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Huck Finn and Cognitive Dissonance: Morality, Racism, and Personal Redemption

Mark Twain's "Huckleberry Finn" explores the theme of cognitive dissonance through the protagonist, Huck, as he grapples with societal norms about slavery and friendship. The discomfort of holding contradictory beliefs leads Huck to confront his morals when he recognizes Jim's humanity but also grapples with the teachings of his society that condone slavery. This psychological struggle culminates in Huck's bold decision to reject societal values, ultimately leading to personal redemption. Twain's narrative serves as a critique of racism and a call to recognize shared humanity.

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Huck Finn and Cognitive Dissonance: Morality, Racism, and Personal Redemption

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Presentation Transcript

  1. Continuing Huck Cognitive Dissonance, Morality, and Huck’s Decision

  2. Cognitive Dissonance • Twain uses Huck as a master satiric voice; but he also uses the idea of cognitive dissonance • Definition: The feeling of discomfort accompanied by holding two contradictory ideas at once

  3. Freewrite • Nobody wants to be in an abusive relationship. But people continue to be in them. This is a form of cognitive dissonance. How do people deal with this?

  4. CD Examples • Dieting • Relationships • Unemployed boyfriend • Unstable/abusive boyfriend • Office supplies from work • Premarital sex

  5. Cognitive Dissonance and Racism • If you accept that “other” people are human persons, then you’re essentially arguing for their equality • But this means you can’t treat them as less than human – but people did, and people do

  6. Dealing with racist cognitive dissonance • How do people deal with this? • Option one: Convince yourself that your ideas and actions aren’t actually treating them as unequal • Segregation • Option two: Convince yourself, consciously or unconsciously, that you are indeed somehow better than people of a specific race • “They’re human too, but more prone to theft, etc.”

  7. Huck’s Racism? • What about Huck? Does he recognize Jim’s humanity? • Yes! (Read end of chapter 23) • Is Huck racist? Does he disagree with slavery? • Yes and no! (read the book) • So he is involved in cognitive dissonance: • On the one hand, he recognizes Jim’s humanity • But on the other hand, he is OK with slavery

  8. Climax of Cognitive Dissonance in Huck • Psychologically speaking, you can’t be involved in cognitive dissonance for too long – you either “correct” the problem, or go crazy • Where do we see this cognitive dissonance (this feeling of discomfort) coming to a climax? (Hint: In some ways, it’s also the climax of the novel.)

  9. Why the Dissonance? Society • On the one hand, Huck has society’s morals, and everything they have taught him: slavery is OK; helping a slave is wrong; you go to hell for doing bad things • But on the other hand, we see that Huck, even if unconsciously, wants to help Jim because he is a person and friend

  10. Huck’s Decision • He resolves this by rejecting society’s morals: ripping up the letter, saying he’d go to hell, etc.

  11. Twain’s Points • So what is Twain saying to his times? • You can’t recognize others’ humanity while involving yourself in racist practices • You can step outside of your society’s morality and recognize morals more important

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