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Examples Of Civilization In Huckleberry Finn

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Examples Of Civilization In Huckleberry Finn
“Civilization is a limitless multiplication of unnecessary necessities.” (More Maxims of Mark, Johnson, 1927) Throughout The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain incorporates the theme of civilization (or society) versus freedom. Repeatedly, the characters long for freedom and aim to escape the grasp of society. Mark Twain also said that “the only very marked difference between the average civilized man and the average savage is that the one is gilded and the other is painted” (Mark Twain’s Notebook).

Freedom is very important to the characters of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Frequently, Huck yearns to be free of petty manners and religion. When he couldn’t stand living the “dismal regular and decent” (Twain 11) life with the Widow, he ran away and lived in his old rags. “When you got to the table you couldn’t go right to eating, but you had to wait for the widow to tuck down her head and grumble a little over the victuals, though there warn’t really anything the matter with them-that is, nothing only …show more content…
A portion of the decisions made by Huck Finn were influenced by aspects of society. Huck said he “got to feeling so mean and so miserable I most wished I was dead” (Twain 92) while he was helping Jim escape. Also, how Huck viewed Jim in the first days of their travels was influenced greatly by societal views. Living in the south, racial prejudice impacted Huck’s conscience. In addition, civilization poses as an adversary to Huck. Huck revels in living in a dirty and impolite way. When the Widow Douglas tries to make him live in a civilized way, he is uncomfortable and unhappy. “But I reckon I got to light out for the territory ahead of the rest, because Aunt Sally she’s going to adopt me and sivilize me, and I can’t stand it. I been there before” (Twain 283) Huck does not enjoy civilization and society. In all, the presence of civlization and society is
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