huck finn
...the story, Huck had to re-evaluate his friendship with Jim. He did not know whether he was doing something wrong by helping a slave escape, or doing something right by helping a man become free. He felt an obligation to Miss Watson, the rightful owner of Jim, and he felt bad for helping her “property” escape. He felt like he was doing wrong to her. At one time, Huck thought to himself, “My conscious got to stirring me up hotter than ever, until at last I says to it, ‘Let up on me-it ain’t too late yet-I’ll paddle ashore at the first light and tell.’ I felt easy and happy and light as a feather right off.”(Twain, 86) When Huck would actually think about the entire situation in perspective, he knew in his heart that he had to do the right thing. There were many times when Huck had to make a tough decision on whether or not to turn Jim in, but he always ended up making the decision that he knew he had to. The friendship and loyalty that built more and more everyday in their relationship had overcome him and he could not betray that. Jim felt the same if not a stronger loyalty to Huck. When they first started becoming friends on the island, Jim sort-of adopted Huck. Jim was a very loyal man and he would not do anything to betray his friend. He took care of Huck as a father would take care of his child. Huck’s father never acted as one. He was an alcoholic that Huck could never rely on. Jim took the place of the father that Huck never had. Every time that Jim and Huck got separated, Jim got very upset and actually cried many times. He took everything that Huck said to heart. Jim was never afraid to tell Huck what he was feeling. In one instance, he told Huck, “Dah you goes, de ole true Huck; de on’y white genlman dat ever kep’ his promise to ole Jim.” (Twain, 87) This shows us how much Jim actually thought of Huck. He believed in Huck and trusted him to help him reach freedom. The two men relied on each other in a way that they never knew. Without Huck, Jim would have never gotten very far. He was a black man and a runaway slave. If he were seen by anybody, he would surely be turned in. He didn’t only rely on Huck for that though, he also relied on him for emotional support. The two characters needed each other. In rough times, they were each other’s comfort. If there were anything that Huck needed, Jim would give it to him. During the course of the novel, Huck played a joke on Jim. The joke was harmless, but Jim’s feelings were hurt. Huck acted like Jim fell asleep and had a bad dream that Huck was missing, when in fact he really was missing. When he returned and Jim woke up, he acted like he had been there the entire time. Jim said, “Goodness gracious, is dat you, Huck? En you ain’ dead-you ain’ drownded-you’s back ag’in? It’s too good for true, honey, it’s too good for true.”(Twain, 81) Jim felt betrayed because Huck lied to him. After that, Huck realized that Jim was a real human being and not just a slave. This was the point when Huck realized that Jim really cared about him and he really cared about Jim. After this, Huck tried very hard not to do things that would hurt Jim’s feelings. Jim was an extremely sensitive man. When Huck’s father’s dead body was found on a boat, Jim did not reveal the dead body to Huck. He loved Huck and he was trying to protect him from pain and suffering. Everything that Jim did was in the best interest of Huck. The loyalty shared between Jim and Huck was also shared between Tom and Huck. Tom and Huck were childhood friends. They went on adventures and got into trouble together. They knew each other as well as their own family, if not better. Their bond was formed at childhood and will last through adulthood. Because of the past they shared together, their future was bound to be prosperous. Huck had always looked up to Tom. Tom was sort of like an older brother to him. When the other boys that they were friends with them did something to Huck, Tom was right there sticking up for him. The boys formed a gang with rules that had to be followed in order to get in. Huck didn’t meet one of the requirements so Tom tried his hardest to make excuses for him. Tom said, “Well, hain’t he got a father?” (Twain, 9)When Tom knew good and well that Huck’s father was unreachable. No matter where his life took him, Huck always thought of To...