Huckleberry Finn And Jim's Relationship Analysis

Mark Twain touches on a plethora of themes and topics in his landmark work The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, one of the most relevant themes of the story being the close bond of friendship between Huck and the runaway slave Jim. These two characters share a bond unlike anyone else in the novel, and as such achieve a special kind of relationship in which Huck relies on Jim as someone to lead him on the right direction and protect him in his journeys, ultimately leading to a change of heart in Huck by the end of the story. In this way, Jim transcends a traditional friendship and becomes a “true father” to Huck as a result of his willingness to protect him, unconditional love towards him, and fatherly guidance that he gives Huck throughout the …show more content…
However, Jim still grants Huck forgiveness and seeks his companionship. One such example of this is when Huck gets lost after the storm in chapter fifteen. When the two reunite, Huck’s return overjoys Jim, as he states “de tears come en I could a got down on my knees en kiss’ yo’ foot I’s so thankful.” (183) Jim is also totally forgiving of Huck when he discovers the trick that Huck tried to play against him. This forbearing nature of Jim clearly indicates the father-son bond that develops between the two as the novel …show more content…
Through protection from physical threats, emotional stability through unwavering affection, and advisory dialogue from Jim, Huck’s experiences on the Mississippi River result in his formation into a well-rounded, rational, and good- hearted person by the end of the novel. While Huck’s biological father did more harm than good as an aggressive, derisive and borderline sociopathic pitfall to Huck’s coming of age, Huck never lacked a paternal presence, having Jim to serve as a “true father” to him in his time of