Huckleberry Finn Passage Analysis

Huckleberry Finn: Passage pg. 283 – 284

Mark Twain's novel Huckleberry Finn is a blatant concoction of religious bias and varied notions on the role of religion. Satirical characters and the obvious use of sarcastic ideals in regards to the religious situations within the novel allowed Twain to address the issue on so many different levels. Huckleberry Finn is introduced, as being a religious character, as he looks to pray and reflect on virtues of right and wrong as dictated by those religious beliefs for which he has been taught. However, on many different levels he acknowledges a lack of belief in a greater being. Huck's faith quandary was introduced early in the novel as he reflects on the situation when "She took me in the closet and
prayed, but nothing come of it. She told me to pray every day, and whatever I asked for I would get it. But it warn't so. I tried it. Once I got a fish-line, but no hooks. It warn't any good to me without hooks. I tried for the hooks three or four times, but somehow I couldn't make it work (pg.14)." Somehow, he couldn't make it work; it warn't so, at least not for him, praying just was not all it had cracked up to be for Huck. In fact, Huck continuously questions his personal motivations and beliefs throughout the novel.
His journey is driven by the winding river and flowing shores that he and Jim linger past and wander upon and it is in the selected passage, that Huck's struggle of right and wrong, his religious
ideals and his moral obligations come to blow. Mark Twain uses satire and irony throughout his work to convey his distain for religion, as exemplified by this passage.
"So I was full of trouble, full as I could be; and didn't know what to do. At last I had an idea; and I says, I'll go and write the letter -- and then see if I can pray." Huck's insinuation that he may be able to pray once he frees himself of his trouble is in itself satirical, it is as if he deems that being "trouble free" is what makes praying, not only possible but more effective. This notion belittles the entire concept of prayer which when interpreted by the Bible says that the Holy Spirit takes our words and makes them acceptable to The Father and it is our Father that is our interpreter. Thus prayer is a form of faith in itself, a link to the divine, not a reward for an act that is thought to be of divine spirit. Twains use of prayer as a goal to be achieved presents an image of false understanding by Huck, of twisted ideals that had been passed down to him from "sivil" society, but yet still thwarted by misguidance. It is this misguidance that Huck fails to recognize. The satirical statement by Huck about "how near I come to being lost and going to hell," clearly distorts the notion of hell, making the extreme seem common and ordinary. The idea that being lost in itself meets the criteria for condemnation is an absurd interpretation of religion, as those lost can once again be found. However it is Twain's use of satirical references that allude to Huck's changing ideals and also allow for the underwritten ideals behind those changes.
The true change comes however, with a hint of irony.
As Huck finishes writing his letter, which made him, feel so free, he begins to reminisce about the journey he has had thus far with Jim. He recalls that he "couldn't seem to strike no places to harden. . . against him." Huck could not find any means or reasons to "punish" Jim for being anything less then a friend and declares that "All right, then, I'll go to hell" and he precedes to tear up the letter. Huck's view of the situation of right versus wrong and hell versus heaven being so definitive, is an irony of incongruity and an incongruous idea. It links back to the application of extreme results for mild aversions. Huck's failed understanding is once again drawn upon, as Twain looks to explicate once again the faults of the knowledge that he has been given, but this is the true turning point for Huck. As he begins to see past his religious understanding, as much of an understanding as it can be deemed, and sees a sense of morality, though he does not see the situation of morality versus religion. It is the idea that morality contradicts religion that further illuminates the religious irony within the passage. The idea that morality is a realm outside of religion is a contradiction to basic understanding. As typically speaking morality is linked to a basic fear of wrath, judgment, or final descent. It is a notion, that is most commonly drawn from ones religious beliefs, thus, Huck's idea that the moral bound decision
to help Jim is a contradiction to his religious beliefs, is profoundly adsorb. The irony of the situation also lies in the fact that even by helping Jim, Huck would be following the religious path as defined earlier within the novel, as Miss Watson guides Huck to "help other people, and do everything I could for other people, and look out for them all the time, and never think about myself."
As Twain looks to show that moral ideals are different from moral obligations, and that religion as beheld may have, in itself falsehoods, he uses a great sense of irony and satire to present a humorous reflection on the notions. His use of flamboyantly obvious extremes and typical misconstrued ideas about religion, add to the effect of his commentary and present a much larger image of ignorance and misguidance, beyond Huck, but more as a fault within society, itself. So I was full of trouble, full as I could be; and didn't know what to do. At last I had an idea; and I says, I'll go and write the letter -- and then see if I can pray. Why, it was astonishing, the way I felt as light as a feather right straight off, and my troubles all gone. So I got a piece of paper and a pencil, all glad and excited, and set down and wrote: Miss Watson, your runaway nigger Jim is down here two mile below Pikesville, and Mr. Phelps has got him and he will give him up for the reward if you send.
I felt good and all washed clean of sin for the first time I had ever felt so in my life, and I knowed I could pray now. But I didn't do it straight off, but laid the paper down and set there thinking -- thinking how good it was all this happened so, and how near I come to being lost and going to hell. And went on thinking. And got to thinking over our trip down the river; and I see Jim before me all the time: in the day and in the night-time, sometimes moonlight, sometimes storms, and we a-floating along, talking and singing and laughing. But somehow I couldn't seem to strike no places to harden me against him, but only the other kind. I'd see him standing my watch on top of his'n, 'stead of calling me, so I could go on sleeping; and see him how glad he was when I come back out of the fog; and when I come to him again in the swamp, up there where the feud was; and such-like times; and would always call me honey, and pet me and do everything he could think of for me, and how good he always was; and at last I struck the time I saved him by telling the men we had small-pox aboard, and he was so grateful, and said I was the best friend old Jim ever had in the world, and the only one he's got now; and then I happened to look around and see that paper. It was a close place. I took it up, and held it in my hand. I was a-trembling, because I'd got to decide, forever, betwixt two things, and I knowed it. I studied a minute, sort of holding my breath, and then says to myself: "All right, then, I'll go to hell" -- and tore it up. It was awful thoughts and awful words, but they was said. And I let them stay said; and never thought no more about reforming. I shoved the whole thing out of my head, and said I would take up wickedness again, which was in my line, being brung up to it, and the other warn't. And for a starter I would go to work and steal Jim out of slavery again; and if I could think up anything worse, I would do that, too; because as long as I was in, and in for good, I might as well go the whole hog.