Huckleberry Finn Character Development

Most literary critics will agree that one book is the pioneer of all modern American literature, and most critics believe that it is The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The reason for this conclusion is because Mark Twain focuses on the character development, through the plot and situations that the characters find themselves in. Jim’s character is expanded and developed through the eyes of Huck Finn, the more Huck learns about Jim, the more the reader knows, making Jim develop as the story unravels, turning from a superstitious runaway slave to a kind-hearted and loyal friend to Huck. Because Huckleberry Finn is the narrator and protagonist, all the development that Jim experiences has to go through Huck’s experience and eyes. When you first meet Jim, he is a stumbling block for Huck, an obstacle, and

Scared of his father, Huck wants to know if he will stay in town, or if he will move along, and not show his face to Huck. Jim, who is the

Unsurprisingly, the canoe and raft drifted away from each other, unfortunately making them lose their way on the Mississippi River. Thinking that Huck drowned or would never find him again, Jim falls into a restless sleep. Huck, eventually finding the raft, entertains himself by scaring Jim into thinking that he imagined the whole dilemma. Naturally, Jim becomes upset when he finds out that Huck was playing a trick on him, and gives him the cold shoulder. Seeing the distrust and harm that is the result of his little prank, Huck does something that changes the entire course of the book. Huckleberry Finn apologizes to Jim, even though he is a black runaway slave, and Huck realizes for the first time, and consequently the reader, that Jim, though slightly ignorant and superstitious, is Huckleberry’s only friend, excluding Tom