Many are unsatisfied with the ending to Huckleberry Finn, but only after Tom Sawyer arrives. On the river, Huck and Jim grow a bond that is noticeable to anyone reading the story. At the beginning of the novel, Jim is seen like property because he is a slave and belongs to Miss Watson. Huck understands what is going on around him, but he goes along with the opinion of the majority. Once Huck escapes from Pap and goes to the river, things begin to change. Huck is alone and bored out of his mind, but eventually finds Jim and they begin to travel together. Throughout their journey, Jim begins to take on the role of a guide or parental figure. The river successfully establishes Jim as a human and not as a slave. However, while Jim does successfully
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Huck knew they easily could have taken Jim out through the front door and head towards the raft. Tom did not like that idea so much because it did not have much adventure. However, Huck knew that Jim was being treated like a runaway slave and probably not getting the best food or sleep. This should have given Huck the extra push he needed to talk to Tom and tell him his ideas were terrible, but Huck does not. He goes along with everything and wastes so much time. At one point, it seems as if Huck is battling with initiation because he struggles about a letter. Huck thinks he should send Miss Watson a letter telling her where Jim is, but he thinks about the consequences. He knows that Jim will be punished and looked at like a traitor because he ran way. He also knows that he might get judged for helping Jim escape and he might even go to hell. “All right, then. I’ll go to hell” (page 262). Ultimately, he decides not to send the letter and he is willing to go to hell for Jim. Huck was struggling with sound heart vs., deformed consciousness; he knew the correct thing would be to turn Jim in because Jim was a runaway slave. “It was because my heart warn’t right; it was because I warn’t square; it was because I was playing double” (page 261). He technically belonged to Miss Watson and she deserved to know where he was. At the same time, Huck knew Jim was a person and did not deserve to go back home to punishment. They even would have spread rumors about Huck for helping Jim. “And then think of me! It would get all around, that Huck Finn helped a nigger to get his freedom; and if I was ever to see anybody from that town again, I’d be ready to get down and lick his boots for shame” (page 261). This could easily be the moment of initiation for Huck because he makes the decision to help his friend, but Tom is still in the way. The best way to help Jim would be to take the easiest path and make the escape
Huck knew they easily could have taken Jim out through the front door and head towards the raft. Tom did not like that idea so much because it did not have much adventure. However, Huck knew that Jim was being treated like a runaway slave and probably not getting the best food or sleep. This should have given Huck the extra push he needed to talk to Tom and tell him his ideas were terrible, but Huck does not. He goes along with everything and wastes so much time. At one point, it seems as if Huck is battling with initiation because he struggles about a letter. Huck thinks he should send Miss Watson a letter telling her where Jim is, but he thinks about the consequences. He knows that Jim will be punished and looked at like a traitor because he ran way. He also knows that he might get judged for helping Jim escape and he might even go to hell. “All right, then. I’ll go to hell” (page 262). Ultimately, he decides not to send the letter and he is willing to go to hell for Jim. Huck was struggling with sound heart vs., deformed consciousness; he knew the correct thing would be to turn Jim in because Jim was a runaway slave. “It was because my heart warn’t right; it was because I warn’t square; it was because I was playing double” (page 261). He technically belonged to Miss Watson and she deserved to know where he was. At the same time, Huck knew Jim was a person and did not deserve to go back home to punishment. They even would have spread rumors about Huck for helping Jim. “And then think of me! It would get all around, that Huck Finn helped a nigger to get his freedom; and if I was ever to see anybody from that town again, I’d be ready to get down and lick his boots for shame” (page 261). This could easily be the moment of initiation for Huck because he makes the decision to help his friend, but Tom is still in the way. The best way to help Jim would be to take the easiest path and make the escape