Ch. 36-43

Throughout the chapters 36 to 43 we can see many actions that imply society responsibility. The one that impacted me the most was in chapter 42, when Jim chose to help the doctor nurse Tom over his freedom. When they were trying to escape Tom got shot in his leg. Even though this made Tom happy since he considered it like a keepsake from his adventure, he still needed assistance from a doctor to heal the wound. Huck went to get the doctor and sent him in the canoe to where Tom was. Huck couldn't go back with him since the canoe was for only one person. The next day Huck runs into Uncle Silas who takes him back to the house. Jim hid himself before the doctor got there, but he was in need of someone else's help in order to nurse Tom. When Jim saw this he decided to come out and help knowing that he was risking his freedom. This shows a great sense of social responsibility from Jim. He had his priorities set and in this case it was more important to save Tom's life. He put Tom's life over his own, this really shows that Jim is willing to help whoever is in need under any circumstances specially someone who has helped him so much. Not only the level of responsibility that Jim possesses is shown in this chapter but also the great person that he is. This is proven in the next chapter where everyone wants to hang Jim. After the doctor tells them how much Jim helped on trying to fix Tom's leg and that he sacrificed his freedom to save Tom everyone chaged their opinion. Everyone was so thankful for his humble act that they decided not to kill him and not only that but they were treating him like a king. This is a true example of society responsibility.

Ch. 31-35

 Throughout chapters 31 to 35, we can see how Huck’s moral responsibilities are better than anyone else in the book. He starts to become more responsible for his actions especially in respect with Jim. Huck is the only one that understands that having slaves in not moral correct and wants to do something about it at least with Jim. This can be raft seen when Huck comes back to the raft but instead of funding Jim, he finds out that Jim was sold for forty dollars by the King. Huck calls the money “forty dirty dollars” (240). This shows how disgusted Huck is about the King selling Jim. This is very shocking for Huck, he finds himself in a situation a little complicated where he doesn’t know if he should turn Jim in or not. At this moment, Huck is trying to decide what to do between what is right by law and what is morally right. He writes a letter to Miss Watson telling her about Jim but this doesn’t make him feel any better. Huck begins to think about everything that Jim and he have passed through together. He remembers all of the times that Jim saved his life and how Jim would always watch after him. After all of this, Huck says, “I was the best friend old Jim ever had in the world, and the only one he’s got now” (242). Huck realizes that he is the only person that Jim has right now. Huck is now a very mature boy since he was able to think of what other people (in this case Jim) have done for him and act in a corresponding manner back to their good actions. We can see that Huck feels responsible for Jim’s welfare and does everything possible to set him free.

ch. 26-30

As the story continues we see more and more social responsibility taking place by several of its characters. First, it is notable that Huck is growing up not only in age but also in maturity. He now knows better what is right and what is wrong. This is seen when while taking with Joanna Huck realizes that taking the $6,000 is wrong. Huck said to himself, “This is a girl that I’m letting that old reptle rob her of her money!” (201). We can sense the guilt that he is feeling. By doing this Huck shows how much he has matured and it is even more evident when he decides to actually do something about it. Huck decides to take the money and give it to Mary but he ends up leaving it in Peter’s coffin by accident. Before leaving he leaves a note to Mary telling her where the money is. This action shows that Huck is now taking responsibility of his actions. Although Huck is not responsible for welfare of the sisters, he feels a moral responsibly and that is when he decides to help them.  He didn’t only help them because that was the right thing to do but because they were really nice and sweet girls. I am sure that if the sisters would have been rude girls Huck would not have reacted the same way. People’s actions change depending on the situations, in this case the amount of vulnerability that Huck sensed  in this sisters and their nice personality.

In the book “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”, social responsibility is clearly and often seen. From the beginning of the book there are situations that reflect this theme. Starting in chapter one there are two situations that can be directly connected to social responsibility. First would be when Judge Thatcher took Tom’s and Huck’s money, put it at interest, and gave them one dollar a day. This shows that the Judge is interested on their welfare. By saving their money the Judge is preventing them from being robbed and because of this attacked, the Judge is also helping them save the money it since they could easily waste it. In the same chapter we also find out that Widow Douglas adopts Huck. By making him her son she will give him the protection and love that Huck didn’t get from his parents. She also wants to civilize him, she wants to give him education and make of him a better boy. By adopting Huck, Widow Douglas shows how much she cares about him and it is a great reflection of social responsibility. Another event that shows social responsibility is in chapter seventeen. In this chapter Huck is cornered by a pack of dogs after coming out of the river. A man saves Huck from the dogs and invites him to his house. He also offers him dry clothes and introduces him to his family. When I read this scene it immediately reminded me of “social responsibility”. This man had the choice not to save Huck especially since his family was in some kind of fight with another family, but he decided to save him.

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