Throughout Huckleberry Finn, Huck is pitted against society's influence in his encounters with the strange, stereotypical people he meets along the Mississippi River. These people reflect many common social values, such as conformity, racism, and negligence of nightmares and frightening images; Huck, however, uses his individualism to avoid the cloud of society, relying on his instincts to guide him through life and fend off the nonsensical ideas which he chooses not to believe. As Huck departs on his journey, he intends to and does liberate himself from the reigns of society, using his strong individual character to overcome social barriers. Society, in return, chooses to ignore Huck and his individualism, removing him from the structure that Huck so desperately fears. He does, however, come to rea

Huck grew up on his own, uncivilized in manner and habit and detached from the structure and ideals of society. His actions show his dislike of conformation to society, particularly in response to the Widow Douglas who took him "for her son, and allowed she would sivilize [him]" (13). He felt "it was rough living in the house all the time", and did not enjoy "how dismal regular and decent the widow was in all her ways" (3); Huck rushes to escape, and after reuniting with his comfortable, ragged clothing, he "was free and satisfied" (3) with living his rugged lifestyle. The new clothes that the widow forces him to wear cause Huck to "sweat and sweat, and feel all cramped up" (4), symbolic of the constriction he feels society has places on him. The restrictions appear again when Miss Watson scolds him and tells him not to put his feet up, to sit up straight, and to behave. Huck also rejects social concepts such as religion and racism. When the widow teaches him about Moses, he does not care at all about the biblical lesson, insistent that he "don't take no stock in dead people" (4).

Huck is aware of the standards of society that have, in several cases, influenced his decisions, but he refuses to submit entirely to these social codes and continues to follow his own sense of right and wrong. Huck is often commended for his strength as an individual, floating freely along the River and choosing to do whatever he feels he must. Although he can been seen as a rebel against society, his actions are morally just, leading him to do good in most situations he encounters. It is unfortunate that while Huck chooses to detach himself from society, society and its conforming people act against Huck, showing him little attention and care. In Huck and Jim's case, however, it is better this way as this separation from society brings them one step closer to the physical liberation of Jim and the natural freedom that Huck desires.

lize his status in relatio

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1318
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)