The pursuit of freedom in; The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, is easily summed up as, Man is free at the moment he wishes to be. Freedom in this book implies freedom from imperative and society. Huck and Jim endeavor to seek freedom from social constraints and a burden of individual sin and guilt. The quest by the two as illustrated by Twin is break way from civilization to acquired freedom. The value that Huck a young child puts on freedom more than anything in life seen as the main theme in the novel. Douglass, a widow, is on a mission to civilize him Huck thought Huck finds it rough living in her house all the time. When the suffering becomes unbearable Huck escapes and finds that he is more satisfied and free (Twain, 69). The challenge of living with a widow brings out the idea of Hucks quest for freedom. Although, the widow wants to civilize Huck, Huck was in dire need of liberty and satisfaction. It is evident that the novels idea in the beginning is freedom, but the ending reinstates Hucks desire for sovereignty. The novel ends with Huck planning to venture into a different territory to avoid civilization by Aunt Sally. Individual sin and guilt are not well connected to the story. Twain attacks the concept of religion; this is due to the contradiction the Christians put themselves in by forcing slaves to become practicing Christians.
A correlation exists between Hucks quest for freedom and Jims search for freedom from slavery. Jim uses society background to set his quest for freedom. Jims confession to Huck shows that he is determined to gain freedom from slavery burden (Twain & Keble, 2014). When Jim finds out of the evil intentions by Miss Watson of selling him upriver, he is motivated to run away. By sharing the common goal of freedom, the two create a close relationship that is evident in the throughout the novel. However, in the end when the widow dies Jim is granted his freedom, unlike Hack. Jim had no intentions of freeing himself from the burden of individual sin and guilt. Jim planned to free his family though Huck was not in agreement with the idea.
Although the characters mind is filled with thoughts of guilt, the freedom from individual guilt and individual sin was not the main issue (Twain, 34). Huck felt guilty for becoming an accomplice in Jims freedom search, but soon he realized that it was for a good course.
Twain's view of slavery and pious religious concepts of the southerners are the peaks of the books contradictory absurdity (Twain & Keble 48). The freedom was from people in search of the burden of individual sin and guilt. The character surrounding Huck and Jim were walking representation of religious freedom. Both Huck and Jim got freedom at the opportune time.
Mark Twain began writing Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, in Jully 1876 exactly one century after the declaration of American independence. The novel illustrates the social limitations that the American civilization imposes on individual freedom; the book highlights the ways in which racism infringes the lives of Afro- Americans, despite being legally free. It is ironic that Huckleberry Fin faces attacks and is censored a racist
Work Cited
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Adams, Jennifer, Alison Oliver, and Mark Twain. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: A Camping Primer. , 2014. Print.
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Jarnow, Jesse. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Race in America. New York: Rosen Pub. Group, 2004. Print.
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