Huck's Morality

“Well, I let go all holts then, like I was shot. It was the most astonishing speech I ever heard—and I’m bound to say Tom Sawyer fell considerable in my estimation. Only I couldn’t believe it. Tom Sawyer a NIGGER-STEALER!” (Ch. 33)

This line really struck me. Huck thinks that Tom is doing something wrong by helping him free Jim. Today, pretty much everyone would agree that helping Jim escape was the right thing to do, but Tom and Huck think they are doing something bad.

Before Tom agrees, Huck says: “I know what you’ll say. You’ll say it’s dirty, low-down business; but what if it is? I’m low down; and I’m a-going to steal him, and I want you keep mum and not let on. Will you?” (Ch. 33) He uses the term “low down” which is quite ironic, because what he is doing is actually quite noble and requires a lot of courage.

Part of Huck sees this as a crime, and himself as a despicable criminal, but I think Huck’s heart knows it’s not all bad, or at least his loyalty to Jim makes him feel it is the right thing to do. Strictly speaking, Jim is a liability for Huck; he gains very little by keeping him, and could sell him and then go down the river during the day and not have to hide. So, if Huck has no incentive to keep Jim, and Jim is a danger, then Huck probably believes that keeping Jim is ultimately right.

I think Huck has a good heart, even after all the “king” and “duke” put him through, he still feels bad for them and says “Human beings can be awful cruel to one another” (Ch. 33) in response to their treatment. Huck is a loyal person, and his world revolves more around relationships than it does laws or customs. He is quick to establish bonds with people, as he did with Mary Jane Wilks.

Despite this, Huck is definitely conflicted. He is juggling different moral codes and has the concepts of right and wrong twisted, intertwined, and in shades of gray. Perhaps his declaration of “all right then, I’ll go to hell” (Ch. 31) is a way of simplifying the situation, and in declaring his own damnation, he brought comfort to himself. By accepting that he is a rogue and a ‘bad-kid’ he removes much of the moral dilemma he faces from his mind. The irony is thick, but Huck’s viewpoints are somewhat understandable. He has been raised in a society that treats some people as less-than-human. In chapter 32, when a slave is killed, Sally is relieved to know that “no one” was hurt and considers it “lucky”.
This got me thinking about different forms of morality, and I think Huck’s feelings can be split into three schools of moral thought.

Moral Absolutism: The belief that actions are either wrong or right, are always consistent, and that moral codes always apply. This is prevalent in religions, and can be expressed with the example of a fundamentalist approach to the Ten Commandments, i.e. you can never kill anyone.

Huck’s moral absolutionist side thinks stealing Jim is wrong because stealing is wrong. He has been taught certain things about slavery and for the most part he accepts them. Even when he rebels against the system, he does not claim the moral high ground, which I think is a very important point, he seems himself as a delinquent.

Moral Relativism: Holds that people disagree on what is moral and this is ok. Moral decisions depend on the situation, and nothing is necessarily absolute.

Huck’s relativist side leans towards helping Jim, it feels right, regardless of what others say. Society at the time would have said he did not have to apologize to Jim when he lied to him about the dream, but Huck felt badly, and he wanted to right his wrong, because “It made me feel so mean”. (Ch. 15)

Utilitarianism: Posits that moral decisions should be made with the result in mind. Whatever yields the best outcome and minimizes negatives is the best choice.

This one is tricky, I don’t think Huck knows what decision will lead to the best result. He does in some sense live in the moment, and travels through a figurative (and sometimes literal) fog. We see a bit of Huck’s utilitarianist side when dealing with the duke and king, “These liars warn’t no kings nor dukes at all, but just low-down humbugs and frauds. But I never said nothing, never let on; kept it to myself; it’s the best way; then you don’t have no quarrels, and don’t get into no trouble.” (Ch. 19) Here, Huck may think what the king and duke are doing is wrong, but he sees that there is no use confronting them, and it’s for the best if he plays along.

Considering the corruption of the world and those (Pap, king, duke) around him, Huck’s sense of morality is admirable in my opinion.