Choices in Huckleberry Finn Essay

As stated in the dictionary, the definition of the word choice means the act of picking or the thing or person that is being picked. Although this definition may seem simple, a choice appears as a very important thing that someone makes. As stated in Eleanor Roosevelts quote, Ones philosophy is not best expressed in words; it is expressed in the choices one makes. In the long run, we shape our lives and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our responsibility. This quote describes the choices that each person makes and it also shows that we should seek out the right choices. Not every choice seems right, but as stated in the quote, everyone must live with these choices until death. Choices may even change a persons fate and depicts their character. It also describes the persons personality and perspective on life. In Mark Twains classic novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Huck, Jim, and Tom make choices that ultimately depict their character and even ones fate.

The choices that Huckleberry Finn, the main protagonist of this story, makes establish his personality and his perspective toward life. Above all, his choices affect his friendship with Jim and Tom. His choices also affect the fate of the runaway slave whom happens to be Jim. Huck must choose whether or not to turn Jim in and compromise his fake death. Another choice Huck makes to leave civilized life with Miss Watson and the Widow. He also chooses to leave the grasp of his father by faking his won death which shows Hucks intelligence. Probably the most important choice he makes comes to mind when Huck writes a letter to Miss Watson and reveals to her everything about Jim and Huck, but he then decides to say All right, then, Ill go to hell (214) and tears up the letter, and decides to free Jim by himself. Throughout the novel, Huck makes many choices, but the most important involve Jims freedom. These choices establish Hucks personality and his perspective on life. The choices Huck makes also affect the relationship between both Jim and Tom and it also determines Jims fate.

Jim, the African American slave, in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, makes the choice to run away from society because Miss Watson, Jims owner, plans to sell him to a plantation. Although his choice may be considered immoral or wrong, Jim still stands by his decision of running away. At the beginning of the story, Huck Finn even thinks that the choice seems risky and immoral, and says Jim! (74) when Jim says Well, I blieve you, Huck. I I run off. (74) This shows that Huck objects to the decision, but as the novel plays our, Huck begins to consider Jim as an equal human being and as a friend. This becomes easily known when Huck writes a letter to Miss Watson. Jims decision affects his fate by whether of no to subject him to slavery or to risk it all for freedom and his familys freedom. The novel reveals that Jims family is also in slavery and he wants to buy his family out of slavery, but when he mentions it to Huck, Huck feels that it is stealing and he considers it immoral. This choice also makes Jim more adventurous and outgoing from first meeting Huck on Jackson Island all the way to when Tom Sawyer, another protagonist and friend of Huck, decide to save Jim from slavery when he gets recaptured by using a very clever and time consuming manner. This also leads to Hucks decision when Tom and him plan to save Jim because Jim has touch Huck in such a manner that they are almost like father and son and their friendship has developed to max capacity. This choice impacts everyone in this novel because it showed that no matter what color someone may appear in real life, everyone else should treat them for who they really appear. They must also not judge them for their color and stereotype. Jims decision to run away created a new relationship, gave someone their freedom, and most importantly teaches a lesson about racial barriers and how they can eliminate them.

Tom Sawyer, one of the characters, befriends Huck early in this novel, must also make a choice that affect not only this fate, but he fate of Jim, the runway slave. One of the most important choices that Tom Sawyer makes requires him to help Jim escape from slaver again. The plan that helps Jim escape appears very complex and sophisticated which shows Toms adventurousness. This also shows that he has a pure hear about helping a runaway slave escape. Tom, although raised from a very respectful and moral family and understands all the laws, still wants to break those laws just to help Jim. He also makes everything complicated and has a vivid imagination. From the novel, Tom says Now, well start this band of robbers and call it Tom Sawyers Gang. Everybody that wants to join has got to take an oath, and write his name in blood. (14) This shows Toms intelligence and intellect and that he has the ability to adapt to his surroundings. Tom Sawyer makes a very important choice that requires all of his intelligence and physical ability to help Jim, the runaway slave, escape from slavery. He even becomes more mature and gains the ability to push forward and push on.

This classic novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, shows the choices that three protagonist make. Throughout this novel, Mark Twain portrays Huck, Jim, and Tom as three unlikely heroes from poor background that make choices that depict their personalities and even affect someones fate. Huck chooses whether or not to turn Jim in, the runaway slave. Jim, on the other hand, must decide to keep running away on his own or follow Huck to freedom. When Jim gets recaptured, Tom Sawyer must choose to help a runaway fugitive or to risk his reputation and even his life. As stated in Eleanor Roosevelts quote, the choices that one makes shape their lives and themselves and this is exactly true in everyday circumstances. This novel teaches many values and how to make decisions that shape our lives and us.