Huck Finn Exam 1 (1-23): Essay

Kennedy1

Jazmine Kennedy
Mr. Hughes
English 10 6th hour
31 October 2007
Moral Dilemma in Huck Finn
In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Huck faces a number of moral dilemmas which reveal much about his character. Huck’s character seems like a good character. He has more knowledge and wisdom than most people his age and some older than him. He also has many moral dilemmas that he has to solve.

One moral dilemma that Huck faced was when the slave hunters asked him who was with him. Huck told the slave hunters that the only people with him were his family and that they were all white. This was after Huck said he was going to tell on Jim about being a runaway slave, and before Jim told Huck he was his best friend and the only friend he ever had. This made Huck feel really bad. That’s why he didn’t tell on Jim.

Huck made the right decision. Huck’ decision was the right one because Jim told Huck he was his best friend. Plus in the long run Jim helps out Huck more than he could imagine. Like when the Grangerford’s slaves found Jim, all Jim wanted was for Huck to be safe and he slept outside all those nights just to make sure he was. Also if Huck told on him, Jim would be very disappointed in Huck since he thought they were friends.


Some support that helps Huck’s decision was that in Chapter 18, Page 88, and Paragraph 2, Jim said, “Laws bless you, chile. I’uz right down sho’ you’s dead agin.”
That sentence shows that Jim loves Huck and really cares about him enough to worry about him and to care for him like he is his own child. If Huck would have told on Jim, Huck would be sick on the inside about what he did to his friend.

All in all, Huck has grown since the beginning of the book, especially with wisdom. The moral dilemmas that he faces are for those of higher age, but he takes them as he can and solves his problems the best way that he can. So his decision was a very good one.