Huck has always seen Jim as a slave until they crossed paths while going down the river. The two develop a friendship and Huck starts to care about Jim and his well being. Although Huck views Jim as someone he cares about, he still sees him as a slave as well. “ I would do the right thing and the clean thing, and go and write that nigger’s owner and tell where he was,” ( Document E). Huck is in a continuous battle with his inner self when it comes to his views on Jim.
When Huck hears this from Jim, it tares at Huck. He decides not to turn in Jim (which he could have done easily.) Huck’s conscience basically ate him alive. Huck was on the verge of turning in Jim, and seemed that was what he should do. However after thinking about it, Huck decided he would feel worse if he turned Jim in as opposed to keeping him free.
Huck now believes that this cannot be the case since he sees Jim having strong familial ties with his own eyes. This example of Jim’s release of the minstrel mask makes Huck gain a higher opinion of him. In chapter 31, with Huck and his letter, he stops to remember that night on the raft when he almost gave Jim away. Jim’s use of his minstrel mask made a lasting impression on Huck because he remembers those words Jim said to him, how grateful he was for Huck to save him, and how he’s his only friend in the
When he and Jim encounter the “Duke” and “King”. Huck states that it “didn’t take me long to make up my mind that these liars warn’t no kings nor dukes at all” (127). Both Huck and Jim can clearly tell that they are frauds, and for several chapters heed to their every whim just to keep the social balance and to not get beat up by them. In the end of the book, Huck has reached his moral peak, and completely goes against what society tells him.
When they first discover the fake background of the duke, Huck and Jim “...bow, when [they speak] to him, and say ‘Your Grace’…one of [them] ought to wait on him at dinner… [they] done it.” Similarly, with the king, Jim and Huck “... [get] down on one knee to speak to him, and always [call] him ‘Your Majesty,’ and [wait] on him first at meals… Jim and [him]... doing this and that and t’other for him…” Upon first meeting the duke and king, and hearing their backstories, Huck believes and acts respectfully toward both men.
Huck is looking for a father, and Jim is looking to join a family. The two complement each other well (4). Helping an escaped slave is a criminal offense during this period of time. It could be argued that Huck is not fully aware of the consequences of his actions, but as the reader sees time and time again, Huck is a very wise, very practical, very street-smart boy.
“Quick, then, and tell us what was your idea,or I’ll shake the insides out o’ you!” “Honest, I’ll tell you everything just as it happened, your majesty…” Jim said it was so; and the king told him to shut up, and said “Oh, yes, it’s mighty likely!” and shook me up again, said he reckoned he’d drownd me. But the duke says: “Leggo the boy, you old idiot!”(p.205-206). Huck has almost no time to react and uses his wit to come up with a story to get him out of trouble.
Huck Finn’s sympathy towards the Duke and King after they were tarred and feathered by the public masses shows how he has developed as a person. The duke and king have treated Huck Finn poorly, and stole, and subsequently sold Jim away from him. However, Huck Finn does not react with a cruel sadistic enjoyment from these men’s pain, but instead treats them with sympathy. All his grievances with the Duke and King have seemingly melted away upon hearing of their misfortune. This shows an incredible amount of maturity from Huck Finn.
He decides to tell Mary Jane and let her spread the word about who they are and then get the Duke and King jailed and get rid of them. Huck's conscience “spoke” to him to not tell Mary Jane because it would be better if he kept it to himself. “I hadn't no objections, 'long as it would keep peace in the family” (chapter 19) Huck not following his
But Huck also feels like he can not turn Jim in because deep down he knows that Jim’s life will be better not being a slave. This shows that Huck battles between himself whether to follow society’s rules or his own morlas. When Huck chooses to not turn Jim in as a runaway slave, that makes it evident that he matures or so it
The duke and the king are not a good example for humanity. After Jim and Huck thought they were free, the Duke helped the King sell Jim back to slavery for forty dollars. Huck cannot enjoy his freedom knowing that Jim is not free. Huck was thinking about sending the letter to Miss Watson but he could
Granted, he may have been a runaway slave, but the king and duke still sold someone for their own benefit. Huck should not have trusted them because they were awful people, regardless of whether or not they were
Throughout their journey, Huck is aware that Jim has escaped but does not know whether or not to turn him into the authorities. Huck’s mentality about society matures and he realizes his need to protect Jim from dangers. As the novel progresses, Huck begins to realize the flaws in society. Huck ultimately chooses to follow his own
Huck does not look upon Jim as property, and Jim acknowledges Hucks kindness towards him. Mark Twain journeys through the theme of slavery with the relationship Jim has with Huck helping him run away from slavery, the Duke and the King using Jim as if he
Naturally, as his bond with Jim cultivates, Huck unknowingly treats him as a human. Through Huck’s sensibility, he states, “It didn’t take me long to make up my mind that these liars warn’t no kings nor dukes at all … I hadn’t no objections, ‘long as it would keep peace in the family; and it warn’t no use to tell Jim, so I didn’t tell him” (Twain 125). Correspondingly, Huck gains a consideration for Jim and his personal feelings, which he expresses nonchalantly through motley aspects of their journey.
