Society’s laws & values can conflict with personal morals & values. Topic: nature, Huck, freedom, religion, Jim Huck is conflicted about turning Jim in Jim thinks he should be free Huck doesn’t want to be “sivilized” Grangerford/Shepherdson feud Huck thinks stealing what you don’t need is wrong
Freedom means different things to different people. Topic: Huck, Jim, freedom, nature Huck wants to escape Pap Jim wants freedom from slavery Huck & Jim want freedom from society & its flaws
People tend to behave irrationally & even cruelly in groups. Topic: nature, freedom, religion Boggs incident Feud (Grangerford/Shepherdsons) When the mob tries to bust the king & duke Tom’s gang King and duke are tarred & feathered Mob searches for Jim
The tension between freedom and conformity can cause inner conflict Topic: freedom, Huck, nature Huck struggles with whether to turn in Jim Huck struggles with whether to obey Pap Huck doesn’t want to be “sivilized” Huck wonders about stealing
Society’s laws & values need to be examined, questioned, & changed if necessary Topic: Huck, Jim, freedom, nature, education, religion Practical education is valuable Slavery is wrong Hypocrisy is wrong – people should do what they say they’ll do in church
Belief in superstition is often strong in people who have little control over their lives. Topic: superstition, Huck, Jim Jim & Huck have little control over their lives and are superstitious Widow Douglas & Miss Watson are not superstitious (salt incident)