People are not born to know right from wrong. They do not have a clearly defined moral system, but even though they start with nothing, watching a child grow up can be surprising. For example, at a young age a child may take money he or she sees on the counter, not realizing what he or she has done is wrong. When confronted by a parent, many times the child will confess. However, as he or she gets older, he may realize what they are doing is wrong, and continue to do it anyway. Usually by adulthood, a child realizes that he should not pocket the change. Over time, a child turning into an adolescent learns what is wrong and right and how to make good decisions for himself. All of this is part of growing up and
developing strong morals and character. A perfect fictional representation of moral development can be seen in the book, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain, through its protagonist. This novel takes readers through the adventures of Huckleberry Finn and his friend, a runaway slave named Jim, as they travel up the Mississippi River to escape the variety of problems both are facing in hope for a better life. As the book progresses, the reader can view the advancing moralities of Huck, who is learning lessons of growing up through his travels. By the end of the novel Huck has learned values such as choosing right from wrong, thinking for himself, and empathy for others.