The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (vol. I)

In his autobiography Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglass, Fredrick Douglass makes countless observations on the impact of slavery on the human soul both for the slave and the slave owner. Douglass asserts that slavery not only degrades and dehumanizes the slave, but the slave owner is similarly corrupted. The issue of slavery is explored within Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn through the character of Jim and his relationship with Huck. In the work, Jim is one of the head slaves to Miss Watson. Huck and Jim first meet because Miss Watson took Huck in a kind of adopted son in hopes of civilizing him. The character of Miss Watson becomes a symbol for the civilized world for Huck. Her views on prayer, heaven and hell, education, etc are constantly being tested and examined by Huck. Interestingly, the “civilized” world is the one in which creates the world view which supports the system of slavery and all the injustices which result. Huck is ultimately confronted with the dilemma of accepting conventional morality and civilized life or to help his friend escape the inhumanity of his condition. Huck’s decision to go to Hell rather than allow Jim to be taken back to slavery is the summation of these underlying conflicts which Huck confronts and triumphs over.