Essay About Hucks Major Decisions And Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn

The Religion of Huckleberry Finn
Essay title: The Religion of Huckleberry Finn
Religion is a simple concept to learn. Websters dictionary defines religion
as: “belief in a divine or superhuman power or powers to be obeyed and
worshipped as the creator(s) and ruler(s) of the universe.” Although it is
understood what religion is, not everyone has the same views. There are
numerous varieties and sub-vrieties of religions. In fact, religion can be so
diverse that one might say that he or she is of the same religion as another
person but the way he or she demonstrates their beliefs may be dramatically
different. In the novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain,
writes about a young boys growing and maturing experiences one summer as he
travels down the Mississippi River. One of the things that this boy, Huck
Finn, discovers is how religion affects his lifestyle. Huckleberry Finns
views of religion have an impact on many essential points in the episodic
novel. Religion has an effect on three of Hucks major decisions throughout
the novel. His religion is tested when he first decides to help Jim run away.
His religion is tested when he lies to most of the people he meets traveling
down the Mississippi River, and Huckleberrys religion is tested when he
decides to help Jim escape from slavery for good.
Huckleberry Finn was raised without a strong religious influence. Hucks
father being a raging alcoholic, and Huck living mostly on his own, were two
of the factors that contributed to this. Pap came to visit him one night and
expressed his negative thoughts on school and religion. “First you know
youll get religion, too. I never see such a son” (Twain 20). Despite these
warnings, the Widow Douglas continued to teach Huck. Later in the novel,
these teaching have consequential effects on Huck.
Hucks religious morals are first tested when he decides to help the Widows
slave escape to freedom. During the time that The Adventures of Huckleberry
Finn took place, slavery was not uncommon. In the beginning of the story,
Huck displays similar beliefs as the people that are raising him; blacks are
considered property and not people. Huck chooses to help Jim run away despite
the fact that he knows that Jim is considered property and helping him would
be like stealing. The widow tries to convert Huck to Christianity. She
preaches all about heaven, hell, and the things that one should do to get to
either place. Huck is not too concerned about either, obviously, because he
helps Jim run away.
As Jim and Huck travel down the Mississippi, Huck, at first, does not think
much of the fact that he is helping Jim escape to freedom. As the novel
progresses, though, Huck begins to think about the consequences of his
actions. The things that the Widow had previously worked diligently to
install in Huck had some effect on him. This is apparent for the first time
when Jim expresses his anxiety to become free. This makes Huck feel nervous
of the deed that he is doing. “Well I can tell you it made me all over
trembly