Deception and trickery can save lives. In Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, deception and trickery are essential traits in Huck's life. Huckleberry Finn is a young boy living in the South in the late 1800s. Being in such a racist environment does not stop Huck from associating with African Americans. When Huck runs away from home, he encounters one of his own family's slaves who is running away. Huck soon befriends the slave named Jim and the two travel on a raft to the North in search of freedom. Jim being an escaped slave presents many problems for Huck and Jim. Huck must use different styles of trickery and deception to stay out of danger and also help his companions. Twain suggests in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn that deception is essential to functioning in a corrupt society. Huck faces many dangerous situations throughout the story and must use deception to save himself from a racist society. Huck travels with a runaway slave, putting him in mortal danger. While traveling with Jim on the river, Huck runs into a serious problem. Men looking for runaway slaves want to search Huck's raft where Jim is hiding. If Jim is found, Huck could be killed or get into terrible trouble. Faced with a life or death situation, Huck uses the only thing that can save him. Huck tricks men by lying to save himself. Huck tells the men, “He’s sick, just like Mama and Mary Ann” (Twain 95). The men are terrified that Huck's family is sick and continue without searching Huck's raft. Jim is saved but more importantly, Huck has saved himself from all danger. Huck later encounters even more trouble from slave catchers. The hunters learned that Jim may have been hiding in a cave. Huck knows they're being followed and he must... middle of paper... uh, he thinks he's his nephew, Tom Sawyer. By doing so, Huck could easily stay close to Jim and find a way to help him escape. This would also prevent suspicion and keep Huck out of danger and trouble. Huck changed his identity twice, showing: "His lies often trip him up and force him to make up more lies." Does he tend to lie only out of necessity? » (Rasmussen). Using a disguise, Huck helps himself and others function in a corrupt society. Huck teaming up with Jim presents many problems throughout the story. The two characters come up against family problems and slavery which put them in great danger. Huck must use deception and disguise tactics to protect himself and the lives of others. This is shown in the story; deception and trickery are essential to persevering in a corrupt society. Although Huck is a young boy, he understands how cunning is essential to survival..