Free Huckleberry Finn Essays: Jim Character Analysis

Jim is one of the most underrated and most understood characters in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. There are many arguments that people can use about the way Twain portrays Jim. Even for the best arguments that readers can have, there is always an argument to rebut with, unless the readers completely understand Twain’s purpose for writing Jim in such a way. Twain shows Jim in a complex environment that helps strengthen him as a character. In Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Twain depicts Jim to be a kind, loving, and trusting family man who, against all odds, challenges the social norm that black and white people are different.
Even from the beginning of the story, Jim and Huck trust each other despite Jim’s knowing

Huck is raised in a very racist town. Meeting Jim on the island shows how Jim, even being mistreated by his owner for years, still possesses a sense of trust; whereas, Huck being mistreated and abused has the same sense. There is an automatic sense of trust between the two because they both came from tough backgrounds. When the two are talking about how Jim got to the island, they show they trust each other by saying: “But you wouldn’ tell on me ef I uz to tell you, would you, Huck?” “Blamed if I would, Jim.” “Well, I b’lieve you, Huck. I—I run off” (Twain 45).
Though Jim’s blind trust is a good thing, sometimes he trusts the wrong people, like any other man.

When the king and the duke come along, they use Jim’s trust in the wrong way. It does come to a limit, and Jim says, “Well, anyways, I doan’ hanker for no mo’ un um, Huck. Dese was all I kin stan’” (Twain 158). This statement is the first time Jim really takes a stand for himself, yet he still does it in a nice manner. After this Jim starts to realize who his real friends are and put even more trust into them. The trust Jim carries for his friends is one of this most important characteristics that is shown throughout the book since it shows how similar he is to Huck in that way. Though Jim usually has trust in his friends and their actions, he also makes good choices

himself.
Jim is not only a gullible follower of Huck: he also has a very good sense of reason and intellect and fends for himself the same as any other man. This builds on Twain’s criticism that Jim, despite all the naysaying, is an outstanding member of the community. Although Jim wants to become free as soon as he can, he also has the best interest of his friends in mind constantly. Some may argue that Jim wants to become free more than he cares about his friends, although he shows the reader this is not true multiple times. One example of Jim putting his friends before himself was towards the end of the book. After someone shot Tom, instead of running to freedom Jim tells Huck to get a doctor as he comforts Tom. Jim says “I doan’ budge a step out’n dis place
‘dout a doctor, not if it’s forty year!” (Twain 278). After reading this passage from the book makes even the most adamant reader rethink their views. It makes the reader ask how could Jim give up the one thing he was striving for if he did not care about his friends. Jim always has a place in his mind for his loved ones, especially when the decision could affect everyone. This also shows Jim as an important character in the book instead of being a supporting character. Jim chooses his to help his friends but still understands that his main goal was be free to get back to his family.
Despite the amount of trouble Jim is put through on this journey, he still continues to drive on and make his way to freedom to show how much he cares about one thing: family. Twain writes “…when he got to a free State he would go to saving up money and never spend a single
cent, and when he got enough he would buy his wife” and his two children (Twain 91).

This quote shows how much he cares about his family and what he would do for them. He even acts as a surrogate father to a white child and during this time period that is unheard of till Jim steps up. Where some people would say Jim wants to become free just like anyone in his situation, some contradict and say he holds bigger things to worry about and more than just his freedom is at stake. The doubters who say that Jim wants freedom only do not understand the longing of family and sadness Jim has. Jim feels that the only way to get retribution and the love of his family again was to be free and the only way that would have happens was if Jim was freed. Jim’s family and close friends show how much his life revolves around them. Even when his family and friends are around, he stays loyal like when Huck was at the Sheperdsons Jim does not leave, but instead stays in the swamp biding his time instead of running to freedom. This shows just how much Jim wants freedom, as well as the freedom of others.
In a time where blacks are disliked heavily, for an influential writer such as Twain to write a black man in such a way would have been hard to overcome and to accept. Jim is a pivotal character because Twain shows the progression of how he is accepted in society. Twain gives Jim a sense of trust, family, and kindness to help the reader think about the possibilities of the world without people like

this.