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Moral Growth in Huck Finn

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Moral Growth in Huck Finn
al Moral Growth In the classic American literature novel “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”, by Mark Twain, the main character Huck experiences various occasions of moral growth. Huck matures throughout the story; he learns right from wrong and he learns integrity. The necessity of personal survival in a dangerous environment forces him to make adult decisions and live with the consequences. Huck started learning when he was at fault after he started living with the Widow Douglas and Miss Watson. For example, when he boarded the raft with Jim, “They went off, and I got aboard the raft, feeling bad and low, because I knowed very well I had done wrong…”Huck knew that he was breaking the rules but he decided in his head that it was the right thing to do. He was willing to break the rule of the law for Jim. One of the major turning points in Huck’s moral decisions was when Huck and Jim got lost in the fog while floating down the Mississippi River. “I didn’t do him no more mean tricks, and I wouldn’t done that one if I’d a knowed it would make him feel that way.” Huck knew he had hurt Jim’s feelings and that it was wrong of him to play a trick of that extremity on him because he could see that it wasn’t funny it was a serious matter. Huck learned to treat his friend right and not to play with his emotions in that way. In the end, Huckleberry had matured into a righteous and honorable and compassionate young man. He had grown wise with experience and knowledge. For example, “It don’t make no difference whether you do right or wrong, a person’s conscience ain’t got no sense, and just goes for him anyway.” Huck has reached the sense of maturity where he understands that everyone is different and everyone has their own levels of maturity and integrity. As the story came to an end, Huckleberry Finn matured with integrity, compassion, and honesty. His morals developed with his life experiences. Huck’s morals grew into respectable ones. In conclusion, Huckleberry Finn’s morals grew and developed as he grew and became a man.

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