Tommy Loya

9/30/2015
Honors English III

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Huck understood the Souths laws, tradition and view of black people as being
slaves and, therefore, property. Hester understood the religious beliefs observed by her
community. Both willfully, consciously chose to act against the societal norms, laws, and
observances within their community: Huck is willing to sacrifice for the good and love of
another and Hester seeks love for herself in spite of the consequences.
Hucks rejection of society was helping Jim, a runaway slave escape. Huck gave
his word to help Jim and promised Jim he wouldnt turn him in. Huck knows helping Jim
is against everything he was every taught. Southern thinking was that blacks were
property, not humans. Huck goes against this thinking and helps Jim anyways despite the
consequences.
The whole time Huck is helping Jim his conscience is troubling him, telling him
to do the right thing and turn Jim in. Huck thinks this way because of how society was
at the time and how he was raised to think. Huck goes against his conscience to keep his
word and not turn Jim in. spose youd a gone right and give Jim up, would you felt
better than what you do now? No, says I, Id feel bad - Id feel just the same way I do
now. (Ch. 16 pg. 94).
Huck rejects the thinking of his society and the moral/ religious influence of the

South. He finds freedom from his corrupt society and has Jim to support him. Huck is
willing to escape his life due to all the conflicts in it especially with his dad, who is the
reason Huck runs away in the first place. Huck is willing to escape his father, society and
everything that came from his old life. Huck, during his journey for a new life with Jim is
helped by Jim who is also looking for a new life.
Huck takes several risks throughout helping Jim and himself in search of a new
life. Huck risks his own life to help a runaway slave and if he were to be caught it may
have cost him his life. Huck knows the trouble he will get into for what he is doing but
his conscience later changes, telling him what he used to think was right was wrong all
along. it made me all over trembley and feverish, too, to hear him, because I began to
get it through my head that he was most free and who was to blame for it? Why me I
got to feeling so mean and so miserable I most wished I was dead. (Ch 16 pg.91). This
quote is a prime example of Huck struggling with his conscience because of all that is
happening on his journey.
Huck during his adventure did all it took to protect Jim. Huck lied and told the
men that were looking for escaped slaves that Jim was white. He even lied saying his
father had small pox and was given forty dollars to help him care for his father. Huck
realizes Jim is his only friend and as a friend he defends Jim by doing anything it takes.
Hester rejects society by having an affair and in Puritan society having an affair is
a sin that is worthy of death. Hester was spared and shamed by wearing a scarlet letter on
her breast. Hester had an affair with Dimmesdale, a minister of the town making her sin
that much worst. Dimmesdale is supposed to be a role model, a moral example and leader
of their society but instead he commits this terrible sin of adultery. Hester, just like Huck,

was rejecting society with somebody. Huck had Jim and Hester had Dimmesdale
throughout their conflict.
Hester reacts to society and to the moral/religious influence of the South much
differently then Huck did. Hester wasnt afraid of the consequences of her sin; she simply
loved Dimmesdale. Huck was afraid of being caught with Jim, but he became friends
with him anyway, for what he was doing caused him to lose his fear of what society
would do and think of him. Hester never had this problem but accepted her sin and Pearl
as the outcome of her sin. Hester was supposed to be shameful of her sin and she was at
first, but later the scarlet letter was seen as a different symbol rather than a shameful
symbol. The scarlet letter had not done its office. (Ch. 13 pg. 118) .
Despite the strict rules and consequences of the Puritan society Hester did what
she did. She deliberately rejected the rules and teachings of her society. She not only
rejected the societys rules but her own religious beliefs. She believed she had an affair
out of love, but Dimmesdale put it as what love they had was never love because it was
against the law and they are being punished for what they did.
The main difference between Huck and Hesters rejection of society and reaction
to the moral and religious influence of the South is that Huck did what he did to help
somebody. Hester committed adultery, which not only ruined her life, but ruined
Dimmesdales life and later brought his life to an end due to the guilt of both of their sin.
Adultery is never seen as the right thing to do, but Huck helping Jim was the right thing
to do even though at the time it was not seen in such a way.