Good Vs. Evil in the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

On important theme within The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn is the

struggle between good and evil as experienced when Huck's personal sense of

truth and justice come in conflict with the values of society around him. These

occurrences happen often within the novel, and usually Huck chooses the truly

moral deed.

One such instance occurs when Huckleberry realizes that he is helping a

runaway slave. His moral dilemma is such that he is uncertain whether he should

or should not turn this slave, named Jim, over to the authorities. Society

tells him that he is aided a criminal, and that is against the law. However, he

has grown quite attached to Jim, and is beginning to realize that Jim is a

really good person. He would also never hurt him. This illustrates the concept

and symbolism of Jim's freedom and societies influence on Huck.

At one point, Huck convinces himself that the nest opportunity he

receives, he will turn Jim in, and clear his conscience. The opportunity became

available when slave hunters meet them on the river. Huck had an absolutely

perfect chance to turn him over. However, he made up a story that his father

was sick and needed help and asked the slave hunters for help. They immediately

assumed that his father had smallpox, and he wanted nothing to do with Huck or

his father. Thus, he had saved Jim, and actually felt good about it. Further

along in the book, Jim becomes a slave again. Huckleberry, with the aid of Tom

Sawyer, free's Jim. Once again, Jim's escape and freedom are