As we begin to read Mark Twain's satirical novel Huckleberry Finn, Barack Obama is in the first days of his presidency. During much of his campain Obama discussed his ideas about change and what changes America needs. Remember that at the heart of true satire is a call for change. Twain's novel calls for change in much the same way. As you read Huck Finn, notice and discuss some of the changes Twain calls for that still ring true today, over 100 yrs later. (2 posts by 2/27)
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Mark Twain called for a lot of changes which still apply today. One example is the call to end racial prejudice. Twain expresses this through the character Huck, and how he views society and decides upon what he believes is "right" when it comes to treating others. Another related topic Twain addresses is for people to realize that blacks are people, too, not just "those niggers". I believe that Twain showed this through the character "Pap". In Huck Finn, Pap is the stereotype of all white racists, and is a piece of satire saying that all racists are illiterate lowlifes. Overall, Mark Twain expresses a lot of his opinions in Huck Finn through his SUPER EXPERT use of satire.
Twain’s most prominent message to his readers in Huckleberry Finn, through his skillful use of satire, was to examine the way society had been vindicating its blatant prejudices, and to subsequently put an end to slavery and racial discrimination based on their conclusions. More directly, his message is ‘equality’ or ‘equal rights for all’.
Recently, Obama passed the Lilly Ledbetter Act. The purpose of this piece of legislation is to check pay discrimination for equal work, especially discrimination against women, but also inequity of wages caused by race, sexual orientation, and religion. Until now, the statute of limitations for pressing charges against pay (or other) discriminations was 180 days, but since crimes such as these are often difficult to detect, many late cases were being dismissed on a mere technicality. Now, each new discriminatory pay check resets the clock. In addition, a plaintiff will have the right to collect back pay from up to two years before they challenged their employers. Thanks to Lilly Ledbetter and Obama, many hard-working people will now have a better chance at equality.
Another recently passed policy is the closing of Guantanamo Bay prison, where hundreds of prisoners are held and tortured, some without trials or convictions. Common speculation avers that many of these detainees are innocent. Whether or not that’s true is not the point, however. The effect of this action, taken by the United States, is that we are taking a strong, world position against things like war crimes, the use of torture as a method of interrogation, and incarceration of innocents. Hopefully this will restore a bit of our waning reputation and prove that America is willing to become the epitome of her own ideals.
Aside from those two steps taken by our new leader, there is the obvious accomplishment of Obama even becoming our President in the first place. Against all odds, we have achieved Twain’s goals in that area, at least. That’s not to say that the change should stop here, but no matter which political party you align yourself with, any person of color achieving what he has achieved should be recognized as an achievement for our nation. Whether or not you think we would have been better off if the Republicans had achieved this for us (as I do) is beside the point somehow. The fact that America came such a long way in such a short time should be celebrated, and I only hope that we continue taking such progressive steps in both parties.
I think that Mark Twain would approve of these changes because they will improve our society at home and in the world.
I also believe that another piece of change that Twain calls for is a little less blatant; it's his opinion that people should do what they believe is right contrary to popular belief. Twain expressed this in Huck Finn through the character of Huck. In the beginning of the novel, Huck still tries to fit into society by thinking of Jim as a lesser person, even though his heart began to disagree. By leaving society to go to Jackson Island, he also left behind their prejudiced views, and finally opened his mind to what he really believes is fair.
Twain calls for us to read this book in order to get insight and change the way people think about black people. Currently, I'm reading the section in the book where the king and the duke are “rapscallions” and slyly squeeze money out of people and they are very greedy. When the king tries to be someone he is not, Twain has Huck realize that they have the same values as kings; they use people and then get rid of them. Huck says that he is ashamed of the human race and that Twain is saying clearly that we need to change. This idea of having Huck feel ashamed for the human race is an example of how Twain wants us to realize that we can't be prejudice and need to think beyond the “slave and owner” way of thinking. So, Twain is successful in showing the need for change in his novel.
In Huckleberry Finn, I've noticed that Mark Twain satirizes the object of labeling people based on who they are. For instance, the king and duke are introduced to the story in comparison to Huck and Jim and how one is of higher status to another. However, we learn that these people are not really what they say they are. They seem to have these labels to be seen in a better light by society and acknowledged for their label.
Furthermore, Twain also shows his satire through the repetition og the word "nigger". Not only was it a common word used by the southern white society, but it was a degrading word and label of the black society. From this, Twain wants us to see that people are people and are the same human beings no matter what their background.
Unfortunately, we still face this social problem today as we label groups based on their actions and the way they choose to live. We label people "rich" or "poor", but don't see that these words mean nothing in the sense that we are all the same. Our belongings and actions and our way of life should not make up the differences between who we are---human beings living in the same world. Overall, we people should act on Twain's suggested changes of society rather than ignoring them.
Twain speaks a lot about how society shapes the individual. He wants the reader to not let this happen because it destroys the individual's ability to decipher right from wrong. Huck had trouble dealing with making decisions that dealt with Jim. He almost gave Jim up when he wrote the letter to Miss Watson. Huck felt better after writing the letter. Later, he felt guilty after remembering what he and Jim went through. Huck thinks he is going to hell when he rips the letter up and decides to help Jim. Huck is completely wrong because society has made wrong right and right wrong.
This still clearly rings true today. All around us people are still changed by society. They are misled by the government and by the media. Twain wants us to be our own individual and not to follow what society tells us.
I hate to bring up a touchy subject but an example of being misled by society is the new abortion law that the media and government are trying to get passed. Some people think that abortion is ok when it is actually killing a life. If this legislation is passed, the government will force Catholic hospitals to perform this nasty procedure and if they refuse, they will lose funding. This isn't right for the government to force Catholic hospitals to perform procedures that are against what they believe in. The government would be making abortions available at every hospital, even at Catholic Hospitals. People need to vote according to their beliefs and not what society tells them. (I know that there will be many arguements against my statement and I am not trying to start any. I am just simply stating my beliefs.)
In Huckleberry Finn, Twain uses satire to show the readers that society needs to change. The biggest issue that he shows is racism. Over the years, equality has been achieved, for the most part. Although our President is black and there is no more public segregation (etc.) there is still racism present in society. For example, while campaigning, Barack Obama got death threats. So although society has gotten better with treating each other equally, we are still not close to the "utopia" that Huck and Jim have found on the river.
After reading until Chapter 32 in Huck Finn, I've noticed that Twain called for the change of the lynch mob mentality. He introduces a character named Sherburn to show his own voice about this subject. Sherburn starts talking to the mob of people about lynching. He says that he has lived in both the South and the North and this is just like Twain has done. So, Twain satirizes the lynch mobs by saying the the southerners are a bunch of cowards. They refuse to stand up on their own two feet to do what is morally right. By including this character, Twain discusses the idea of lynching and in the story it shows that Twain thinks a real man is someone who stands up for what they believe is right. This change is true today because people stood up for what they believed and now it is outlawed.
Through his novel, Twain is also trying to change how people follow the crowd. He wants people to do what they believe is right, rather than what everyone else thinks. Many people today are beginning to think for themselves,for example, the recent election of Obama. However there are cases in which people's decisions are influenced by society.
Twain shows us this through the main character, Huck Finn. In the first chapters of the story, Twain has Huck act like the people surrounding him. For example, Huck looks down on Jim just like everyone else in town. However, in the later chapters we see Twain makes Huck a more accepting character. We notice that Huck is beginning to ignore society and do what he believes is right.
As we have all said, Twain used this book to send the message that society needs change, especially when it comes to racism and slavery. I believe that Twain's message did start some change in society that still exists today. I know that there is still issues with racism, however they are not as bad as they were back then. Many people are friends with someone of a different race and they see each other as equals. This is what Twain was trying to get across in the novel through the characters of Jim and Huck. Twain just wanted society to open up their eyes to what was truly happening in the south and that eventually ended up happening. Most people today have realized the importance of equality.
Also, i'm sure we can all imagine what Twain would say if he knew that we just elected an african american man as president. I think he would be happy to see where America is today, in terms of equality.
Mark Twain presses for change in the south in his novel. He mainly talks about the necessity to have equal rights for all, which he bases on the idea that blind tradition is not to be followed. By being elected president, Obama is breaking all blind traditions, and therefore achieving what Twain intended. I think that with all the new policies and reforms that Obama creates, blind tradition will be broken, or modified. This may seem as though there would be too much change, but really, we're going to achieve a state where people can think for themselves. Consequently, people will become more open-minded, and independent, instead of listening to others for their opinions. This poses for a nation with more equality and less prejudice and racism. Why? Because independent people can morally decide what is correct, and it is more likely for people to think that racism is wrong than right.
Twain calls for many changes through this novel. One change that still rings true today is racism. I believe that people are less racist today than during the time that Twain was writing. However, I also think that some forms racial prejudice will always exist in America.
Twain shows us the racist views of the south in his novel. He demonstrates how evil that society can be. In the world today cases of this racism still exist. Twain's call for change of racism is still needed.
I agree with many of the previous posts. As we've mentioned in class, Mark Twain calls for individuals to listen to their own ideas and thoughts rather than follow the crowd. Unfortunately, this is one aspect that has still not changed today nor ever will be changed. It is part of human nature to follow the majority of the population, because humans fear being ridiculed and having to face the ridicule alone. Human also tend to follow the majority voice because they like being on the "winning team", and feel that the idea or movement with the most people, will be more powerful.
Yet, the reason we can move on in history is the fact that there are a handful of people who had to face their fear and decide for themselves to be their own individual. But once those individuals have gathered enough of other people who agree with their ideas, the people who used to follow one opinion, will start following that individual. Unfourtunatley those people will not necessarily follow because they agree with the individual, but because they are afraid to disagree with the majority.
-Natalia Z.
Mark Twain wanted people to break away from society and the society's beliefs in order to follow the individual's ideas and beliefs. This is what Obama is trying to do as well, by saying that people should create their own opinions rather than follow someone else's. In addition, I believe that Obama is trying to bring out the important opinions of minorities and the minority parties that have been hidden under the opinions of the majority. Just like Twain wanted society to realize that not everyone believes in the same thing; there are other ideas out there that are way better than the one of Southern society. Plus, Twain wanted to get his readers to understand that prejudice doesn't really serve a purpose in the society back then, and doesn't really serve a purpose today either, that's what Obama is trying to prove today.
I'm sorry if I'm repeating what previous posts have said; I haven't read all of them yet.
President Obama, for many, is a symbol of the change that has come to America since its birth and even in the past 50 years, and the change that is continuing today. Though the change he argued for during his campaign was a different sort from Twain's, there are certain similarities between them. The change that he represents though, ties to Twain's much more directly.
Mark Twain, through Huckleberry Finn, argued for equality in the south. The book was written in the late nineteenth century, relatively shortly after the Emancipation, and took place just before. In the time period of the story, many white people (Pap specifically) thought no black people had the right even to freedom in free states. In the time period of the book's writing, there were still extremely racist attitudes and segregation in most parts of the U.S. Since then, society has become more united (and less segregated) and black people have earned more rights. Certainly president Obama symbolizes this change, perhaps more than any other individual, because he has achieved far more than citizenship, which was all Jim was looking for-- he achieved the presidency of the U.S.
Twain wanted change because he didn't believe in the beliefs of society and what they believed is right. Society is what influenced people's decisions and what they believed in. It didn't allow for the beliefs of the individual, which is one thing that Twain wanted to change. He wanted people to be able to think for themselves and get their own idea of what was right and wrong.
I think that today we have the ability to be an idividual but society will always have an influence no matter what you do. There is constantly going to be those certain opinions that people will try to get everyone to follow. However, the amount that society influences us has lessened since the time when Huck Finn was written. I think soicety is better off letting us be individuals then trying to make everyone believe in the same things like they did in the story.
I think the biggest thing that Twain is trying to make us aware of is racism. I don't think he was only try to say that slavery was wrong, since slavery was already banished by the time this book was written, but I think he was trying to make us aware that no one should be treated like they're less important just because they're different. If everyone were to treat people less important than themselves then everyone would be racist because everyone IS different. I think that racism and prejudice were the main things that Twain was trying to make us aware of so that we could hopefully change.
Obama wanted to change taxes so that the poor were taxed less and the rich were taxed more. This is an example of trying to make two different kinds of people on the opposite sides of the spectrum come closer together. In this case it was an attempt to lessen the gap of wealth between both sides; trying to achieve more equality among people money wise, instead of race wise. Twain's beliefs about race can be connected to this because the main problem with racism is that one group is inferior to another. And allow we can no longer say that one race is more superior than the other, we can say it seems that the rich are superior to the poor. Obama tried to make things a little more equal by givng more disadvantages to the rich who already had the advantage and giving more advantages to the poor with the disadvantage. However, the poor are still inferior to the rich, just less. So we still have changes that need to be made. I mean sure, we can never make everyone in the country have the same amount of money and still be capatilist, but we can still bring up the poor a little more so that living conditions are't so bad. In other words, changes still need to be made.
As practically all of you have mentioned, Huckleberry Finn is a novel which urges human beings to take a step back and look at themselves, in a different perspective. By viewing ourselves in another light, we are able to decipher our true beliefs and morals, which are significant to ourselves. In the novel, Twain wants people to realize that so many of us simply follow the accepted beliefs and customs of society, simply because that is what is practiced by most people. However, being human beings, this is understandable. In the novel, people in the South didn't even realize how unfairly they were treating African Americans; they acted the way they did, because it is what society instilled in them. Nowadays, we continue to struggle with the same problem, however we have come such a long way. With inspirational role models such as Martin Luther King Jr. and even Rosa Parks a need for change was brought to our attention, and it was carried out.
After reading all of the posts, I can say that I agree with most of you all. I feel that a major change, in fact the most important change that Twain as well as our current president are trying to overcome is the issue with racism. I believe that racism will never have its end, due to the fact that one person can change everything. If one person is racist, well that shows that racism is still evident in society. Although I do believe this is true, I still feel that there is hope for our country in the future. There is always room for improvemnt, and I am one to believe that one person can initiate change and make a difference on their own. Having one person to be able to come to terms and realize that all humans are equal puts America and its citizens in a better situation. Without the help of historical figures such as Mark Twain, MLK, and Barack Obama, we would not be experiencing much change as we have. If it weren't for them, who knows what soctiety would be like. I feel that racism is the most important thing to tackle because of the lasting effects that it has on individuals and society as a whole. Being able to control racist feelings and actions is teh start to making America a better country.
As said by most people already, the change that Twain calls for is for racism to come to end. Throughout the whole novel, Twain puts in many hints and examples of what's wrong with it and why it has to stop. Another change that is called out by him would be to not rely on society so heavily, and let it make decisions for you, as well as pound beliefs into your head, such as the racism.
Huck had made up his mind to help out Jim, even though society had told him that it was wrong. Tom Sewyer, who symbolized society's influence, was quick to help Jim out, as well. With that action, Twain was showing how change would come to south, as well as the world.
Mark Twain was a brilliant writer who used his "SUPER EXPERT use of satire" (as Julie worded it) to call for change, which he found necessary in American society. At that time, people were racists and prejudice and had a lynch-mob mentality. Twain understood why people followed that mindless society and found the reason just not good enough. Twain wanted people to get away from society and try and find their own thoughts and beliefs, as he had Huck and Jim do when they ran away. He wanted to help bring into view the flaws of society, and recognize the consequences of following this mindless and destructive society. One of the many malicious accepted beliefs were that colored people were worth less and dumber than white people. We have worked towards equality liked Twain had called for. It is remarkable and historic, that today we have a black president. Barack Obama called for change in a time where change is needed, and as did twain in his own time. Barack Obama is one of the best examples of how the change that Twain had called for has come to America. I’m glad that we are at a point in our history where we could accept a black president, and where his ideas, values as a person, and politics mattered more than the color of his skin. This is why he is considered inspirational to many Americans today. As said before, racism and prejudice thoughts and behavior still exist today, and will for a very long time, but as a country we have come very far.
Twain knew that even though that after the civil war was over and the Emancipation proclamation was passed, that people/society wouldn’t be all of a sudden be ready to understand how they were wrong and that they had to now accept that black Americans were people just as well. Twain used the novel to show how people could and should realize that at the end of the day people are people, and how color doesn’t make anyone less or more human than the next. Twain's controversial message thankfully had helped in many ways to help in making progress in society's attitude towards diversity. Being the great Melting-Pot, America hopefully should be able to accept diversity and walk away from racism.
I would venture to say that Twain would be quite satisfied with the current state of racial equality in America. He'd probably even be slightly apprehensive of the overwhelming pressure for equality in general. Perhaps he really did dream big, though, and either way we can strive to carry out his basic intent to the fullest degree. Times have changed and so too has tolerance. Like inflation, the same amount yields less substance. Overall, our society has taken large steps towards eliminating discrimination for any reason, but in practice, things are not so wonderful. We must strive to carry out the final steps of this great legacy. Progress may cease only when stereotyping of all kinds disappears. Currently, this seems quite ambitious, but it is hardly more so than the ideals of the abolitionists. Unfortunately, efforts can and have become over-zealous, resulting in the current thin ice on which potential lawsuits and ruined reputations rest.
During Huck Finn, Twain uses sattire to get across that society needs to change and have all men equal. Throughout the novel, Huck begins to see how society is wrong and how Jim is an equal to him although he's black. This still is a problem in a way today, however it is not as severe. Many people dissaproved of having a black president being elected, but as you can see we, as a society, has changed like Twain wanted us too because he was elected. Although we still have room to improve because there is still currently prejudice and stereotypes out there, we have changed hugely since the times of slavery.
-Abby W.
Twain's main purpose for writing Huckleberry Finn was change. He wanted to change society's views on racism. He also wanted people to break off from society and create their own opinions. Twain wanted others to realize that they don't have to follow what the majority believes in. Twain's message still holds true today. Many people's views on racism have been changed and slavery has been abolished. Also, many have walked away from society's views and created their own. Even our new president has tried to bring out our own opinions on the issues that affect us. Like Sofiya said, "Obama is trying to bring out the important opinions of minorities and the minority parties that have been hidden under the opinions of the majority."
In the story, Huck Finn, Twain calls for changes about slaves and about how people treat other. He wanted to get rid of slavery because he thought that all people should be treated equally even African Americans back in those days. But he also felt that asides from treating slaves in a better manner, whatever race you are you should be treating people nicely. In the story, in my opinion, it is evident that Twain follows the golden rule, "Treat other the way you wise to be treated" and that is exactly what Twain wanted for everyone, no matter what color or race they were.
As we look at America today we can see that some changes have occurred for the better and yet some still have remained the same. The good changes that have happened are the ones such as a black man becoming president. In Twain's era it was never thought to be possible, but now change has occurred and African Americans have more opportunities and rights.
But what still has not happened that Twain wanted was for people to treat each other nicely and fairly. Today we still have some who are racist or prejudice in some way. We still treat others in harsh ways which Twain wanted for a change in society but that hasn't happened because people are mean to people who are different and seem a little strange. Twain just wanted everyone to accept each other for who they are and what they are.
As Natalia said many people are scared to follow their own conscience and instead follow the ways of society even if society ways are wrong.
Twain would be proud of the fact that an African American got elected as president, but that doesn't mean there still isn't racism around the world, and people are still being cruel to others because they are different. So even though could changes have come since Twain's time there are still some things that haven't changed and may never change.
The change that Twain is calling for is change in society. Twain shows us how society shapes an individual and according to him, that isn't necessarily a good thing. If society happens to be wrong then people will grow up being taught wrong things. Twain feels that every individual should decide for themselves. They shouldn’t be shaped by others’ views. For example, Huck has a hard time deciding what to do with the letter he writes to Miss Watson. He really wants to help Jim but by doing that he will be turning his back on society. Huck ultimately decides to tear up the letter and go aground to save Jim. By doing so he has left society. This is good in Twain’s eyes because it is his opinion that you have to do what is right for you even if it isn’t the correct thing to do in society. When I say that twain called for a change in society, not only did I mean changing oneself so that they don’t just conform to society’s ways, but I also meant the entire behavior of society. In the book Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain shows that prejudice of that time. He also shows the stupidity of some people. Twain wants us to realize how inhumane and ridiculous we as a people are and he wants us to take action and change. Twain preaches to us the importance of equality. These calls to action are similar to Barrack Obama’s campaign about change because today we still have society and we will always have society and most likely it will still have rules that some of us cannot follow. Today, there still are racist and stupid people. But, if we change society we can eliminate that evil. Barrack encourages us to better as a people; he gives us hope of a better environment. Barrack’s inspiration leads us to that change. Just recently, Barrack has been discussing the issue of equal payment for all. This will help us take that first steps in equality. Overall, I believe that Mark Twain did an amazing job by using Huckleberry Finn to spread the message of change by insuring equality and allowing individuality.
I agree with what everyone else has said above me. Mark Twain called for a lot of changes through his novel Huck Finn. One major example is the issue of racial prejudice. He displayed this through the characters Huck and Jim. Their relationship reinforced the belief of equality. Twain wanted the segregation and mistreatment of African Americans to end so he used them to portray the scenario of an ordinary friendship where skin color didn't matter. This also showed that conscience overpowers society and that instead of following the crowd, you should follow your heart. I believe Twain was trying to get this message across throughout the novel. Like Mindy and many others have said, there will always be predjudice because society is judgemental. On the other hand, racial predjudice has decreased and Twain would be proud to see Barack Obama taking office.
Twain uses satire in this story to make a statement that much change is needed. This story was written after the Civil War and the Emancipation Proclamation, but the South was still struggling to deal with racism and the effects of slavery after it was written. The changes that Twain calls to an end is racial prejudice and any feelings of inequality or of being better or more superior than any other race. Society is not perfect and changes need to be made to make it better. We have come a long way since those times where slavery did exist and extreme forms of racial prejudice were present, but we also have issues still occurring with racial prejudice today. There is always room for improvement. I like how Jon mentioned that Obama represents change and the change that are still occurring today. Throughout the whole novel, Twain is trying to make the audience come to a realization that the way that African Americans were treated was so immoral and wrong. Many people didn’t notice anything wrong with how they were treating them back then because that was all they knew. They hadn’t lived in a time or place where African Americans were free and equal. Twain wrote a great novel displaying all the issues within society that really did need to change.
I believe that Twain called for changes that are always applicable in society. First of all, he wants people to rely less upon society and what it tells us, and more so do things based on what we think is right. Just in the way that he uses Tom to represent society and to represent romanticism shows that he believes society believes too much in blind tradition and blind faith. He is also trying to show that society lives too much within fantasy and not enough in reality even to the point that their ideals and morals are almost impractical in the sense that they are unattainable. This is very easily seen today within our own society. For example, many people within the American society see President Obama as the answer to all of our nation's problems, however it is ludacris to go so far as think that one man and his administration can repair an infastructure that is on the verge of collapse within a four year time radius when it took eight years for it to decline. Might I add that it takes more time to rebuild than it does to collapse. All in all, Twain's idea that society and it's people have flawed values is very true, however to convince a whole world of people that this idea is true is next to imposssible.
Taylor
Through Huck Finn, Twain calls for change in our corrupt human society. His most powerful message to each person is to not follow society. Through his characters like Huck and Jim, he wants his readers to realize the foolishness of blind traditions and customs. We believe in things that we don't even know exists, just like slavery. By the end of the book, Twain makes us see that slavery never really existed all along. Everyone is free, it's just that society creates these illusions that manipulates their conscience and ways of thinking. What is right and what is wrong? That's another thing that was a problem in Twain's society and ours today. Twain satarizes through Huck that we shouldn't base what we think is right or wrong through what society thinks. We must isolate ourselves from society to understand and rid ourselves with the corruptness. Without society, we can be able to see what really is in our hearts and minds. Obama calls for change and so does Twain.
I think Twain showed that a boy with a different background than most can become a leader and role model for others. A connection I draw between Obama and Huck Finn is that Obama had an unusual background, too. He showed that success is possible even if, like Huck, he didn't have a father figure. As the most powerful man in America, Obama is certainly a strong leader that we can look to for qualities we should admire. in Huck Finn, Twain showed that these qualities aren't in the typical man of white society who follows blind tradition, but a boy without a typical background. I think this enables both of them to see the world through different eyes.
As we have agreed, we’ve come a long way from the horrible racism and slavery that was part of the norm in our country not too long ago, but as mentioned before, racism and the prejudice mindset is not dead. I don’t believe we can ever entirely rid ourselves from prejudice thoughts or feelings because sometimes, we forget. Like when people make a racist comment only to realize later what they’ve said, may have offended people. We often live our lives having stereotypes rules our first impressions of people. The major point would be to think about what we think, and to know whether or not we do what we do because others are or it’s easier to follow rather than to break away, or if we do things because we believe it’s right in our own minds as Twain implied. The difficult part is even if we break away from society’s thoughts, how will we know that if our individual thoughts and feelings of right and wrong are indeed right or wrong, not just good for us and selfish? I guess that’s the part that wouldn’t be answered. Twain hoped that humans were innately good, so our own individual sense of right and wrong would be also. What if someone wants to change but what will rule their changes, on selfish desires rather than a sense of what is beneficial for everyone around them. That’s the hard part. Society has its good and bad effects on people we depend on others to tell us what is right and wrong because it’s easier that way. Twain realized that to make change, we need to live in society and away from it to get both points of view. This is shown when Huck was living with the widow and society then escaped to the river (equals freedom). We need to live in society to see the effect of it, both good and bad, and live away from it to get experience of seeing things from an outside point of view. Change is necessary when the flaw and wrong doing of someone or group becomes harmful and apparent. Obama saw that change was necessary for America, as did Twain. Let us hope that in the future that we won’t let our own pride get in the way of our individual thoughts, and that blind tradition is always questioned.
^ woah, wayy too long.
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