Friendship: A Moral Dilemma in Mark Twain's "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" and "The Advantures of Huckleberry Finn"

Mark Twain's The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and its sequel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, have been both timeless American classics and widely popular readings all around the world since their publication. Perhaps the most appealing theme to readers in both stories is the importance and values of true friendship. The author also shows in both works how the prejudices that society places upon people could be overcome with the help of loyal friends and how strong bonds can develop among people even at the risk of going against social rules and becoming social outcasts. In both novels the main characters are often torn between the values of society and their individual moral beliefs.

In The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Tom is an imaginative, adventurous boy who is always up for a trick or a practical joke of some kind and that is why he continually gets in trouble. He loves the attention he receives from other children as an organizer of games and adventures. Tom does not care whether his friends are popular or social outcasts. "He [Tom] remembered that there was company at the pump. White, mulatto and negro boys and girls were always there waiting their turns, resting, trading playthings, quarreling, fighting, skylarking" (13). For him they are just other people whom he can get along with, can have fun with, and perhaps create friendships with. He is also open toward friendship with Huckleberry Finn who, according to town people, is "The juvenile pariah of the village...son of the town drunkard...hated and dreaded...lawless, and vulgar and bad" (49). In reality Huck is just an abandoned child and society punishes him for being the child of an outcast. The mothers of the town would not allow their children to play with Huck. Tom is also forbidden to socialize with him but he plays with Huck every time he has a chance. Tom even takes a beating for his disobedience when he admits openly that he "Stopped to talk with Huckleberry Finn" (54). Tom not only plays with Huck but also worries about him being alone in the world with no one to care for him. For instance, when they return from their pirating adventure to be present at their own funerals, Tom and Joe receives affection from their families while Huck stands awkwardly abandoned "stood abashed and uncomfortable...from so many unwelcoming eyes" (131) with no one to greet him home. Tom points out to Aunt Polly that "it ain't fair. Somebody's got to be glad to see Huck." (131). Tom stands up for his outcast friend and tries to get him the care and attention what he believes Huck deserves. No matter what people think or say about Huck Tom is drawn toward him because Huck seems to be an all right kid who is fun to be with. In fact the better he gets to know him the more he likes him. Tom feels that just because Huck does not have a regular family that does not mean he should be shunned.

Their friendship becomes even stronger when Huck and Tom witness the murder of Dr. Robinson by Injune Joe in the graveyard. What makes the situation complicated and morally twisted is that Injune Joe convinces the drunken Muff Potter that he committed the murder in his drunken rage. In reality, as both Huck and Tom saw, Potter was laying on the ground unconscious while Injune Joe stabbed and killed Dr. Robinson. However, they swear not to tell anybody ever about their secret encounter. Tom writes an oath that "they will keep mum about this and wish they may drop down dead in their tracks if they ever tell and Rot." (80). They both know that they should uncover the truth because an innocent person might go to jail and a murderer walks free however their mutual interest is to keep their mouth sealed because Injun Joe is a very dangerous man and surely he would not mind to kill them to silence the truth. But soon the two boys must face the moral dilemma of not telling the Sheriff the truth when they hear Injune Joe repeat his lies under oath in front of the town people and they see the innocent Potter about to be sent to jail. "Huckleberry and Tom stood dumb and staring, and heard the stony-hearted liar reel off his serene statement, they expecting every moment that the clear sky would deliver God's lightings upon his head" (89). Huck and Tom naively hope that justice will strike from the sky but they have to face reality. Lies can win over the truth especially when there is no one to stand up for it. They learn that justice can be relative, based on what people are told and what they believe. As the time of the murder trial is approaching both Tom and Huck are having serious doubt about their decision to not to reveal their secret. They are terrified "we wouldn't be alive two days if that got found out" (166) of Injune Joe's possible revenge. On the other hand their conscience is troubled by not revealing the truth "every reference to the murder send a shudder to his heart, for his troubled conscience" (165). They feel that it is just not right, and morally wrong to let Muff Potter take the blame for something he did not do. Tom decides to break the silence and tell the truth without revealing Huck's name to protect his friend from Injune Joe's threatening retribution. This brave and selfless act gives an innocent person his freedom back and also protects Huck. Their friendship becomes stronger than ever. Tom shows exemplary moral and loyal behavior which earns Huck's respect and trust.

In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Huck shows exactly the same moral and loyal example as Tom does at the time of the murder trial. Huck makes a moral decision to save a slave "steal him out of slavery" (284) and remains loyal to him in spite of threats and moral pressure. According to law, Huck could have reported the runaway Jim to his owner and get reward for it "send him home and get the reward" (93). Growing up Huck's conscience has been tainted by the prevailing prejudice in society that saw blacks as subhuman, as property. "Sold him?...He was my nigger and that was my money" (273). Also when he tells Aunt Sally that a black person died, sadly Aunt Sally's response is that "Well, it's lucky because sometimes people do get hurt." (279). Most people consider blacks as animals and don't show the slightest bit of respect towards them. Huck learns racial discrimination from his culture. He is reluctant to reveal even to his closest friend Tom in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer that he sometimes sits down and eats with a "Mighty good nigger" who gives him a place to stay and "little something to eat if he can spare it...But you need'nt tell that" (199) and tells him not to talk about it to others because he is afraid to be judged by them. In spite of all the things he hears about blacks Huck looks at his own experiences with blacks and says "I don't ever act as if I was above him" (198). Because of what he hears about "niggers" Huck is confused and he genuinly fears that he will go to hell for helping Jim the slave to escape. The reader can understand the difficulty of the moral decision the young Huck must make when he decides to go along with Jim and become his friend. "People will call me [Huck] a low down Ablitionist and despise me" (53).

From the beginning of their adventure Huck isn't hateful against the old slave Jim. Huck turns out to be more open-minded than most people in the South. Jim and Huck decides to drift down the Mississippi together on a raft. Huck is running away from his abusive father and Jim does not want to be sold to New Orleans. They both want to escape and they can benefit from each other's company. Their dangerous adventure offers an opportunity to get to know one another and to develop mutual trust and respect. Huck begins to realize that Jim is a talented, smart and caring man. "I never see such a nigger. If he got a notion in his head once, there warn't no getting it out again (96). Huck finds out that Jim knows "all kinds of signs" (96) about the future, people's personalities, and how to predict the weather. "He was most always right; he had an uncommon level head" (93). Jim also he cares about what happens to Huck, he worries about him when he disappears and greats him happily when he returns "Jim grabbed me and hugged me" (154). He seems to always be out hooking fish or preparing meals for Huck. He takes it upon himself to build "a snug wigwam [on their raft] to get under in blazing weather and rainy, and to keep things dry" (168). As the river adventure brings Huck and Jim together in a strong friendship, Huck sees that Jim is actually an equal who has feelings. So when the moral dilemma presents itself whether he should betray Jim's trust by turning him in to his rightful owner or he should follow his consciousness and save Jim from slavery, Huck goes against everything he has ever been taught just to rescue Jim and he is ready to pay the price. "All right, then, I'll go to hell" (297) says Huck when he decides to help Jim to escape. When he meets Tom he shares his secret with him "There is a nigger here that I'm trying to steal out of slavery" (284) and he knows this is something he should not be doing. He does not expect Tom to support him or agree with him "You'll say it's dirty-low-down business; but what if it is? - I'm low-down" (284). In his "adventures" he learns the meaning of true friendship, loyalty and what's really important in life is a clear consciousness. "It make no difference whether you do right or wrong, a person's conscience ain't got no sense, and just goes for him anyway...it takes up more room than all the rest of a person's insides' (290). Huck realizes that he cannot hide from his conscience because it keeps bothering him and it takes over his soul and his entire body. Because of this he is willing to disobey to unfair rules even if that means putting himself into danger.

Tom and Huck learn about real friendship and loyalty throughout their adventures and they also realize that certain social rules and expectations may go against their personal beliefs. Tom befriends the outcast Huck and Huck befriends the outcast Jim later. They find out that they cannot ignore their own consciousness and they must follow their heart regardless what the consequences might be. Their adventures and friendships help them to grow up to be responsible, level headed adults who are not afraid to criticize social flaws. They learn to look at and appreciate human beings for who they are and they are ready to make up their minds based on their own experiences. They also realize that they are able to stand up for themselves and for each other. Following the adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer the reader can feel how deliberating and rewarding experience can be when people are willing to trust and follow their own natural moral compass.

Bibliography

Twain, Mark. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. 2001. New York: Random House Inc., 2001. Print.

Twain, Mark. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. 1994. Berkeley: University of California Press, Ltd. 1994.