If you’ve been reading along steadily during the break, by now you should have come to the chapter that many people consider the climax of the book. This is chapter 31, called “You Can’t Pray a Lie.” In that chapter, Huck has an inner conflict, and it’s a very difficult one for him to solve.
Looking at this chapter, we see how Mark Twain uses humor to make a very serious point. It may be hard for us, reading this book over 130 years after it was written, to really understand Huck’s conflict. On the other hand, it may be easier for us than it was for the readers of the time to see how completely absurd the conflict is. Mark Twain meant for his readers to see that absurdity.
In this post, talk about Huck’s inner conflict in chapter 31. What is that conflict? Why is it a conflict? What does Huck decide, and why? Why does he think the way he does about this? What does he think he’s choosing by his decision? What is he really choosing? What do you think about this conflict? What do you think Twain’s readers at the time thought? What do you think Twain was trying to get people to think?
Twain uses the language of the time and of the characters, but of course we use the language of today, and we need to avoid offensive language.
To keep from having these posts repeat one another, I suggest that you focus on one or two of the questions and not all of them. See which questions have been answered in previous posts, and choose others, or respond to what your classmates say in their posts.
So that you have plenty time and access to the computers at school, I have changed the due date on this post to November 30.
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“What is that conflict? Why is it a conflict? What does Huck decide, and why?”
Huck’s life has been torn between doing what’s right and what would work best for him, which is shown in various circumstances throughout the book. His father didn’t believe in God or prayers, and put his own needs and wants ahead of morality. When Huck was with the Widow, he learned a bit about prayer—chiefly that whatever he prayed about would come true. Huck experimented some, but found that his prayers weren’t always answered immediately and directly. Also, he didn’t know much about “the big picture” of Christianity, though he knew some of the Bible.
In chapter 31, Huck chooses between doing what’s right (writing to Jim’s owner to more or less turn him in) and what was kinder towards Jim (finding Jim himself and trying to free him) when Jim is mistaken for a runaway slave and imprisoned on a nearby farm. There were several pros and cons to both choices. Huck had helped Jim escape his old owner, even though Jim’s owner had done no harm to Huck. Huck had aided Jim several times during their adventure on the Mississippi, even though he was a slave. Also, if Huck wrote to Jim’s owner, he thought he’d be able to pray easier. On the other hand, Jim had always been kind to Huck, helping him manage the boat, caring about Huck’s safety and happiness, taking an extra work load to make Huck’s job easier—all in all treating Huck like his own. Jim once said that Huck was his best friend, and his only friend ever since he’d escaped slavery.
In the end, Huck chooses to attempt to save Jim himself. Back in the time that the book had been written, Huck’s decision would probably be looked upon as foolish. However, as we read the book today, the decision seems to be the honorable choice—and a good religious choice, also.
Why does he think the way he does about this? What does he think he’s choosing by his decision?
Jim has been taken to the Phelps’ farm and is being sold for $200. Huck is torn between sending a letter to Widow Douglas to let her know where Jim is or stealing Jim back and setting him free. Huck begins to think about the two choices. He thinks that sending a letter to Widow Douglas would be the right thing to do because at that time people thought of slaves as “property”. Huck feels that Widow Douglas’ “property” had been stolen; therefore freeing Jim would be the wrong thing to do. After thinking about what to do, Huck decided to write the letter to Widow Douglas. However, after writing the letter, Huck thought about his decision again and tore up the letter. He decided to free Jim.
After he made this decision, Huck felt that he was committing a sin by freeing Jim. Huck also believed he would go to hell for it, but he didn’t care. He thought about all the adventures that they had gone through together and how their friendship had grown through those adventures. Even though Huck’s mind told him that freeing Jim would be a sin, his heart told him it was the right thing to do.
What does Huck decide, and why? Why does he think the way he does about this? What does he think he’s choosing by his decision? What is he really choosing?
Huck decides to not write. He does not want to put Jim back in slavery.
He thinks this way because Jim was his best friend.
Huck thinks by choosing this he is choosing hell.
But he is really choosing to help his old friend and giving him a chance as a better life.
What is the conflict? Why is it a conflict? What does Huck decide, and why?
Jim has been captured and will be sold back to Miss Watson. Huck has to decide to send a letter to Tom Sawyer or try to get Jim back. Jim doesn't know much about God and the bible. He only knows what Widow Douglas taught him and what he has grown up knowing. One of the things he believes is that helping a slave escape from its master is a sin. He thinks God is punishing him and he can not go to heaven if he doesn't give up sin.
Huck writes the letter but then he thinks to himself that Jim is a good person and friend and he tore the letter. He decides to save Jim over giving up sin and in his mind he believes he gives up heaven.
Even though he thinks he is choosing the bad choice, he wants to make that choice for Jim. I think it is the right choice and that time period just believed it was wrong to help a slave. It is right to save anyone and for sure your friends. I think Mark Twain was also trying to say that he was making the right choice.
“What is that conflict? Why is it a conflict? What does Huck decide, and why?”
Huck’s conflict is choosing between what is right, helping Jim find his family and become free, and the choice of turning Jim in to his owners for a reward. You can tell that Huck really cares for Jim and Jim really cares for Huck. But they are both going through rough times and if you look at Huck’s point of view, he turns Jim in and gets the reward and doesn’t have to worry about helping a runaway slave and the consequences of doing so. But Jim has watched out for Huck all through the book and I think he might be realizing that you don’t always find a person like Jim every day. Huck decides not to turn Jim in to his owner. As for why he decides to do that I think Huck is starting to think more about the people he cares about then himself, he’s always been on his own but when Jim comes along he doesn’t really know how to go on with another person to think about and make sure they’re always safe.
Why does he think the way he does about this? What does he think he’s choosing by his decision? What is he really choosing?
Huck decides that he is not going to write Miss Watson and tell her about Jim. When Huck makes this decision he thinks that he is actually making the choice to live a life of crime. Huck believes now that he is not going to be able to lead a good, pleasant life he thinks that he will never be able to live in civilization with other people because he is too “ornery”. Now that Huck has made his choice he is really choosing to help a friend, but that may not have been a good way to help a friend because stealing slaves was like stealing someone’s property, even though people cannot be other people’s property.
In Huckleberry Finn's Chapter 31, Huck has to solve the dilemma if or if not to turn Jim back into the widow. He writes a letter to her, which tells her where to find him, but the more Huck thinks about it, he remembers he was pretty much Jim’s best friend in the world. How could he betray him after all they have been through?
As he thought about it some more, Huck Finn decided to tear the letter in half and forget about his selfish ideas, which he did. I think he did the right thing to spare Jim from slave-hood and possibly even death for being a runaway slave. If I were Huck, I would probably do the same thing. I am glad Huckleberry did not turn in Jim and go to Satan’s dwelling. Jim is an innocent soul, and if Huck did turn in the poor slave, he would mostly likely live with that guilt until the day he died.
Why does he think the way he does about this? What does he think about this decision? What is he choosing? What does Huck decide, and why?
Huck thinks that Jim is his friend and he would rather tear up this letter other than putting Jim in slavery. He thinks after the circumstance that he will be going to hell. He is choosing so that his best friend doesn't get hurt.
What is that conflict? Why is it a conflict? What does Huck decide, and why? What do you think about this conflict?
The king had turned in Jim for 40 dollars. Huck is trying to decide whether to turn Jim in by writing to Widow Douglas or helping Jim by finding Jim and continuing to help him become free. Huck isn't sure what it is he should do. He could do what is considered at the time right, or he could help out his friend who only wants to become free.
Huck decides to write a letter to Widow Douglas and turn Jim in, but end the end he tears it up and goes to find Jim and free him.
This must have been one of the hardest decisions that Huck had ever had to make. I think that Huck made a good decision to help Jim, and I would have done the same thing.
In chapter 31, Huck decides he should write to Miss Watson and tell her where Jim is. At first he thinks this is the right thing to do. After doing this he thinks his conscience will be cleared. Huck then thinks about how nice Jim has been to him and how he told him he was his best friend. Huck decided not to write the letter because he wanted to help Jim escape after all. Jim is Huck's best friend and he doesn't want to see him put back in slavery, he wants the best for him.
“What is that conflict? Why is it a conflict? What does Huck decide, and why?”
Huck's conflict is the decision between what is right and what he mite want to do instead. He finally chooses not to write the letter and tries to get Jim out of slavery. But he also thinks he mite go to hell from this decision. But he thinks by helping a close friend he'll be better.
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