There are many dominant American themes and culture present in Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Twain explores these themes through the actions, relationships, and development of the novel's different characters. Freedom, survival of the fittest and individual conscience are three themes explored in individual characters and in society. Freedom, the novel's most obvious theme, takes on a different perspective for Huck, fleeing a civilized lifestyle, and Jim, fleeing and sold by Mrs. Watson. Huck is forced to adapt to the widow Douglass' civilized lifestyle, but perceives it as "a hard life... when [he] could no longer bear it, [he] passed away... and was free and satisfied" (1) . The struggle within the confines of both the widow and her father is the reason she flees to the island. While the widow sent him to school and taught him religion, Pap posed a grave threat to Huck's safety and he knew how to cleverly escape her. Playing a prank on his drunken, sleeping father in the shed, "Soon [he] made it" (41). He took a canoe downstream and once he stood up, “there was Jackson Island” (42). This marks his first point of freedom now that Huck is able to live on his own. Jim, however, runs away before Mrs. Watson can sell him, separating him from his family. Similarly to Huck, when Jim hears the voices he runs away to Jackson Island. When the island becomes dangerous, they set off on a raft down the Mississippi River. “'You feel very free and comfortable and comfortable 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 capture. Halfway through the document... slavery" and will face punishment for helping Jim, when in reality he was doing the right thing (250). Huck learns to love Jim, despite his differences, and goes against what he thinks society because it knows what is best for others, especially for its friends. In today's society, these themes are still dominant. While some see freedom as a responsibility, others take advantage of the privilege suitable do what they want, when they want, to get what they want. People with individual conscience believe they have the privilege to do what is right, both for themselves and for others. Unfortunately, those who seek freedom, of They usually seek it from those who take advantage of it. While freedom comes at a cost, every American should be able to enjoy their freedoms without anyone limiting them.