Again, Huck is a mere figment of the author's imagination; therefore, when confronted with a dangerous situation, he is able to make correct choices for himself, at the young age of 12. It is hard to believe that most real world 12-year-old children would be capable of making the same good choices when left to their own devices. Granted, Huck was accustomed to a life of neglect, which would feasibly enable him to deal better with the atrocities and demands of his particular situation, but the sadness lies in the fact that he had become accustomed to such a life in the first place. .
In today's world, children are seen as individuals who have certain rights as human beings, and who are worthy of external (or non family) protection. This has not always been the case. For the better part of the 19th century, there were no rules or regulations in effect that prevented the mistreatment of children, since they were thought to be completely under the control of their immediate family (University of Delaware). It was not until 1874 that the first organization concerned with the protection of children was established in New York. The group called themselves the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (SPCC), after the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), which was an organization in England that had existed for about 50 years (Waldfogel 71). The SPCC came to be because of one horribly abused little girl named Mary Ellen Wilson. Due to the lack of programs available for abused and neglected children, Mary Ellen was initially saved by the SPCA (University of Delaware). The historical lack of concern for the welfare of our youngest citizens is appalling. How is it possible that an organization that protects the rights of animals existed for 50 years before an organization that protects the rights of children? It was possible because children were obviously not seen as important, or worthy of saving.
