und for most of the novel. Thus, slavery itself is never debated by Huck and Jim. Even the other slaves in the novel are noticeably minor characters. Only at the very end does Twain create the central conflict concerning slavery: should Huck free Jim from slavery and therefore be condemned to go to hell? This moment is life-altering for Huck because it forces him to reject everything that "civilization" has taught him; he makes the decision to free Jim based solely on his own experiences and not based on the what he has been taught from books. The theme of money is threaded through the novel and is used to highlight the disparity between the rich and the poor. Twain purposely begins the novel by pointing out that Huck has over six thousand dollars to his name; this sum of money dwarfs all the other sums and makes them seem inconsequential by contrast. It is also within this context that Huck is able to show such a relaxed attitude towards wealth. Having so much money, he does not view money as a necessity. In addition, Huck's upbringing on the land has made him independent enough that he views money as a luxury. Huck's views on money are meant to contrast with Jim's views. Jim sees money as equivalent to freedom; with money he can buy his freedom and that of his family. Money also would allow him to live like a white person, thus raising his status in the society. Thus, throughout the novel Jim constantly tries to get money whereas Huck takes an apathetic attitude towards the subject. ...
