The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain looks at the concept of race and identity as the protagonist, Huckleberry Finn, who also serves as the narrator, is conflicted by what society has taught him and his moral judgment. Due to his age, he may not be able to process the validity of the values he received from society, but through his own assessment of his friendship with Jim, he is able to change his preconceived ideas about people and their role in society regardless of gender and race. Along the way, he is also able to resolve conflicts about his identity as instead of following the dictates of society, he follows his own experiences and moral judgment even if the results are in direct conflict to the things he has been taught with.
One of the instances that show Huck’s changing demeanor revolves around race and slavery, which were huge issues at the time. Huck was so used to feeling superior over black people considering that blacks were considered slaves back then and thus, were ignorant properties of white people. The typical thinking was that slaves could not think on their own. Their feelings and ideas do not matter and were treated as less than humans. This is evident during the times when Huck played tricks on Jim such as the time when they got separated due to the fog that enveloped them. Huck told Jim that it did not happen and it was just a figment of his imagination or a dream. In the book, Huck said:
“Well, this is too many for me, Jim. I hain’t seen no fog, nor no islands, nor no troubles, nor nothing. I been sitting here talking with you all night till you went to sleep about ten minutes ago, and I recon I done the same. You couldn’t a got drunk in that time, so of course you’ve been dreaming.” (Twain 88).
Jim does not believe any of Huck’s words as he recounts everything that happened, which were the same things that Huck actually experienced. In the end, Jim reprimands Huck for his attitude and insensitivity as he tells Huck how heartbroken he was thinking that Huck might have gotten lost because of the fog and how tired he got finding and calling Huck’s name without care for his own safety. Because of this, Huck did something that society would have frowned upon, that is, apologize to a black person who is also a slave. In the story, Huck said:
“It was fifteen minutes before I could work myself up to go and humble myself to a nigger; but I done it, and I warn’t ever sorry for it afterwards, neither. I didn’t do him no more mean tricks, and I wouldn’t done that one if I’d a knowed it would make him feel that way.” (Twain 89)
Over the course of the story, Huck changes his opinions about Jim as they try to help each other and Jim begins to act like Huck’s guardian. A friendship grows between them. Huck realizes that Jim is not stupid and is really his friend.
Huck’s concept of friendship also changes considering that at the beginning of the story, he was fiercely associated with Tom Sawyer and his band of robbers. Those who are in favor of the plans that Tom hatched about robbery and murder were asked to sign a pact to become a member of Tom Sawyer’s Gang, which expected loyalty and secrecy from each member of the gang (Twain 8). However, Huck is confronted about friendship issues in the latter parts of the story when he decides to steal Jim out of slavery (Twain 217) instead of turning him over to authorities or to the slave owners and receive a reward for it. As he said at one time, “All right, then, I’ll go to hell” (Twain 217), as he thought of ways on how to save Jim from slavery for good. He said the same thing when he encountered Tom Sawyer again and he recounted his story to Tom:
“All right, but wait a minute. There’s one more thing---a thing that nobody don’t know but me. And that is, there’s a nigger here that I’m a-trying to steal out of slavery, and his name is Jim---old Miss Watson’s Jim.” (Twain 228)
This change of heart is brought about by the many experiences they shared together, such as when they encountered the con artists (the duke and the king) and how many times Jim looked after Huck’s welfare.
Huck also realized that there is something wrong with the system of rules that govern society in so many ways. For instance, blacks have always been considered as the lowest level in humanity considering that they were treated as slaves and properties. Thus, people are expected to treat them as slaves, give orders, and not to befriend them. Huck’s action of finding a way to save Jim from slavery is equal to defying what society has espoused about them. He may have felt fear for his actions of saving Jim from slavery as he said:
“And then think of me! It would get all around that Huck Finn helped a nigger to get his freedom; and if I was ever to see anybody from that town again I’d be ready to get down and lick his boots for shame. That’s just the way: a person does a lowdown thing, and then he don’t want to take no consequences of it.” (Twain 215).
He may have started with those thoughts of fear, indecision, and going to hell because of his actions, but in the end, he resolved upon himself that he will help Jim no matter what happens, regardless of the rules of society as he told Tom:
“I know what you’ll say. You’ll say it’s dirty, low-down business; but what if it is? I’m low down; and I’m a-going to steal him, and I want you to keep mum and not let on. Will you?” (Twain 228).
Huck’s progression to change began from his total lack of morals to his ability to make the right decisions on his own according to his experiences and dealings with Jim. In effect, Jim unintentionally acted as Huck’s moral compass as Huck chose friendship over society as he learned to form his own understanding of morality instead of accepting the dictates of society.
Works Cited
Twain, Mark. “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” N.d. Web. 12 February 2014. <http://contentserver.adobe.com/store/books/HuckFinn.pdf>.
