Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn Analysis Essay, Research Paper

To turn Jim in, or not to turn Jim in, that is the question that Huck is faced

with in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. Whether it is nobler

to protect a friend or to give in to the demands of society by ending a

friendship. This novel portrays a period in American history where most Southern

whites considered blacks as a piece of property. Huck, a white Southern boy, and

Jim, a run-away slave, had a friendship that was inappropriate in society.

During their adventurous journey, Huck would have to confront the consequences

of protecting a run-away slave, if he decided to give Jim protection. Throughout

this novel the relationship between Huck and Jim differs in and out of society

because of Huck?s feelings towards Jim. These two adventurers had planned to

leave the Mississippi and go North, but missed their chance. The river took them

farther and farther South. If Jim was caught, he would be in big trouble. If

Huck didn?t turn Jim in, he would also be in big trouble. Huck found himself

battling with his conscience, when he realized how close Jim was to his freedom,

??I begun to get it through my head that he was most free?and who was to

blame for it? Why, me. I couldn?t get that out of my conscience, no how nor no

way.? (pg.85) Turning Jim in would be difficult, since he was a benevolent and

amiable man. It was not righteous that he should be hurt, but if Huck helped Jim

run away, he would have to turn his back on his own people. He would be saying

slavery, and everyone who believed in it, was wrong. Huck came to the decision

to tell someone about Jim that will force him back into slavery. Soon enough

they encountered two white men on a skiff. During this incident Huck perceived

that his feelings to protect Jim were stronger than his feelings to turn him in.

He lied when the men asked if Jim was white or black. Each time they encountered

other people who might turn Jim in, Huck was prepared to reveal another untrue

story. Huck knew that Jim counted on him to protect him and not betray him,

since they had a special friendship that most whites and blacks would never

have, ??you?s de bes? fren? Jim?s ever had; en you?s de only fren?

ole Jim?s got now.? (pg. 87) When Huck and Jim are alone, Jim can?t help

talking about what he is going to do once he becomes free and Huck couldn?t

quite bare that kind of talk. ?It most froze me to hear such talk. He

wouldn?t ever dared to talk such talk in his life before.? (pg.86) But Huck

continued to protect Jim in society, he was able to fool anyone in order to make

sure Jim was safe. Outside of society Huck didn?t have to pretend anything. In

society he had to fight back his guiltiness and hide Jim. The special friendship

that Huck and Jim had together contrasted greatly from the conservative

relationships between whites and blacks in the South. Whites felt that slaves

had no feelings whatsoever, but Huck knew that Jim had feelings just like

everyone else. They gave concern for one another and in some ways Jim was like a

father figure to Huck. As they spent more time with each other, their friendship

grew stronger and stronger until Huck could sacrifice things for Jim. Mark Twain

presented the terrible existence of slavery and gives the reader a big adventure

in how a white can sacrifice so much for a slave to reach freedom.