charhf jimhf Character of Jim :: Adventures Huckleberry Huck Finn Essays

Huckleberry Finn - Jim The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is one of the best-loved novels in American literature. Due to its widespread popularity, critiques and analyses of the work abound, especially of Huck and his development. But in all the analyses of Huck, scholars and students alike have neglected to give rightful place to one of the most important protagonists in American literature--Jim. Without Jim's provision for Huck, Huck's spiritual journey would have failed. In Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Jim plays the role of a father to Huck by providing for his physical, emotional, and moral well-being. Jim plays the role of the father by providing for Huck's physical well-being. He first provides food and shelter for the runaway boy. Jim is continually catching fish and fixing meals for Huck. He takes it upon himself to build "a snug wigwam [on the raft] to get under in blazing weather and rainy" (48). In contrast, when Huck is at his father's cabin, he has to stop up the holes "to keep the wind from blowing through the chinks and putting the candle out" (18-19). Jim also provides advice for Huck. From the very beginning of the novel when he sees his father's boot prints, Huck establishes a precedent of going to Jim for advice. Despite the slave's fearful superstitions, his advice is mostly sound, as seen when he advises against boarding the Walter Scott. Lastly, Jim provides for Huck's physical well-being by providing protection for him. He passively protects Huck from the different people in society by having the raft ready to escape back to the protection of the rive r. Also, Jim actively protects Huck by lying to the King and Duke for him after they catch up with him on the river and threaten him. While Huck had no one to protect him before, now he has Jim to stand up for him against people that are like Pap, as a father should. Although Jim's ability to protect him is limited because of his status as a black slave, he protects him as best he can. Jim also plays the role of the father by providing for Huck's emotional well-being. He provides physical affection for the boy.