Huckleberry Finn and Fredrrick Douglass

In the novel, “The adventures Of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain and in the autobiography of “The Narrative life of Frederick Douglass, An American slave” by Frederick Douglass, are two extraordinary classical pieces whose context can be compared to demonstrate the similarity and differences amongst them. The theme, figurative symbols and characters portrayed in both books giveaway extraordinary and powerful insight into the life of slavery and the societal beliefs of the South in America in the nineteenth century. Frederick Douglass’ text gives us a first person account of life as a slave and in Huckleberry Finn we get an account of a slave’s life (Jim) through the eyes of a young boy. Although these two characters share common personalities and struggles, they also have their differences.

To compare both characters we must first view Jim in detail. Jim is a runaway slave that accompanies protagonist Huck in Huckleberry Finn throughout the entire novel. The story is set in the state of Missouri (1830’s). Jim accompanies Huck in his escapade from the clutches of his drunken father, attempting to seek salvation from slavery. The voyage of the two, one slave owning white American and the other a slave, provides a glimpse of the times when slavery was regarded as a virtue amongst white people in America rather than a sin. Mark Twain portrays Jim as a humble, kind yet audacious black American. Jim is a lovable and caring person who is highly sensitive. These qualities of Jim touches Huck deeply and that’s what leads him to save Jim when he is captured after escaping from slavery, despite knowing the consequences of the act in the southern states at the time. Huck during their escapade and adventure together comes to regard him with...

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... of great practical sense, who could endure pain and discover the truths of life that provided Huck with safety. His life as a slave was hard, but physically perhaps it was not as demanding as that of Frederick Douglass, who many times escaped death at the hands of his masters. Frederick Douglass’s determination to be the leading light for other slaves in their search for freedom proved his inspiration. Jim on the other hand was okay with freeing himself from slavery and preventing bad people from harming his friend Huck. The quest for freedom from slavery between Jim and Frederick was common, though the path they use to attain it was different.

Works Cited

Douglass, Frederick. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. New York: Dover publications, 1995. Print

Twain, Mark. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. New york: California Press, 1961.Print.