Huckleberry Finn's Relationship

955 Words4 Pages
Throughout The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Huck and Jim form a bonded relationship like no other. They defy all social “laws” with no remorse or feelings of guilt and they begin to fill the missing piece of the father- son relationship that Huck has lacked his whole childhood. They rely on one another for almost everything. Jim needs Huck so that his secret of running away is not revealed and Huck relies on Jim to subconsciously keep him safe from all the evils he is running away from in his everyday life. Huck also needs Jim to act as the missing father-figure to guide him along their journeys. Jim and Huck’s father-son type of relationship is important because of the lack of guidance Huck has had throughout his childhood. Jim fills…show more content…
I – I run off” (55). By telling Huck that he ran away from Miss Watson, Jim is placing his life in Huck’s hands. If Huck were to betray Jim, it could result in the death of Jim; Huck also gains a sense of control over Jim- something he has lacked he whole life- by knowing this valuable piece of information. Because of this initial “leap of faith” taken by Jim, their relationship is able to prosper and grow on this statement, serving as the building block of their bond. Additionally, the two encounter bonding experiences such as being in the cave during the thunderstorm. Although Huck has been on his own for majority of his life, he is still only a child, and children get scared and seek protection and comfort. Huck confesses to Jim, while in the cave, “this is nice” and that he “wouldn’t want to be nowhere else but [there]” (60). Huck enjoys being in Jim’s company, considering he has been alone for so long. Also, Jim is serving as protection and comforts Huck by just being there with him. It provides a peaceful atmosphere. Another example of when Jim is protecting Huck occurs when they come across the dead body,…show more content…
Although his final decision is to help Jim, Huck still falls victim to the social “laws” and has to think about what to do, rather than automatically decide he will help. Huck comes to the realization that they need each other when Jim states “Huck, you’s de bes’ fren’ Jim’s ever had; en you’s de only fren’ ole Jim’s got now” (111). By saying this, Jim sparks the first sense of guilt in Huck conscience, while at the same time, emphasizing the fact that they rely on one another. Jim is dependent on Huck to keep him company, and Huck relies on Jim to do the same. When Huck makes the decision to help Jim the first time, he realizes that doing a good deed gives you a good feeling inside. He says, “I felt easy, and happy, and light as a feather, right off. All my troubles was gone” (111). Huck proves that deep down, he really does want to help Jim, despite the consequences. He feels better after doing the right thing. After contemplating whether to help free Jim for a second time, Huck thinks about all the times Jim has been there for him and helped him and been selfless and cannot bring himself to not help free his friend. Furthermore “[Huck] struck the time [he] saved [Jim] by telling the men [they] had small-pox aboard, and [Jim] was so grateful” (223), making it almost impossible for Huck to
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