck into a society in which he sees as nonsense, but who doesn't consider "Texas Justice" nonsense? This conflict of interest is not the central ironies of this story, but it is also one of the continuing ironies of the American frontier experience. What we have here is a society which is obviously in need of attention. ... The freedom desired by Huck Finn is almost a derivative of this p...
