There are several scenes that lead to Huck’s acceptance of Jim being a human rather than property. During a short separation along the journey, Huck decides to play a prank on Jim and convince him that he had dreamed Huck’s disappearance. Jim learns the truth and calls Huck ‘trash’ for making him worry. Afterwards, Huck apologizes to Jim, proving that Huck understands that Jim has feelings like any other man (Twain 86). Another event to spark a change in Huck’s perspective was when he heard Jim mourning for his wife and kids. Jim’s honesty and vulnerability regarding his guilt over what he did to his daughter Elizabeth is something that Huck hasn’t seen before (Twain 156). Jim’s willingness to forgive other people but not himself for his mistake showcases his humanity even further. Huck had been under the assumption that colored families can’t have the same loving relationships present in a white family. He claims that is doesn’t seem natural for Jim to have such similar emotions to a white man, but his mind is broadened and he begins to see Jim as a human rather than a slave. Huck’s realization leads him to help Jim in his escape from captivity, and by doing so risking damnation according to the religious beliefs he was taught. Whenever Huck thinks about turning Jim in, the right thing to do by societies standards, he is reminded of the friendship he has developed with Jim. Huck …show more content…
Both Huck and Jim gradually grow in their understanding of each other as equal human beings. It can be argued that Jim is taken off course from his original goal of gaining his own freedom and returning to his family. He feels a need to protect Huck, the only white person to show him any kindness. He keeps the death of Pap Finn a secret until the final chapter out of fear of losing Huck’s companionship, thereby losing the only person who has shown any concern about his wellbeing (Twain 293).
Mark Twain creates a central theme that discrimination based on race is wrong without taking on the tone of an abolitionist. Twain’s ironic tone exposes the hypocrisy of slavery that was apparent in southern society and points out that mankind is the slave. Through the use of conflict and violence, Twain is able to illustrate the instability in the Nation after the abolition of slavery. He contrasts that violence with a silver lining, human friendships and the idea that some people, regardless of their race or social status, are truly good at