Huckleberry Finn and Jim's Relationship

Huckleberry Finn and Jim's Relationship

Throughout The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain illustrates the bond formed between Huck, the young white protagonist, and Jim, Huck's black companion. Huck's father Pap, while he was still alive, had beaten Huck repeatedly, kidnapped and scared his son to the extent, that Huck, out of fear, feigns his own death to escape Pap's grasp. While Huck and Jim travel down the river it becomes apparent that Jim is more of a father figure to Huck than his biological father. Pap teaches the virtues of a life not worth living, while Jim gives Huck the proper fatherly support, compassion, and knowledge for Huck to become a man. Although Huck and Jim come from separate racial backgrounds their time together allows them to surpass their ethnic segregation and become true friends, and family.

A father's attributes are meant to be examples for which his offspring can base their own lives. Pap attains non-of these attributes. Pap is an ignorant drunkard who attempts to swindle and scam any possible person. He goes so far as to even filch from his-own son. Pap views Huck as someone upon whom he can assert himself. He attempts to drain Huck of all characteristics that would make Huck superior to himself. "You're educated, too, they say; can read and write. You think you're better'n your father, now, don't you, because he can't? I'll take it out of you... Ain't you a sweet-scented dandy, though? A bed; and bed-clothes... and your own father got to sleep with the hogs... I bet I'll take some o' these frills out o' you before I'm done with you."(21-23)

Pap is no father to Huck, he berates, kidnaps, and beats his own son with no remorse. The only lessons that Huck learns from Pap are what not to do with his life. He's seen the draw-backs of alcohol, stealing, and other such elicit actions that his father has performed. Pap is a low down dirty scoundrel who wishes nothing but the worst for his-own son.

While Pap acts as an anchor on Huck's heel, Jim opens up a new world for Huck, and becomes his companion and a resource of knowledge. After Huck escapes his father and the "sivilized society" he encounters Jim, Miss Watson's runaway slave. While on Jackson's island Jim provides useful fables and simple knowledge that aid Huck, "Some young birds come along... Jim said it was a sign that it was going to rain... And Jim said you mustn't count the things you are going to cook for dinner, because it would bring bad luck"(50). Jim's simple ideas offer a greater aid to Huck, than any that Pap had ever given. After the two set out on the raft Jim attempts to protect Huck by any means he posses. Jim uses his resourcefulness to build a wigwam on the raft and raises it so that the two don't get wet. It is even more apparent that Jim cares for Huck when the two are in the Frame house. They encounter "a dead man. Yes, indeedy; naked, too. He's been shot is da back. I reck'n he's ben dead two er three days. Come in, Huck, but doan' look at his face - it's too gashley"(55). It is later found that this man is Pap, Jim wishes to save Huck from the pain and stress that would ensue from finding hi own father dead. Jim's ingenious knowledge and resourcefulness protect Huck from the elements, while his compassion and love for the boy require him to guard himagainst pain. Jim posses the attributes to be a father figure for Huck.

The father son relationship also requires respect and love from the child for the father. Jim is rooted in the deepest corners of Huck's heart. Throughout the story we