Huckleberry Finn: Hypocrisy in “Civilized” Society Essay

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, a sequel to the Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain illustrates the gray states and slavery. Published in 1884, the novel focuses on the important issues that affected America. These issues included racism, slavery, civilization and greed. The book has become one of the most contr everyplacesial books ever written. The animosity has grown to the point that the novel became banned in several states due to its racial and slavery context. Various symbols, quotes and events have been used in the novel to fate lip service in the civil conjunction in the novel. Hypocrisy in the cultivated society is chosen by the recognized rules and regulations by the society. The regulations and rules disregard terra firma since they favor a particular group and at the akin time obtain unfairness against other groups. One example that illustrates the hypocrisy in the civilized society is the instance where the judge who arrives in the town, who is apparentl y new, allows Hucks father Pap to gain custody over Huck (Twain, 25).In the identical instance, Jim, a fugitive slave, does not receive custody over his children under the same legal system. Hypocrisy and ridiculousness is indicated when the judge awards custody of Huck over Pap regardless of the danger that Pap, who is a drunk, is to his son. However, the judge awards custody to Pap based on his position as Hucks biological father. However, the same law does not apply to Jim who does not gain custody of his children despite him being the biological father of his children. Another example that illustrates the hypocrisy in the civilized society in the novel is the feud between Grangerford and Shepardson. The dispute between the Grangerford and Shepardson families is based on reasons that are worthless to twain of them. However, both families engage in violent murders of the family members in an effort to maintain family honor. The families are deemed extremely educated and civilize d. The reason that led to the dispute between the two families resulted from the elopement of Sophia Grangerford, Buck Grangerfords sister and Harney Shepardson.However, the families have always been in a dispute that has lasted for 30 years for reasons that are unsure. The two families after learning of the elopement bring weapons to church. However, both families, using their guns, vote out their family members at the growth of the feud. Regardless of the families civilized status, hypocrisy is shown where both families kill each other over a meaningless feud. Another example that indicates hypocrisy in the civilized society in the novel is the biased punishment of crimes according to the societys rules and regulations. This is shown by the non-judgment of the Duke and the queen regardless of the fraudulent schemes that both con artists involved in the community.Huck and Jim rescue the Duke and the King and offer them their raft. The first scheme begins when both criminals prese nt fake identities to Huck and Jim. The Duke introduces himself as the side Dukes son, also known as the Duke of Bridgewater whereas the King presents himself as the Lost Dauphin as well as Louis XVIs son and Frances designated King (Twain, 144-145). Additionally, one of the con artists, the Duke, takes advantage of Jims race and position as a runway slave and prints leaflets that offer $200 reward to any individual that manages to catch the runaway slave. The Duke is able to do this by occupying an abandoned printing shop in which he was able to print the handouts (Twain, 156).The con artists use the simulated military operation as a way of buying them time and unrestricted travel for a day. However, most of these crimes that the two commits go unpunished regardless of the statement that the society is civilized and enlightened. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a controversial novel that includes the racial prejudices that characterized conventional America during the civil war. Regardless of the novel narrating a fictional story on certain events, the novel also highlights the current issues that affect the present society. The issues of slavery and racism are still obvious in the world today.Works CitedTwain, Mark. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. New York hit-or-miss House, 1996. Print.