Although characters can distance themselves from society, they are never truly free from it. Through this, the state when Huck and Jim were on the canoe is shown to be temporary and incomplete; temporary in the way that Huck’s canoe was literally crushed by the steamboat. Readers know that Huck is not truly independent and complete on the canoe because either when or after he makes his decisions, he always thinks of society. After he had helped the robbers, he remarks “I wished the widow knowed about it. I judged she would be proud of me for helping these rapscallions.” So not only does he sympathize with the robbers, he still thinks about society even when on the canoe, which emphasizes its incompleteness. He may be separated from society …show more content…
For instance, when the mob goes on a crusade to Sherburn’s house, he, a powerful colonel, does not back away and apologize for his actions, which is something that the mob expects and the social value of obedience demands. Instead, he delivers a long soliloquy about how they are all cowards who merely follow each other. “A mob without any man at the head of it is beneath pitifulness.” This speech changes the audience’s mind, and they all leave Sherburn in peace, acknowledging his words. Sherburn’s victory over the mob represents a true victory over the social norm of obedience to society. He confronts the expectations placed on him and wins. Moreover, when the Wilks’s doctor is the only person who sees through the King and Duke’s charade, he calls them out. Although he is not successful at first, he persists in his conviction and ultimately proves them to be “fraud[s]”. He never steers towards the mob’s opinion, even though it coaxes and urges him. A similar situation occurs in the end. Once again, a mob of farmers, vow to lynch Jim, a runaway slave; however, the prestigious doctor convinces them otherwise. He declares, “ Don’t be no rougher on him than you’re obleeged to, because he ain’t a bad nigger.” This example also shows how the doctor voices his opinion, allows Jim to survive, and ultimately reverses society’s stance, who then treat Jim like a