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Thesis: The decisions Huck makes regarding Jim’s freedom reflect the kind of person he is and how he is developing (changing).


Decision One

Good:
He keeps a promise- honorable.
He sees Jim as a human being, even a friend, an equal.
His instinct to make a promise to a slave without knowing the secret shows his instinctive goodness.
Bad:
He doesn’t really think about it- it’s just an easy decision.
He wants a companion anyway- selfish, but not in a mean way.
He doesn’t want to be discovered- selfish, but not in a mean way.
He is aware of the consequences but decides that since he’s not going back, so he doesn’t have to deal with them- immature.

Development or knowledge yet? No- it’s too early.

What do we learn?
Society’s influence is strong.
Huck is instinctively good.

Questions:
Will Huck change?
If so, how?


Decision Two

Good:
He struggles with trying to make the moral decision- he has an inner conflict.
His willingness to put more thought into it shows development.
His ultimate decision- which is instinctive in that he blurts it out despite his earlier vow to tell on Jim- shows his instinctive and inherent goodness.
Bad:
His decision is still not based purely on Jim’s welfare- some selfishness.
Huck is still not willing to completely sacrifice for Jim yet. He lies and protects them both.
The decision is good, but it’s not necessarily conscious- immature.
Afterwards, Huck realizes it is a lose/lose situation- he would feel badly whatever he chooses, so he vows to do whatever is easiest in the future- immature.
Huck makes excuses for himself- immature.

Development or knowledge yet? Yes some…
Although the ultimate decision comes out instinctively, Huck does think a lot about what he should do. He is changing.
He takes Jim into consideration more than he did in his first decision, even if the decision is not just about Jim. Thinking of others is part of maturing.
It is easy to see that Huck likes and respects Jim- he doesn’t want to hurt Jim.
He learns that no matter what he chooses, he would feel badly. He learns that he should do what’s easier for him in the future, because there is no point in doing what is “right”.

What do we learn?
Society’s influence is strong- look at how Huck struggles before and afterwards. He feels like he is a bad person for protecting Jim.
Huck believes he would feel badly no matter what he decides to do- it is a lose/lose situation. This shows the negative influence of society.
Huck feels like he has done the wrong thing, but the “right” thing felt wrong. This helps convey the idea that humans are essentially good, but society’s teachings corrupt us.
Inner conflict: Huck has internalized the voice of society, so he feels a conflict between his heart and his intellect. But society’s voice is influencing his intellect.
DRAMATIC IRONY!!!! Huck feels like he has done the wrong thing, but the reader knows his decision, albeit instinctive, is the right decision. Huck is a good person, not a bad person.
The use of dramatic irony shows Twain using this decision to show development in Huck, to satirize society (for being racist and for indoctrinating people, keeping them from thinking for themselves) and to convey an important theme about questioning what we’re taught.

Questions:
How does society define “mature”?
How does Twain define “mature”?
Will society’s influence eventually get to Huck, or will he ultimately defy society’s teachings?

Decisions One and Two Compared and Contrasted

Similarities:
The same ultimate decision- to protect Jim
Huck displays instinctive goodness
Huck sees Jim as a human
Huck likes Jim and cares about his welfare
Huck is honorable (he keeps his promise)
Knows consequences
He is doing the easy thing

Differences:
Huck struggles much more
He almost turns Jim in
He feels guilty afterward
He feels like he is a bad person
He is afraid of consequences


Decision Three

Good:
Selfless- this is about Jim
Makes excuses, but then does not accept them
Self-awareness: people think if they don’t have to take consequences for an action, then the action isn’t really bad- Huck is in this situation and knows it’s wrong
People are selfish- Huck doesn’t like this in himself
“You can’t pray a lie.”- he learns about lying to God and self
still trying to make “right” and moral decision; his intentions are good
wants to “give up sin”- ironic

Bad:
although he has a better view of black people than many of his peers, he still hasn’t verbalized his view of black people as people
              	-understandable, forgivable

Development?
Self awareness is part of maturity
Willing to take risks- selfless
Willing to accept consequences
Unwilling to accept excuses
Conflict is resolved- instead of vowing to do whatever is easier, he vows to do “evil” (dramatic irony)
This ends his development (he will  not change anymore)

What do we learn?
Romantic idea that man is essentially good and society’s teachings corrupt him
It is important to question what we’re taught or accepted norms
Criticism of slavery
Dramatic irony = satire of society- look how it makes Huck feel!
Turning point

 Satire created by dramatic irony:
Specifically: the southern, white, racist society is wrong for teaching that black people are not human, that they deserve to be treated like animals; it is wrong that Huck feels guilty for doing something noble
Universally: society in general is not always correct; it is often discriminatory and cruel in its teachings
Theme: it is important to question what we’ve been taught, our rituals, traditions and belief systems

Similarities to other two decisions:
Same inner conflict
Same result (save Jim)
Same dramatic irony

Differences:
Sacrifice
No excuses
Vow for future = definitive