Huck Finn Father Figure

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Jim v Jim: Huck's True Father Huckleberry(Huck) Finn is the protagonist in the novel Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain. Throughout his adventures Huck develops a great deal by the influence of those around him. His "Pap" Jim Finn and Jim the slave each leave profound, contrasting impressions on a young Huck Finn. Pap had provided Huck with few lessons, mainly material, and was not an ideal father by any stretch of the imagination. On the other hand Jim the slave truly cared for Huck and had helped him look deep inside himself and caused an internal battle between Huck's conscious and heart. There is still an argument to be made for which is Huck's "true father". Pap was introduced in chapter 5 and the first thing he says to Huck is '"You think you're a good deal of a big-bug, don't you?"' (28). Pap hadn't seen Huck for a decent time and did not appreciate that he was dressed nicer than his father or that he was educated. The reason he came back to Huck was to acquire the money Huck came into with Tom Sawyer to, presumably, help supply his alcoholism. He did not want Huck to appear or think he was better than his father. Pap neither wanted others to shape his son and wanted to use Huck for his own gain. Anything of value Huck had while he was with his father, Huck relinquished them to avoid getting beaten. Pap took his son away from where he was living with the Widow Douglas and Miss Watson to live with him. Here Pap taught him to fish and hunt, but that was the extent of the good Pap did for Huck, leading to Huck faking his death and running away. Pap was a stain of a memory for Huck. Jim the slave featured much more prominently and positively in Huck's life. Despite the racial differences, their time on the raft together allowed them to look past their skin colors. Along with showing the true compassion and guidance that Huck's father never showed.

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