Huck Finn Essay

Many authors select certain themes in their novels in which to teach the reader some sort of lesson. In the book “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”, the author Marc Twain uses his characters to guide the reader along a journey where lessons are learned through experiences. The essential themes he uses include freedom, religion, superstition, education, and nature.

Freedom is discussed in depth throughout the novel due to the pre-civil war setting. Jim, an African-American slave, is used to depict the unjust treatment of slaves in that time period. “Well there’s five niggers run off tonight, up yonder above the head of the bend. Is your man white or black?”(106). This quote shows that people were determined to catch Jim just so that he would not be free. Another example of freedom is Huck’s longing to live out on his own not having to abide by the rules society has set. “The Widow Douglas, she took me for her son, and allowed she would sivilize me… and so when I couldn’t stand it no longer, I lit out” (3). This quote shows how even Widow Douglas tries to change Huck’s ways but he refuses to give in. He would rather live his life freely and not be restricted in doing the things he likes to do.

Religion is also a strong belief held in that time period. Many people pushed the issue while a select few chose not to. For example, “and she took a set at me now, with a spelling book. She worked me middling hard for about an hour, and then the Widow made her ease up”(4). This shows that Miss Watson was a strong believer in God and tried to get Huck to agree with her ideas. The quote, “Then she told me all about the bad place and I said I wished I was there”(5). Huck says this due to the nagging of Miss Watson when religion isn’t an important value of his.

As with today, in Huck’s time an education was something of great value and was looked highly upon. Pap, Huck’s father, disagreed greatly with this. “You’re educated, too, they say; can read and write. You...