Moral Development In The Adventures Of Huckleberry

Finn And THE GREAT GATSBY Essay, Research Paper

MORAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE ADVENTURES OF

HUCKLEBERRY FINN & THE GREAT GATSBY

Moral Development, according to the Webster’s dictionary means an improvement or

progressive procedure taken to be a more ethical person, and to distinctly differentiate between

right and wrong. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The Great Gatsby, both pose as pieces

of literature that vividly portray moral development through the narrator’s point of view. Mark

Twain, the author of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, wants the reader to see and focus on

the search for freedom. As on the other hand, Francis Scott Fitzgerald, author of Great Gatsby,

wants you to see the American Dream, which is a freedom as well, a socio-economic freedom.

These authors have chosen their narrators well, as we see a significant number of action that have

brought them to be ethically developed. Narration in a story is important, and is usually told by a

main character. These narrators face a world of confusion, a world of fear, a world of adventure,

and most of all, a world of opportunity. By these things I mean that Nick Caraway, and

Huckleberry Finn have a chance to mature as time progresses though the novel, and then make a

remarkable move to end up as a hero. The narrators of The Great Gatsby and The Adventures

of Huckleberry Finn develop morally as the relate the story that reflects each one’s position in

society.

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The Great Gatsby, by Fitzgerald, is narrated by Nick Caraway. Nick is a sophisticated

observer of character, who starts out as an amoral person. His character is a very peculiar one,

because he is somewhat neutral though this whole story, especially without condemning others of

what they don’t have. “Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone, just remember that all the

people in this world haven’t had the advantages you’ve had”. This advice was given to Nick by his

father, which stuck to him ever since. This quote reflects a little bit of Nick’s personality. He

tends to hold judgements to himself, which opened up a lot of curious natures. He doesn’t seem

to be involved with what is going on , but is still aware of everyone’s actions. Another character

that has a major role in this story is Jay Gatsby. Gatsby is a person with a dream…the American

Dream, which is done by visualization of his boyhood ambitions like those of Benjamin Franklin.

Gatsby, in the story trys to test Nick’s amoral position, by dragging him into an illegal business

deal. Nick falls for this deal, but the admits to the fact that Gatsby stood for everything that Nick

dislikes. Such as the big parties, the “living on the edge” sort of life style. “They’re a rotten

crowd,” ‘I shouted across the lawn’. “You’re worth the whole damn bunch put together.”..’.I’ve

always been glad I said that. It was the only compliment I ever gave him, because I disapproved

of him from the beginning to the end’. This is a quote uttered by Nick, directed to Gatsby. This

confession has to with examples of the social class. Nick is coming from a poor background and

made it rich through business and hard work. But in this tome-period what ever class you were

born into, you stayed in there. Nick on the other hand comes from a wealthy background and

knows all the details to the upperclass. This example is one of many that Nick dislikes for

everything that Gatsby stands for. As Nick’s moral development starts to get mature, Nick finally

begins to accept Gatsby as a person who is trying to search for a dream- a noteworthy one. This

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time Gatsby is after Daisy. He thinks he can win her love with his wealth. “I’m going to call up

Daisy, and invite her over for tea”. This is a conversation between Nick and Gatsby, Nick knows

that classes won’t agree, but again tends to keep his judgements to himself. Eventually as time

pass, Nick and Gatsby become the best of friends, discussing everything from affairs of

relationships, to affairs of business. “I thanked him for his hospitality, we were always thanking

him for that…’goodbye, I enjoyed breakfast, Gatsby.’ “. Fitzgerald sets up Nick, in a such a way

that he wants to influence the reader to open his story with an open mind. Because an important

aspect of The Great Gatsby, is that Nick is living in the present, and telling Gatsby’s story after he

has already passed away, which leads me to say that this moment was hard for Nick…it was

loosing a best friend. “When a man gets killed I never liked to get mixed up in it in anyway. I

keep out. When I was a young man it was different – if a friend of mine died, no matter how, I

stuck with him to the end. You may think that is sentimental, but I mean it- to the bitter end.”

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, hereafter referred to as Huck Finn for text and Huck

or Huck Finn as character, is narrated by Huck Finn. Huck is a fun-loving character who is

honest most of the time, but will li

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