Society’s laws & values can conflict with personal morals & values.

• Topic: nature, Huck, freedom, religion, Jim • Huck is conflicted about turning Jim in • Jim thinks he should be free • Huck doesn’t want to be “sivilized” • Grangerford/Shepherdson feud • Huck thinks stealing what you don’t need is wrong

Freedom means different things to different people.

• Topic: Huck, Jim, freedom, nature • Huck wants to escape Pap • Jim wants freedom from slavery • Huck & Jim want freedom from society & its flaws

People tend to behave irrationally & even cruelly in groups.

• Topic: nature, freedom, religion • Boggs incident • Feud (Grangerford/Shepherdsons) • When the mob tries to bust the king & duke • Tom’s gang • King and duke are tarred & feathered • Mob searches for Jim

The tension between freedom and conformity can cause inner conflict • Topic: freedom, Huck, nature • Huck struggles with whether to turn in Jim • Huck struggles with whether to obey Pap • Huck doesn’t want to be “sivilized” • Huck wonders about stealing

Society’s laws & values need to be examined, questioned, & changed if necessary • Topic: Huck, Jim, freedom, nature, education, religion • Practical education is valuable • Slavery is wrong • Hypocrisy is wrong – people should do what they say they’ll do in church

Belief in superstition is often strong in people who have little control over their lives.

• Topic: superstition, Huck, Jim • Jim & Huck have little control over their lives and are superstitious • Widow Douglas & Miss Watson are not superstitious (salt incident)