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Jim's Relationship In Huckleberry Finn

1365 Words6 Pages

Lucas Venette
Miss Glass
English III Honors
February 28, 2018
Jim: More Than a Slave Everyone wants a father figure, but the person who takes on the role of being a father is not always who is expected. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Jim, an African American slave, is a father figure to Huck, a young white boy. Jim acts as a father by protecting Huck from dangers and risks during their journey. Jim is also a father to Huck by teaching him lessons about right and wrong. Lastly, Jim is comparable to a father through the love that he expresses toward Huck. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain expresses how Jim is more of a father to Huck than Pap through Jim’s protection, lessons, and love. First, Jim is seen as a father …show more content…

Jim teaches Huck lessons about right and wrong, especially about race. One example of how Jim teaches Huck a lesson is when Huck plays a trick on Jim and Jim becomes upset. Huck says, "It was fifteen minutes before I could work myself up to go and humble myself to a n*****; but I done it...I didn't do him no more mean tricks, and I wouldn't done that one if I'd 'a' knowed it would make him feel that way" (Twain 97). This quotation shows how Jim teaches an important lesson to Huck. Jim teaches Huck how it is wrong to trick people, but he also helps Huck learn how it is wrong to think negatively of other people simply because of their race. Huck does not think that Jim has the same feelings as a white individual, but Jim being upset causes Huck to learn that an African American does not enjoy being fooled, just like a white person. Through this quotation, it is also seen that Huck believes that he previously was superior to Jim. Huck says that he ‘humbles’ himself to Jim as if Jim is below him. Huck, through Jim's reaction, learns how someone's race does not determine who they are as a person and also that race does not make someone superior or inferior to someone else. Another example of how Jim teaches Huck a lesson is when Huck sees Jim grieving over missing his family. In the story, Huck says, "He was thinking about his wife and his children, away up yonder, and he was low and homesick;...and I do believe he cared just as much for his people as white folks does for their'n" (Twain 166). In this quotation, Huck learns another important lesson concerning race. Huck previously believes that Jim, as well as other African Americans, do not have sentimental feelings like white folks do. Huck believes that Jim is like an animal who only cares about themselves and how they can survive. However, Jim's mourning helps Huck to learn that Jim has the feeling of love, and that Jim cares

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He wasn’t used to having a father figure in his life because his actual father was an alcoholic and was abusive. “Would always call me honey, and pet me, and do everything he could think of for me, and how good he always was,” (Document E). This shows that not only did Huck care about Jim, but Jim also cared about Huck’s well being, too. Having a father figure was very important to Huck because his actual father wasn’t really a father figure to him at all. Since someone actually cared about him and treated him with respect and care, it meant the world to him.

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This shows that their friendship has true meaning to Huckleberry Finn. Not only that is an example of their friendship, but Huck also said in Document B, “I was ever so glad to see Jim.” Seeing Jim was a relief to him, this further proves that their friendship is quite strong. In conclusion, Huckleberry Finn considered Jim as a friend more so than as a slave, and or a father figure.

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Although there are numerous instances where Huck’s moral growth can be seen, the individuals around such as Jim, will influence his moral growth greatly. Jim, a runaway slave, is the most influential individual when it comes to Huck’s moral development. During the beginning of the novel, Huck’s morals are primarily based on what he has learned from Miss Watson. Huck begins to become wary of such ideals that Miss Watson has imposed on him, and decided all he wanted “…was a change” (Twain 10).

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