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Jim And Huck's Relationship

Decent Essays

Colin Yokanovich
Mrs. Hocks
Advanced English 10
8 September 2014
Jim and Huck’s Maturing Relationship The book Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain, follows Huckleberry Finn and a “runaway” slave Jim’s relationship. Their bond transitions from a coincidental meeting, to a friendship, and eventually to a father-son relationship. The first stages of their relationship are haphazard, as Huck and Jim do not have a strong previous relationship. The only connection that Huck and Jim share is that they live on the same plantation. Prior to their journey, Huck only recognizes Jim because of the practical jokes that he often plays on him. For instance, in chapter 2 while Jim is taking a much needed afternoon nap, Huck and Tom …show more content…

In particular, Jim protects them during the evening, while Huck keeps watch during the day. As their friendship matures it also changes. Jim becomes a father figure to Huck, whose father is rarely present. This new found kinship is illustrated in chapter 15, when Jim and Huck become separated in a thick fog and Huck lies to Jim that he was on the raft the whole time. After thinking for a while Jim realizes Huck’s lie and responds, “En all you wuz thinkin’ ‘bout wuz how you could make a fool uv ole Jim wid a lie. Dat truck is trash; en trash is what people is dat puts dirt on de head er dey fren’s en makes ‘em ashamed” (91; ch. 15). This shows Jim’s willingness to teach Huck moral lessons much like how a parent teaches their children. This fatherly role is further embellished when Jim protects Huck from seeing his fathers decaying body. Despite his racist upbringings, Huck is able to work with and eventually build a cohesive bond with Jim. The two of them exemplify strong values of companionship and fellowship that parallel those of a tight family.

The Different Thought Processes of Huck and Tom In Mark Twain’s adventure novel the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn two of his most famous characters, Huck and Tom showcase to vary different forms of reasoning. The two digress in the way they interpret, relate, and react to humanity. Huck and Tom are polar opposites in the manner that they understand the world around them. For instance, Tom believes in complexity.

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