Essay On The Role Of Society In Huckleberry Finn

In Huckleberry Finn the role of society plays a huge part on everyone, but especially Huck and Jim. As Huck grew up in the deep south, slavery wasn’t just an event that was going on in the background of life, it was the way of life. “Humans can be awful cruel to one another” (pg. 1328) This quote perfectly describes the lifestyle of the deep south and is one of the moments when Huck realizes that things are not morally right in society. It not only describes Huck’s situation, but also the way that society in a whole is represented. Even though society is morally wrong, it doesn’t really affect Huck’s overall moral compass. “Right is right, and wrong is wrong, and a body ain’t got no business doing wrong when he ain’t ignorant and knows better.” (pg. 1338) Jim was obviously heavily affected by society as he was part of the slave society. “Jim said that bees won't sting idiots, but I didn't believe that, because I tried them lots of times myself and they wouldn't sting me.” (pg. 1215) This quote even though isn’t directly from Jim himself I feel like it describes the person that he is perfectly. He is the most affected by society and yet he still continues to somehow absolutely horrifying things and put a positive spin
It points out that many people try to follow the American Dream, but it is distorted and corrupted by evil. Slavery runs rampant and no one feels the need to stop it, and people let it go on in daily life and refuse to bring it to light. Twain does a good job of making these people look like they’re good people and have good intentions, but he also hits you with the fact that these same people own and use slaves for labor to bring you right back to down to reality. The only ray of hope that Twain gives us is Huck and Jim, but they are constantly on the run and feel like underdogs in a society that isn’t ready to face the roots of evil that they have