Teaching Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huck Finn in an English or ESL Classroom

There are many cultural ideologies present in this Twain's The Adventures Of Huck Finn. Cultural ideologies include values, beliefs and attitudes. The most significant of these is the need for freedom, which is a predominant theme in this novel This is shown in the two contrasting characters, Huck and Jim. Huck, young, white, and wealthy; and Jim, older, black, and enslaved both share this need. Other characters who emphasize this need include the King and the Duke, who wander from one town to another taking advantage of the residents, even if they have to lie, cheat, and steal to do it.

Huck's father also values his freedom. When the film begins, the only reason he has returned to Jackson Island and his son is because he is interested in the money that Huck's mother left Huck in her will. In the event of Huck's death, Huck's alcoholic and abusive father gets the money. Huck escapes his threats by disguising his own death and traveling on a raft far away from his father. Freedom is also emphasized in a later scene in which the daughter of one clan escapes with the son of another. This act results in the death of many characters who are enraged at the young couple daring to inter-marry.

Another value is that of money. The King and the Duke value it to the point of stealing it from a family of girls who are left on their own following the death of their grandfather. They are willing to risk their own lives, as well as the lives of others for money. Huck's father clearly values money even more than he values his son. Huck's aunt values money in order to keep the plantation going, even when it involves selling slaves and separating them from their families.

Jim, the escaped slave values money; without it, even if he were free, he would be unable to buy back his wife and children. Huck seems to be one of the only characters not guided my money, and he ironically has more than even he realizes. In one version of the end of the novel, he gives it all to Jim to buy back his family. Huck, who feels he has no need for money, runs off, again.