Lessons from mom…or just doing the right thing?

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While Huck Finn is an orphan, he does have Miss Watson who provides him with daily moral lessons.  One such lesson is about “spiritual gifts”.  Huck says that spiritual gifts meant “[he] must help other people, and look out for them all the time, and never think about [himself]” (Twain 11).  Ultimately, Miss Watson is trying to help Huck become a morally responsible young man, as any mom wants.  However this provides an internal conflict for Huck; he does not see other people behaving this way.  He also does not completely “buy into” her philosophies. However, his foster mom’s voice is in the back of his head.

Don’t we all have advice or morals from our parents?  Our parents are the first people we learn from and often their advice sticks.  While it may seem silly, I always try to have a coat with me because, as my mom always said, “you never know what the weather will do or what could happen in your travels.”  This is a simple example, but mom’s advice and lessons echo in my mind.   

Some lessons from mom are not just pieces of advice.  Miss Watson is giving Huck advice on how to be a good person.  Helping others and being selfless are important.  While driving home the other day, I came to a stop sign.  I looked at a house near the sign and saw an older couple struggling in the driveway; the man had fallen from his chair and his wife could not lift him up. Their struggle was evident, so I pulled into the driveway to help the man into his chair.  Now, my mom obviously didn’t tell me to do this, but I knew the right thing was to help this couple.   While Huck says he “couldn’t see no advantage” in these spiritual gifts, he does comment on them (Twain 11).  I am sure that he will use his “spiritual gifts” to do the right thing later in the book.  

(Notice how I wrote about internal conflict, made a personal connection, and extended  the meaning.)