Question

In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, what are three of Huck's lies, justifiably made for good causes?

Accepted Answer

While there are many lies told in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Huck is the only character who lies at times for a noble cause. These are lies that Huck relies on Providence for there creation. In Chapter 32, when Huck arrives at the Phelps farm, he explains how he will lie in order to learn about Jim so that he can save him from slavery,

I went right along,... but just trusting to Providence to put the right words in my mouth when the time come; for I'd noticed that Providence always did put the right words in my mouth if I left it alone.

Here are three examples of such "noble lies" that Huck feels Providence provides him:
1. After stealing the boat of the robbers, in Chapter XIII Huck makes up a tall-tale to the watchman on the steamship, telling him that Miss Hooker was on the horse-ferry and the oar was lost, so they floated down the river until Miss Hooker grabbed ahold of the wreck of the Walter Scott. Huck further tells the watchman that Miss Hooker's uncle is a rich man, so that the watchman will assume there will be a reward for retrieving the lady. 
Knowing that the watchman would not be inclined to search after murderers, Huck tells this lie in order to save the robbers from drowning. He also cannot tell the watchman that these men are endangered because he has stolen their boat for Jim and himself. In one of Twain's satiric comments on society, Huck is proud of his lie that has done the murderers a good turn:

I wished the widow knowed about it. I judged she would be proud of me for helping these rapscallions, because rapscallions and dead-beats is the kind the widow and good people takes the most interest in.

2. In Chapter XVi, Huck lies in order save Jim from being caught as a runaway slave, although at first he thinks of turning Jim over to authorities. However, when he begins to wrestle with his conscience, two white men on a skiff with guns stop by Huck and ask about the raft and if anyone is on it; then, they explain that five Negroes have run off. Upon hearing this, Huck quickly feels that he cannot let these men take Jim, who has praised him for being the only white man who has cared about him. So, Huck relies again on "Providence," and he tells the men that a white man is on the raft.

I see I was weakening; so I just give up trying, and up and says:
“He's white.”
“I reckon we'll go and see for ourselves.”
“I wish you would,” says I, “because it's pap that's there, and maybe you'd help me tow the raft ashore where the light is. He's sick—and so is mam and Mary Ann.”

When the men hear that others have gone away when he has asked for help, they assume that "pap" has smallpox; therefore, they guiltily give Huck money, and push off. Huck tells a bigger lie,

“Good-bye, sir,” says I; “I won't let no runaway n---s get by me if I can help it.”

3. In Chapter XXXII, Huck learns that Jim has been sold by the king for forty dollars. From a boy Huck learns that Jim is on the Phelps Plantation, a miserable farm. Again, he wrestles with his conscience over writing Miss Watson and telling her where Jim is. Finally, he decides against doing so; instead, he goes to the Phelps' place where he pretends to be the person they think he is, Tom Sawyer, so that he can learn the whereabouts of Jim. From Uncle Silas Phelps, Huck learns that the runaway slave has informed on the two shysters, and they have been tarred and feathered. Then, he and Tom plan to rescue Jim.

Answer

what page is this on

Answer

hi

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, what are three of Huck's lies, justifiably made for good causes?

Expert Answers info

Unlock This Answer Now

Related Questions

Student Answers

Ask a Question

Popular Questions

Additional Links