Final answer:
Huck initially tries to dissuade Tom from helping release Jim because of the societal norms and prejudices of their time. Yet, Huck's internal conflict, reflective of the novel's critique of slavery and its morality, eventually leads him to help Jim, showcasing a critical stance against the societal acceptance of slavery.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Mark Twain's classic novel, Huck tries to dissuade Tom from helping release Jim because Huck is influenced by the societal norms and prejudices of the time. While Huck has developed a friendship with Jim and recognizes his humanity, he is still conflicted due to the prevailing attitudes towards slavery and sees the act of helping Jim as a serious transgression.
Moreover, Huck's moral dilemma and growth is a central theme in the novel, as he grapples with his conscience and the laws of the land that he has been taught to obey, which included the institution of slavery as a legal and socially acceptable practice.
Through Huck's internal conflict and his ultimate decision to help Jim, Twain critiques the immoral foundations of slavery and the society that supports it. Twain's narrative emphasizes that Huck's decision to help Jim escape is not just an act of friendship but also a significant moral choice that challenges the customs and laws of his time.
Huck's actions reflect Twain's condemnation of slavery and underscore the complex dynamics between societal rules, individual morality, and friendship.