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              +i.n.d.i.v.i.d.u.a.l.i.t.y

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                          *the individual

  £:contemp.orary i.n.s.t.a.n.c.e.s.

This web analysis is copyrighted by Benjamin Ring, March, 2001.  All content displayed on this website is the sole work of the author.  All other works have been cited and used without permission.  This is a non-profit website.

Individuality:
     If there is one important recurring theme throughout the novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, it is individuality.  Young Huckleberry, unlike most people in the society around him, exhibits an acute perception of the events that occur, and acts accordingly to his own beliefs, and not what the society would prefer him to do.  This characteristic of Huck makes him lovable to the reader; he is not naive, and not necessarily "smart," but he is most definitely an aware individual. 
     How is Huck an individual?  Huckleberry Finn shows that he is an individual in many ways, as seen by the dilemmas Twain presented to his character.

For example,
          *Huck decides to travel with Jim, a slave, rather than having him returned to the widow's sister, as any "normal" caucasian citizen would.
          *When at the Grangerford's home, Huck realized how senseless their feud really is.  Not only that, but Huck makes a strict mental notation of how hypocritical it is for such an "upscale" family to act in so degrading a manner.
          *Huck never conforms to Pap's, or the Widow's, beliefs on how the schematics of society should work -- he instead chooses his own. 
          *On more than one occasion, Huck lies to numerous people on the reasons for Jim traveling with him, so Jim would not be caught by authorities and "properly" returned.
          *Although Jim's beliefs of "freedom" and "wealth" would be absurd to any free citizen, Huck sympathizes with Jim.  In addition, Huck learns from Jim virtues such as courage and understanding that most others would overlook due to Jim's color.

     The previous examples were only a few of many examples of individually in Huck Finn (see Huck Finn: Savior? for more detail).  Nevertheless, it is undeniable that Huck exudes these individually qualities masterfully and with a borderline child-like innocence.  Always inquisitive, Huck follows his own beliefs and ideas, rather than the ideas of those around him.  This trait is individuality.