In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain, many dominant American themes and cultures are present. Twain explores these themes through the actions, relationships, and development of the various characters in the novel. Freedom, survival of the fittest and individual conscience are three themes explored in individual characters and in society. Freedom, the novel's most blatant theme, takes on a different perspective for Huck, escaping a civilized lifestyle, and Jim, escaping a civilized lifestyle. sold by Mrs. Watson. Huck is forced to adapt to the civilized lifestyle of the Widow Douglass, but he perceives it as "a difficult life... when [he] could take it no longer, [he] died out... and was free and content" (1). The fight between the widow and his father is the reason why he flees to the island. While the widow sent him to school and taught him religion, Pap posed a major threat to Huck's safety and he knew how to cleverly escape it. By playing a trick on his father, drunk and asleep in the shed, “very quickly, [he] got away with it” (41). He went down in a canoe and, once he got up, “there was Jackson Island” (42). This marks his first point of freedom now that Huck is successfully alone. Jim, meanwhile, runs away before Mrs. Watson can sell him, separating him from his family. Similarly to Huck, when Jim hears the rumors, he flees to Jackson Island. When the island becomes dangerous, they board a raft on the Mississippi River. “'You feel extremely free and at ease and at ease on a raft'” (128), Huck said. Huck and Jim now have no restrictions, they can be free and no longer need to hide from anyone. On the river, Jim is labeled a runaway slave and fears being caught. In... middle of paper...laundry” and face punishment for helping Jim, when he was in fact doing the right thing (250). Huck learns to love Jim, despite his differences, and goes against what society thinks because he knows what is best for others, especially his friends. In today's society, these themes are still dominant. While some view freedom as a responsibility, others take advantage of this privilege. Those with a survival of the fittest attitude do what they want, when they want, in order to get what they want. People with an individual conscience believe they have the privilege to do what is right, whether for themselves or others. Unfortunately, those who seek freedom usually seek it from those who take advantage of it. Although freedom comes at a price, every American should be able to enjoy their own freedoms without anyone restricting them..