Huck Finn Family

In the novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain, the main character, Huck Finn, encounters many individuals who shape his view on the world around him. The story takes place before the Civil War, when slavery was still legal, in St. Petersburg, Missouri. Huck and a runaway slave, Jim, travel down the Mississippi River in order to escape an abusive father and slavery, respectively. Along the way, Huck meets various people who greatly influence his life. Huck, never having any real family, is drawn to these people due to their loving compassion, and eventually, views them as a family. Although Twain states at the beginning of the book that there is no theme in the novel, it is clear that the author is exemplifying that anyone

On his path to escape civilization, he meets a familiar runaway slave named Jim. Jim was Miss Watson’s slave but abandoned the town when he discovered he was going to be sold. Although Huck and Jim were acquainted before meeting on Jackson’s Island, Huck and Jim’s relationship thrived when Huck began viewing Jim as an older brother. A time when Jim showed older brother characteristics was when he took Huck’s watch shift. Huck says of their plan to keep watch, “I went to sleep, and Jim didn't call me when it was my turn. He often done that” (Twain 155). In this situation, Huck is aware of Jim’s actions and is appreciative towards him. However, Jim is not always the older brother in their relationship. Huck protects Jim from potentially being captured and sold as a slave, whilst teaching him about the world around him. However, like all relationships, Huck and Jim’s relationship had to build up to this point of unity. Initially, Huck began playing many tricks on Jim, eventually causing him to be physically and mentally hurt. Jim, on the other hand, was already educated about to treat others. But Huck learned from his mistakes, leading to the bond to flourish. Jim says “Pooty soon I'll be a-shout'n' for joy, en I'll say, it's all on accounts o' Huck; I's a free man, en I couldn't ever ben free ef it hadn' ben for Huck; Huck done it. Jim won't ever forgit you, Huck; you's de bes' fren'

While Huck was gone, these men sold Jim to white slave owners, known as the Phelps family. Huck travels to their farm in order to retrieve his friend. Here he meets Silas and Sally Phelps. Although they misunderstood him for Huck’s best friend, Tom Sawyer, they recognized him as if he was one of their own children. Huck says of Aunt Sally, “She grabbed me and hugged me tight; and then gripped me by both hands and shook and shook; and the tears come in her eyes, and run down over; and she couldn't seem to hug and shake enough, and kept saying, "You don't look as much like your mother as I reckoned you would; but law sakes, I don't care for that, I'm so glad to see you!” (Twain 223). During this moment, Huck is able to recollect his memories of a family atmosphere. Although he has had Jim for company and protection, nothing will ever compare to the love of a mother. Even after the truth comes out that Huck isn’t actually Tom, Aunt Sally still cares about Huck, even if he isn’t who she thought he was. Huck and Tom went through with an extravagant plan in order to save Jim without informing Aunt Sally, putting her in extreme distress. But even after the situation, Aunt Sally found a way to love Huck. Huck says, “And then when I went up to bed she come up with me and fetched her candle, and tucked me in, and mothered me so good I felt mean” (Twain 283). Although Huck put lots of stress on Aunt Sally, she