Huckleberry Finn
Comparing civilization today to that of two hundred years ago, many differences are apparent. However, basic instinct never changes. People of this generation have been bred into a natural civilization, and do not often find conflicts between instinct and civilization for this reason. In the nineteenth century, instinct and civilization had almost nothing in common. There are the people who were raised "properly," spending their time in Sunday school and receiving a proper education. And, on the other hand, there are those who live in the land and off of the land, unaware and uncaring of this "civilization" lurking about. In the novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain uses the character Huck Finn to portray a contrast between basic human instinct and the falsity of civilization during that time. Huck's lack of civilized upbringing makes him the perfect candidate for the part.For most of Huck's life, he raises himself. Having no authority or rules to follow, he lives his life out of basic human instinct. That is all he knows, until the Widow Douglas adopts him. The widow tries time and again to civilize him, sometimes succeeding, but Huck remains wild at heart. "The Widow
Huck is constantly engaging in a mental battle of instinct vs. civilization. This is shown most clearly when Huck is debating whether or not it is right to help a Negro achieve freedom. Huck's instinct is the reason he helps Jim (the Negro) in the first place. He enjoys Jim's company and comes to view Jim as a friend, rather than a slave, as civilized society would have it. Huck understands that civilization would frown upon his decision to help Jim. Because he has gained this understanding, he must wrestle between societies "right" and what he feels truly is right. "I was trying to make my mouth say I would do the right thing and the clean thing, and go and write to that nigger's owner and tell where he was; but deep down in me I knowed it was a lie..."(Twain 213). In his heart Huck feels that Jim deserves freedom. He feels that Jim is his friend and it would be wrong to betray him. However, because of the prejudices society has imposed upon him, Huck believes that it is wrong to feel such things. Ultimately, Huck's heart is stronger than his mind. He decides his friendship with Jim is more important to him than societies "rights and wrongs". "I was a-trembling, because I'd got to decide, forever, betwixt two things, a
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Approximate Word count = 834
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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