We have discussed a lot about Huck’s morality in class. He is a pretty tough character to read.
Throughout the book, Huck’s morality is slowly shaping through the events and experience he has been going through. Initially, Huck has been taught by Pap and widow Douglas as to what is “right.” Back in chapter 7, Pap essentially told Huck it is okay to take something and call it “borrowing” if there are “intentions” to pay the person back. Widow Douglas referred to Pap’s idea of “borrowing” as simply stealing. In chapter 16, the slave catchers wanted to search the raft for slaves (where Jim was hiding), but Huck makes a lie that it is his family who has chickenpox so they don’t go near the raft. Huck realizes that sometimes telling lie can actually be good. But then he feels bad that he is betraying Miss Watson (as well as the slave catchers) for not turning in Jim because all she has done for Huck is care for him. On the other hand, he would have felt bad if he has turned in Jim since they are friends and he would have broken a promise. This is a turning point for Huck because he comes to a conclusion that he will “always do whichever come handiest at the time” (104). Huck will do whatever he thinks will be best for him, not by what he has been taught. So we still don’t really know where he stands on his moral judgment. Like in chapter 26, he has been telling lies to Joanna and continues to lie to Joanna when she asks him to swear on a book (the dictionary). Huck realizes this and decides it is completely okay to lie because it’s not the Bible. Also in chapter 26, Huck still goes along with the King and Duke’s scam but then decides not to go through with them. This was a giant turning point for Huck. Huck always felt bad with this scam but all of a sudden he felt way worse decided to either turn in the King and Duke or hide the money (188). It seems like when it starts to deal with the emotions of someone close to him, Huck begins to realize what is really wrong and what is good.
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