Splash, Splash is the sound you hear as a beautiful friendship begins to blossom. The main characters Huck and Jim’s friendship begins to develop as they are floating down the Mississippi river in hopes of reaching both of their goals, freedom from society and its judgemental, cruel,biased, and racist opinions and ways. In the novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn the author Mark Twain presents many examples of how they both grow as characters by teaching one another about the true meaning of friendship, loyalty, and equality.
Huck and Jim both teach each other what it is like to have a true friends. In chapter sixteen Huck begins to feel guilty about helping Jim escape from Miss Watson but he begins to cry out to Huck saying, “We’s safe,
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Huck, we’s safe! Jump up and crack yo’ heels! Dat’s de good ole Cairo at las’, I jis knows it!” (Twain 100). Huck later decides not to turn him in although, society say this is the “right” thing to do because african american are slaves and it is believed that they should not be treated equal. Huck and Jim both realize that sometimes it is better to help one another rather than to do what society tells you too. Another example of friendship is when Jim keeps it a secret from Huck that his father has passed. Although it may seem that it was rude to not tell Huck it was the better thing to do. Jim did not keep it from Huck to upset him but he was trying to protect Huck and Himself; “De man ain’t asleep- he’s dead. You hold still-I’ll go en see...It’s a dead man. Yes, indeedy; naked, too. He’s ben dead two er three days. Come in, but doan’ look at his face-it’s too gashly” (Twain 60). He had lied to Huck because thought that he would go back to Miss watson and turn him in but Jim did not want to lose his chance to be a freed man or lose Huck as a friend because he is the only person Jim had. In Mark Twain’s novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn he provides us with many different examples of Loyalty. One way that loyalty is shown in this novel is when Huck begins to feel guilty about helping Jim run away from Miss Watson. Although Huck knows that turning Jim in is the “right” thing to do he realizes that Jim is a man just like himself and that all he wants is freedom too. Jim says to Huck, “...en I wouldn’t ever ben free ef it hadn’t ben for Huck; Huck done it. Jim won’t ever forgit you, Huck; you’s de bes’ fren’ Jim’s ever had; en you’s de only fren ole Jim’s got now” (Twain 100). This quotation helps us to better understand how important Huck really is to Jim. Another way this idea is displayed is when Jim finally tells Huck that the deceased man they had found in the river was his father. “Doan’ you ‘member de house dat was float’n down de river, en dey wuz a man in dah kivered up, en i went in en unkivered him and didn’t let you come in? Well, den, you kin git yo’ money when you wants it, kase dat wuz him” (Twain 304). This is an example of loyalty because although Huck is upset with Jim he forgives Jim because he remembered the time he lied to jim, they both had kept secrets from each other but they both had grown past it and forgiven each other. Equality, the state of being equal, especially in status, rights, and opportunities.
This is an important trait that is displayed throughout The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn because society believes that african americans should be enslaved and should not hold the same rights as the white men. In chapter fifteen we see that at first Huck does not want to apologize to Jim for making him believe that everything that had happened was just a dream but he later apologizes to Jim for tricking him because he feels guilty for taking advantage of Jim’s lack of knowledge. Huck says, “It was fifteen minutes before I could work myself up to go and humble myself to a nigger; but i done it, and i warn’t ever sorry for it afterwards, neither i didn’t do him no more mean tricks, and i wouldn’t have done that one if I’d ‘a’ knowed it would make him feel that way” (Twain 97). Another example that is provided in the novel is in chapter twenty three when Huck realizes that Jim also has feelings when he says, “De Lord God Almighty fogive po’ole Jim, kaze he never gwyne to forgive hisself as long’s he live! Oh, she plumb deef en dumb, huck, plumb deef en dumb en- I’d ben a-treat’n her so!” (Twain 166). This moment helps Huck to better understand that although Jim may look different and may be treated differently by society he still has feelings just like any other
man. In the end both Huck and Jim teach each other a lot about what it is like to have a true friendship, the meaning of loyalty, and the Importance of equality. These ideas are both supported and demonstrated in many ways throughout this novel. Huck and Jim both realize that even though society believes they should not associate they both grow through this and learn that their social rank and looks are not what defines who they are or who they should be. They learn what actually defines them is what they believe in and how the stand up for it even if it is not the popular thing to do.
Jim gives Huck a gateway into his private life when he tells Huck this story. Huck listens quietly and respectfully to this story, which shows him warming up to Jim. The story shows Jim’s homesickness, and how he greatly misses his family. It also shows a much less forgiving and more emotional side of Jim’s character. Jim forgave Huck for all of the pranks he pulled on Jim, though Jim would not forgive himself for a mistake years ago. If both characters had not run away together, they would not have the type of relationship they share now. It would be heavily frowned upon if Huck and Jim had this type of relationship while still at their homes because of the racism of people in the south. Huck is still open to new ideas, which is why he becomes friends with Jim.
Huck plays this trick on Jim, but doesn’t realize it would hurt him so much. Jim is very hurt, and goes inside the wigwam. Huck has to bring up courage to apologize to Jim because he is black. This is sort of ironic because Jim was just talking about kissing Huck’s feet because he was glad he was back, but then Huck feels so bad for hurting Jim, that he could kiss Jim’s feet, even if he was black. Huck seems to have a moment which will help him along on the path of equality between whites and blacks as well.
In the beginning of the novel, Huck plays many practical jokes on Jim. Huck and Tom begin the novel by waking up Jim when he is sleeping under a tree. They are both very immature boys and think it will be fun to scare Jim. They act like Jim isn’t a human being and don’t seem to be bothered by the fact that he has feelings too. When Huck and Jim get separated by the fog Huck must think Jim is stupid and won’t catch onto his lie. “Aamy heart wuz mos’ broke bekase you wuz los’, en I didn’ k’yer no’ mo’ what become er me en de raf’.En when I wake up en fine you back agin,all safe en soun’,de tears come,en I could a got down on my knees en kiss yo foot.”(109) Huck makes Jim believe the whole fog storm was just a dream and gets him very worried. Huck doesn’t realize that Jim is trying to protect him and be a father figure to him, and that he only wants the best for Huck. Huck also thinks Jim isn’t knowledgeable because he is a black slave. Huck and Jim are arguing and Huck feels Jim cannot say anything intelligent so Huck changes the subject. “I never seen such a nigger .If he got a notion in his head once, there warn’t no getting it out again. He was the most down on S...
In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain paints the story of a developing friendship between two entirely different people which at the time society considered unacceptable and taboo. Huckleberry Finn is a white thirteen year old boy and Jim is a middle-aged black runaway slave. They meet by coincidence while they are both hiding out on Jackson’s Island located in the middle of the Mississippi River, Huck is hiding from the townspeople who think he is dead, and Jim has runaway and is hiding from his owner. Throughout their journey together, Huck and Jim’s relationship goes from them being mere acquaintances, then to friends, then to them having a father and son relationship.
How would you feel if a white boy couldn’t apologize to a grown black man because it goes against his faith? If I was in the black man’s position I would feel disrespected but I wouldn’t blame the white boy because he was brought up like that and it’s in his mentality to look at African Americans as property and with disgust. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain incorporates racism and slavery to show how and why it is wrong. He uses Huck, one of his man characters, to demonstrate how a white boy breaks forth from society’s racist ideas and the people around him to have a strong friendship with a slave name Jim, who becomes a fugitive. He uses Jim to demonstrate humanity and how it has nothing to do with the color of your skin. He also shows the struggle African Americans had to go through during that period of time in order to be free. Through friendship Huck learns that Jim is a regular human being just like everyone else.
Jim's character traits are easy to over look because of his seeming ignorance, but in reality Jim possessed some qualities that created a positive influence on Huck. He began by demonstrating to Huck how friends teach friends. His honest compassion also eventually causes Huck to resist the ideas society has placed upon him, and see Jim as an equal-- rather than property that can be owned. Huck knew he was going against society, and of the consequences that he could receive for freeing a slave. "It would get all around, that Huck Finn helped a nigger to get his freedom; and if I was to ever see anybody from that town again, I'd be ready to get down and lick his boots for shame", (269-270). Huck then claims, "All right, then, I'll go to hell…"(272) This shows that Huck was willing to put himself on the line for a slave, because he ceased to view Jim as property and recognized him as a friend. At the beginning of the story Huck would have never done this, but after the many adventures that occur, Jims unconditional love for Huck pierces the shell society placed ar...
Many words the book contains are full of vivid disgust towards black slaves. Every single line talks about how white people despise and refuse to accept the black race. Answering Aunt Sally's question about whether or not anyone is hurt Huck answers, "no mum, just killed a nigger."(Twain 213) This is the one and only acceptable way to talk about black people in the "white" society. In addition to this, not only is the black people treated differently from the white, they are also considered to be one's property. "He is the only property I have," (Twain 122) Huck is perforce to say in order to save Jim. This is the only way to get through without the essence of suspicions. Though Huck shows racism in public as society teaches him, deep inside he understands that Jim is a great person. Through the eyes of Huck Finn, Mark Twain shows that there is more to people then looks and race, showing the importance of beliefs and character.
...needs to decide whether to go after Jim or not. During a great moral debate. Huck writes a letter to Miss Watson, telling Jim's whereabouts. Soon after writing it, he feels bad about his decision.
In chapter 16, Huck goes through a moral conflict of whether he should turn Jim in or not. “I was paddling off, all in a sweat to tell on him; but when he says this, it seemed to kind of take the tuck all out of me (89).'; Right off from the beginning, Huck wanted to turn Jim in because it was against society’s rules to help a slave escape and Huck knew it. But when Jim said that “Huck; you’s de bes’ fren’ Jim’s ever had; en you’s de only fren’ ole Jim’s got now (89),'; made helped Huck to grasp the concept that there is a friendship in the making. Even though Huck didn’t turn Jim in, he is till troubled by his conscience when the slave catchers were leaving because he knows it is wrong to help a slave. Still Huck cannot bring himself forward to tell on Jim, thus showing that his innate sense of right exceeds that of society.
Jim’s anticipation for freedom grew higher as he expressed his future dreams and aspirations. Jim began saying things that “niggers” wouldn’t normally dare say. Jim was speaking like a white man, not like someone’s property, a slave. This attitude began to lower Huck’s vision of Jim, and his conscience grew even hotter. Huck had never been exposed to a slave who spoke this way. It was his inadequate education that told him this was wrong.
Huck and Jim obviously have a very strong friendship and it's only proved more as the book goes on. Huck obviously cared for Jim and was willing to accept him even though he was a runaway slave. He lied quit a few times to protect Jim from being captured and taken back to Mrs. Watson. At one point in their adventure, Huck Finn had to lie to a group of men that were looking for runaway slaves. They insisted upon checking to see if Huck’s companion was actually white. He tells them, “It's the--the--Gentleman, if you'll only pull ahead, and let me heave you the headline, you won't have to come a-near the raft--please do”(Twain 96). Huck let the men believe that everyone on the raft had smallpox. This finally convinced the men not to come any closer and ultimately saves Jim from a horrible
	Huck’s attitude for Jim is racist which is seen when he decides to play a trick on Jim during their voyage. After Huck plays his trick his attitude toward Jim begins to change, "It was fifteen minutes before I could work myself up to go and humble myself to a nigger; but I done it, and I warn't ever sorry for it afterward, neither" (Twain 72). The dialogue throughout the book between Huck and Jim illustrates that Jim is more than property and that he is a human being with feelings, and hopes for a better future.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain, is the story of a young southern boy and his voyage down the Mississippi River accompanied by a runaway slave named Jim. Throughout the journey Huck and Jim face numerous obstacles and encounter a variety of interesting characters. These experiences help Huck to develop physically, intellectually, and most importantly, morally. Throughout the long expedition, readers can observe Huck’s transformation from an immature boy with poor values and ethics, to a matured young man with a moral conscience and a heightened sense of what is right and what is wrong despite what society says.
Spending time with the King and the Duke, Huck learned about how people can have the heart to deceive each other in the most evilest ways. When Jim get kidnapped and taken away Huck knew it was wrong and it was right to help get him set free. His relationship built with him was ignited by the brotherhood companionship inscribed in his heart, he just needed a person to ignite it. At the end of the novel Jim is set free because of Huck. Huck learns that sometimes don't have to follow the rules of society if you believe in something. Something that gives you divine right to believe it is a morally good thing to do.
Huck and Jim's friendship undergoes many twists and turns along with the trip the two take down the Mississippi River. With each adventure their friendship grew stronger and deeper from their encounter with the Duke and the King to the riverboat scene the friendship is built one building block at a time. Throughout the novel Jim makes references to the kindness that Huck shows him, but Huck seems oblivious to their new found friendship. "Dah you goes, de ole true Huck; de on'y white genlman"...(pg. 89) When Jim made this statement Huck realized just how much this friendship meant to Jim.