Evolving Relationship of Huckleberry Finn

¶ … Evolving Relationship of Huckleberry Finn and Jim

Huck and Jim's relationship in Mark Twain's story evolved in the large part of the story. Huck and Jim, although started as strangers, were able to strengthen their friendship within the adventures that they undertook in their lives. The two traits of the two characters that make their friendship last are loyalty and trust.

As the novel progresses in the different adventures of Huck and Jim, Mark Twain showed how the two friends go along with each other. Although Huck is practical and logical while Jim is gullible, the author demonstrated how friendship builds the company of the two friends. That is, of course, with the help of one common characteristic in them, which is their refusal to the social injustice that surrounds them. At first however, Huck and Jim were only united by the decision that Huck made which is not to turn Jim to the authorities.

Huck and Jim's relationship evolved from being strangers into friendship. During the first instances that Huck and Jim have run from the society, Huck showed his racist attitude against Jim by playing tricks on him. Jim, however, being gullible, didn't seriously take Huck's quite inconsiderate treatment on him. As the story progresses, Huck developed a caring attitude towards Jim. This was proven when Huck finds a way to save Jim from slave catchers and defended Jim's right as a human being. An article by Se-ann Williams, on analyzing the relationship of Huck and Jim, indicates the following.

Later on in the story Huck becomes very caring and protective for Jim, where this reaches the point where Huck saves Jim from two slave catchers by tricking them to think Jim was Huck's small pox ridden father. The dialogue between Huck and Jim also illustrates that Jim is more than someone's property. He is a human being with feelings, and hopes for a better future. He is not some ignorant, uncaring sub-human, but plainly the opposite.

The natural qualities of the Huck and Jim have played an important part in the evolution of their friendship. Jim's gullibility and love to gain his freedom had changed Huck's moral values and had turned him into becoming a responsible person. Until both found a friend in each other despite of their somehow opposite traits. According to Linda Fondrk, in her analysis of how the characters of the Huck and Jim evolved to friendship, indicates the following.

A their relationship evolves as Jim proves his worth and wisdom and Huck grows up spiritually and morally. Jim forces him to reckon with his humanity as an African-American and Huck responds by continually redefining and clarifying his values.