The Battle of Huck In Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn, Huck faces the dilemma of embracing the discriminatory ideology of the South as he simultaneously combats his inner consciousness. Searching for a better way of life, both Huck, a freedom seeking youth, and Jim, a runaway slave, set off downriver. Along the way they encounter many obstacles. Their initial association eventually blossoms into a steadfast friendship, bypassing the practices of a racist society, leading Huck to support Jim's escape.
Illustration of Jim and Huckleberry Finn, by EW Ke...
English: Illustration from Adventures of Huckleber...
Traditional raft, from 1884 edition of Adventures ...Originally, Huck sees Jim more than less as a slave. During this time period, slavery is incredibly strong in the South. In the eye of southern whites, blacks are the bottom rung. Their acceptable place in life is to serve and meet the everyday needs of the Anglos, merely property and nothing more. It is this common belief which influences Huck and helps to shape his relationship with Jim. As a slave, Jim seems to be some what of a play toy to Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn. Their respect for him as a person is scarce. The two are first portrayed in the book playing a practical joke on Jim. Although Huck mildly protests such antics, he still persists with the trickery. As a result of their pranks, Jim creates an elaborated version of the event, claiming to have seen witches and the devil. According to Huck, this gives Jim a great arrogance when around other blacks. Jim is "most ruined for a servant" (page 16). Consequently, Huck continues to view Jim as a slave, but a slave at the higher end of the spectrum. Jim may be a slave, but to Huck, he is more respectable than most.
As time passes, Huck develops an appreciation for Jim, viewing him as a friend, not a servant. The first instance where...