After having finished half of the book, how would you categorize the relationship between Huck and Jim? Is it a friendship? Is it a father/son relationship? Is it a relationship based on their being equals while on the river together, or is one of them more dominant than another?
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I think that the relationship between Huck and Finn is multi-faceted. At some points I see a father/son relationship, but then there are also times that they have a more friendly relationship.
An example of when I saw the more friend relationship would be when Huck plays the trick on Jim that Jim had been dreaming. I just see Huck messing around like a brother to Jim and trying to persuade him into believing that he dreamed the whole time Huck had disappeared after they got seperated. I do not think that one is more dominant than the other. They both bring different aspects to the relationship that I believe sets them on a relatively equal level. They both teach eachother different things about life and the stories they have been taught so far in life. Sometimes I feel like Jim uses his age maturity to keep Huck on track. If one would be more dominant it would be Huck but they both show some dominance at different parts of the story when they come to a problem. And both of them work really well to come up with stories to cover their tracks so that they do not get caught. I love watching their relationship grow and all the ways they will help eachother or not help eachother. For example when Jim allows Huck to fall off the raft while sleeping because the water got way to high up. To Jim and Huck this was just one of their many funny and stupid ways to have fun while escaping.
The relationship between Huck and Jim was originally sparked because of their similar situations of being runaways that need to avoid the public. If Huck could have turned Jim in without turning himself in also, I believe that he originally would have taken that action when the two first met. BUT as the story moves along, I feel that Huck and Jim are becoming closer and closer. I think that their relationship is best described as just good friends. Jim is too immature to act like a "fatherly figure" to Huck. It seems that Huck feels like he has to watch out for Jim more than Jim watches out for Huck. I certainly think that their similar situation of being runaways is a HUGE part of keeping the friendship close, but at this point I think that if one of them got caught, they wouldn't turn the other one in. I think their friendship and experiences so far are good enough to justify that.
In response to Paige...
I like how you said that it was initially in response to them both being runaways. I guess I completely forgot about that and how much they really connected because of that. I think that I would change your thought that Jim is immature which could not make him a father figure. Instead I think he is just uneducated which is a downfall to him being more of a fatherly figure. I like how you say that if one of them got caught they would not turn the other one in. I think that I would agree with that even though Huck debated turning Jim in that one night. He just decided spur of the moment that their friendship was too much to give up everything they have gone through.
In response to Tricia...
When you said that you would change my word choice of "immature" to "uneducated," you reminded me that I forgot to justify myself with that word. I do mean that Jim is immature, but I obviously don't believe that it is his fault in any way. He is a slave, so he is very uneducated and just doesn't have the experiences to really act that fatherly towards Huck. They live extremely different lives because of their ethnicity, so Jim doesn't have much to offer Huck as a father, but rather a friend. I think the friendship outweighs the father/son relationship because of Jim's immaturity/lack of education whatever you want to call it. They both teach each other a lot of things mutually like you said, so I just think that good friends is the best way to describe their relationship.
For the most part, I view Huck and Jim's relationship as one of mentor and student as well as companions and equals. I think that this relationship is a reciprocal one in that Jim learns from Huck but Huck also learns some things from Jim. Huck teaches Jim about intellectual topics like kings, but Jim imparts some of his logic on Jim as well. Though Jim may seem to be uneducated and ignorant, he clearly is intelligent in the sense that he is able to sometimes challenge Huck's logic in an unconventional way. Huck needs Jim from time to time to hold him back from doing something that may be wrong. When Huck first found Jim on the island, it appeared as though Huck was taking on the more dominant role in the relationship, and was still viewing Jim as a slave who was below him. As the novel progresses, however, I think that their displacement from society forces Huck and Jim to dissolve the master-slave relationship prevalent in society at the time. They transcend this previous relationship to become equals in that they must work together to survive. Jim is trying to become a free man and Huck is trying to liberate himself from the structure of society and his drunken father, and I think that their friendship stems from these similar goals.
In response to Tricia,
I also viewed Huck and Jim as being like brothers so far.
They both come from similar backgrounds and are in similar situations. They are both "outcasts" of society as well. I also think the way that they work together is very unique. It almost seems as though they can read each other's thoughts when they get into a sticky situation and have to come up with a creative story. Jim and Huck both seem to have that child-like aspect of them that wants to play jokes and is innocent, but they also have a sense of what is right and wrong(The Duke and the Dauphin).
I feel that Huck and Jim have a father/son relationship. A father is someone to look up to, guide you, and keep you safe. There are many occasions where Huck and Jim do just that. After talking to Judith and learning that her husband was on the island searching for Jim, Huck darts off to save his friend, potentially sacrificing himself. Also, Huck comforts Jim in scary situations and tends to take the lead. Jim acts fatherly when he goes into the abandoned house first. He later covers up the dead body and tells Huck not to look because it is too gruesome. Fathers also tend to teach their sons but sometimes learn from their sons. Jim and Huck are a magnificent force and compliment each other nicely. I, however, feel that this relationship was sparked by the fact that they both ran away and had no one else. Prior to that Huck stopped Tom from antagonizing Jim any more while he was asleep under the tree. So before their adventure really got started Huck looked out for Jim.
Huck and Jim have developed a very unique relationship as the story progressed. I find that they do have a father son relationship, but I also found that not one of them take a dominant role as the father figure in the relationship. They alternate who takes the role, for instance, Huck sometimes teaches Joe things and Joe sometimes teaches Huck things. There really isn't a dominant leader in the duo. Along with them developing a father son relationship they also developed a strong friendship. From my personal experience, for two people to become friends they usually need something in common, and for them that thing is running away from home. Since they have this one common feeling/experience/attitude about the same thing they are able to naturally click. Once they came to the realization that they were both going through the same experience, everything after that was just them getting more familiar with each other which just further strengthened their friendship.
I believe that the relationship between Huck and Jim evolves throughout the story. At the very beginning of the story, they are merely people who live near each other. They know of each other, but to say that they are acquaintances would be overkill. But then they met after they had both run away. At this point in time, they were both in an extremely difficult, and similar situation naturally drawing them together. With the time that they continued to spend together, their friendship began to bloom. I think that Huck kind of looks up to Jim as the father figure that he never had in his life. Yeah, Jim has a real father, but he is a drunken thief that he would never look up to. But even though Huck does look up to Jim, I wouldn’t classify their relationship as “father-son” simply because of Jim’s overall inexperience. Jim is still developing as a parent, with his young children, and he is not ready to look after and care for a teenage boy. It also seems as if Huck could be Jim’s father. Despite their age difference, Jim seems to be the more mature of the two, especially because of how savvy and experienced he is in the wild. And because of Jim’s inexperience in the wilderness, he looks to Huck for support. I think that Jim and Huck’s relationship is best classified as brother/friend like because since they met along the river, they have treated each other as equals, which is what true friends do.
In response to Casey...
I could not agree more with your opinion when you say that "Jim and Huck are a magnificent force and compliment each other nicely." But I don't believe that they have a father son relationship. Although I agree that a father and a son can learn from each other, but the father teaches the son more. In this instance I believe that overall, Jim learns more from Huck, which would eliminate the possibility of a "father-son" relationship.
In response to Nick...
I believe you meant to say "Jim" instead of "Joe" a few times, haha. However, I agree with your belief that their is not a dominant leader between the duo. I also like how you note the fact that the two "click" because of their common goal(s).
Good stuff!
After reaching the mid-day point of this book, I have characterized Huck and Jim’s relationship as a friendship. I believe that the relationship resembles a friendship more than anything else for a few reasons. However, I feel that there is no adamant answer to this question. The main reason I believe that their relationship is a friendship is because of how Huck treats Jim. Huck, although only a mere thirteen year old, challenges the predominately-Southern view that slaves are unequal. In Huck’s eyes, Jim is just his friend. However, Huck knows that Jim is considered property but doesn’t think it seems “right” and decides to help Jim. The decision to help Jim also helped Huck, but their symbiotic relationship grew into a friendship that is continuing to grow and prosper as the stories goes on. Jim’s actions also swayed me to believe that their relationship models that of a friendship. Jim teaches Huck things that seem trivial at first, (for example, the various superstitions Jim believes in). Also, Jim reacts as a friend would when Huck does certain things. If Huck tried to trick his Pa like he tricked Jim, there probably would be no more Huck Finn.
In my opinion, the relationship between Huck and Jim has changed since the beginning of the book. At first, Huck and Jim aren't necessarily "friends" but they need each other to make it through their escape; but as the story progresses, their relationship changes. I do not see them so much as “buddy buddy”, but more so as equal companions. They also take on the roles of student and teacher, in that they are always learning things from one another. Huck teaches Jim things about the modern world that he would otherwise not know. On the other hand, Jim teaches Huck things that are more so morally based. I believe that their relationship also changes because they are getting to know each other better. For instance, when Huck first found Jim he saw Jim as a slave. But as their adventures begin, Huck sees Jim as more of an equal or companion. As for Jim, I think that he now sees Huck as a true friend; mainly because he said to Huck that he’s the best friend that he has ever had. Finally, as a prediction, I think that Huck and Jim’s relationship will continue to grow and by the end of the novel they will definitely be like brothers.
In response to Casey...
I like your reasoning for saying that their relationship is more like father/son. But I think that the reason that Jim is more of a father-like figure is because he is one. So I think that his taking care of Huck is in part, due to the fact that his father-like instincts have taken into effect during some instances in the story. Also, like you said, I don't think that their relationship would have matured like this if it were not for their current situations. They need each other in order to achieve their goals and have come to rely on one another. Great post!
Personally, I view the relationship status between the two mainly friendship based. Throughout the novel, especially being only the half-way-point, it seems that whatever Huck decides to do, Jim will follow suit. They work together at minor projects, whether it is an adventure to visit a mysterious ship or location or an idea dealing with colorful new folk. They both decide to work along with the Duke and the Dolphin, and work to make money from it. And, like almost any friendship, there are some bad points too. When Huck and Jim start dealing with the con artists, Huck realizes they are fakes. Huck chooses to not tell Jim. Friendships keep these secrets. Huck also considers turning Jim in, which would be another secret. Comparatively, the relationship between Huck and Jim is more friendship based than anything.
In response to Alec...
Just one question, if Jim learns more from Huck wouldn't that create the father son relationship? I'm curious about your reasoning.
I would categorize Huck and Jim’s relationship as one of mutual beneficence and to be bordering on friendship. At this point, Huck and Jim are together simply because it is convenient for them to survive on their own. However they do exhibit certain behaviors that would suggest an increasing bond between them. For instance, when Huck went to go turn Jim in he stopped and felt bad because Jim called him “the best friend I ever had, the only one to keep a promise to me”. In realizing Jim’s feelings for him, Huck decided not to turn him in even though it caused him more emotional turmoil. Huck also displays his caring for Jim in not revealing to him that the Duke and the Dauphin were complete fakes. He seems to enjoy Jim’s amazement at the pairing and doesn’t want to spoil Jim’s fun.
Jim and Huck also seem to be equals in their adventures together. They both have a large amount of ignorance about many things. Huck cannot understand Jim’s love for his family saying, “it seems that he loves his family as much as any white man would”. On the other hand, Jim cannot understand many of the practical, “educated” things that Huck can comprehend such as the fact that French people speak French rather than English and that the Duke and the Dauphin are fakes. Because of their inexperience with the world, neither Huck nor Jim can be dominant in their relationship. They are able to create a happy medium that works to further both of their causes.
In response to Vicki...
I liked your prediction about their relationship growing into a brotherhood and equals. I feel that Mark Twain probably does that to show the equality between African Americans and whites. Even though I considered them equal I never really thought about it. Good catch!!
In response to Nick.....
I am a little confused as to your reasoning when you say that they have a father-son relationship yet neither Huck nor Jim take the role of the father. In a father-son relationship there must be an established order as to who is the top of the food chain and if they alternate then this cant happen. If one of them were to take charge and mentor the other I would completely agree with you but until that happens I have to say that it is much more of a friendship.
In response to Alec...
You stated that Jim does not have a father son relationship with Huck because Jim is inexperienced. I, however, feel that being a father is instinctive, not something that anyone is necessarily prepared for but they have the natural ability to be one. Huck, in my opinion, usually takes on the role of the father so Jim's inexperience wouldn't matter and would make more sense in his role as son. Other than that I think you have a great response and good job!
While reading the book, I’ve seen the relationship between Huck and Jim grow more and more each day. Initially, I think they talked only because they were the only ones there. Think about it – if you were stuck some place with just one other person, wouldn’t you talk to them, just for the company? That being said, I think their relationship grew stronger and more meaningful as the days came and went. Going back to 10th grade science, Huck and Jim’s interactions seem very similar to those of mutualism. In other words, they both benefited from the relationship. Both Huck and Jim were ignorant about some things, and really intellectual about others. They seemed to balance each other out well by teaching each other the things they needed to know, from something simple as survival to something as complex as life itself. In addition, they seemed to be protective of each other. When they found the abandoned house, Jim was careful to make sure Huck doesn’t see the corpse’s face. Huck protected Jim by not turning him in. Although it could be argued that Huck didn’t turn Jim in only because he was worried about his own safety, I think he easily could have turned him in to one of the men passing on the river without having to reveal his own identity, yet he still didn’t. Also, I think it’s important to note that while Huck was certainly aware that Jim was a runaway slave and obviously also an African American, and therefore lower in society’s rank, Huck never really treated him how most white people those days would. Jim took notice to that, and began to feel more comfortable with Huck. He even disagreed with Huck’s opinions of King Solomon. I think Jim’s affection towards Huck can also be noted in his nickname for Huck – honey. In conclusion, I really think that their relationship could be categorized as a true friendship.
In response to Vicki...
I really like your comment! I fully agree with every point you made and I think you made them very well. I think you're right - in the beginning, they simply needed each other, but like you said, their relationship evolved into a companionship. Also, when you said that Jim views Huck as his best friend mostly because he told Huck that's how he felt, I think it can also be assumed that he feels so strongly about Huck as a friend because he probably hasn't had that many true friendships in his lifetime.
In response to Alec, I really like your comment as a whole but I'd like to reply to the beginning of it. You said that calling them "aquaintences would be overkill" but I disagree. Jim worked for Mrs. Watson, Huck's guardian, so obviously they were aquaintences. Also, when Huck and Tom sneak out at night, Huck objects to Tom's idea of tying Jim up. Although it could be argued that Huck only did this to lower the risk of getting caught, I think this action really shows Huck's natural good-heartedness.
In response to Emma...
First of all, nice reference to mutalism! You shared your opinion very well. I could list all of your good points and say that I would agree, but to save time, I would just like to say that your entire post was great!:) You brought up some really good, ORIGINAL points. I especially like that you said that Huck could have turned Jim in by giving him to one of the many people that they have come across without revealing his identity. All in all, well done!
As we progress through the book, we definitely see an increasingly complex relationship between Huck and Jim. This relationship seems to have all of the elements mentioned in the prompt - at some times, it is like a father/son relationship; other times, it is a friendship; and still other times, it seems to be simply a companionship between two figures who share a common lifestyle (this is especially true early on.) In the onset of this relationship, when they first get together on Jackson's Island, it seems as if their being together was just by the chance that they met each other by having similar lifestyles - Huck was a runaway from his father, and Jim was a runaway slave. It was this similarity that seemed to connect them. However, as they begin their journey on the raft, and start having their little adventures together, we begin to see more of a complex relationship emerge. By this point in the book, after they have spent several days together, there seems to be a friendship developing between the two, as they complete tasks together, entertain each other, and go on adventures together. Their time together has developed the bond of a common lifestyle further into a bond of friendship. Then, as the story progresses, the bond becomes even tighter at some points and we see the father/son, or perhaps, mentor/pupil relationship emerge. Huck becomes Jim's mentor, in a way, as he tries to teach him about kings and other worldly things; but we also see Jim act as a father/mentor figure toward Huck, as he teaches him some skills and offers his own outlook on life. The complexity of their relationship and the fluctuation of roles of father/son or mentor/pupil seems to rule out the possibility of any one of them becoming a "dominant" figure in the relationship. The relationship is clearly mutual, as each one helps each other in their quest to go on with their free, moving lifestyle.
In response to Adrian...
I agree with all of your points. I like how you brought the quote in, about Jim calling Huck “the best friend I ever had, the only one to keep a promise to me” to justify your point about Huck feeling bad about thinking about turning in Jim. I also like your point about Huck respecting the fact that Jim doesn't realize the Duke and the Dauphin are fakes - it takes a true friend in order to care that much about someone as to not spoil their beliefs, even if it was something as trivial as a couple of fake figures of royalty. I also found it interesting how you explained your belief that neither one can be a dominant figure - I hadn't thought of the fact that it might be because each one is largely inexperienced in worldly matters. Perhaps this is the true meaning behind their relationship - their inexperience and common cause has brought them together. Great post.
Cont. (Sorry for the inconvenience.)
I also see the relationship as a very cooperative style of teaching and learning. Apparently, being a slave, Jim does not have the highest standards of education. It seems that once he acquires some amount of knowledge, he pieces things together to complete history. Huck, possibly realizing Jim's fault, capitalizes on this and corrects Jim with the proper history of things. This would come in play especially when the two discuss the kings of France, etc. It seems that neither of them know all the facts, so they combine information, with Huck providing most of the detail. As a look toward the future, I have the suspicion that Huck is going to become ignorant with his supposed knowledge and inform Jim of some law about slaves that does not exist to cause Jim grief. So their friendship could reach the point if diseption. Just a possible thought.
In response to Tricia's post on March 2, 2011 at 2:52 PM...
I agree that the friendship between "Huck and Finn" is progressively growing. It seems that when one of them does something minor, or major in the case of Jim falling, the other does the opposite, Huck poking fun. The idea that Jim uses his age as a leading factor is a great topic to jump into. Jim uses the idea of achieving freedom to benefit him, his wife, and his children. This shows that Jim has many personal reasons for wanting to reach his freedom. I believe it also teaching Huck that much is on the line here and escaping is a massive contributing factor that Jim needs to stay safe during his venture. I think that would imply some type of dominant-teaching relationship between Jim and Huck.
In response to Joe...
I think my use of your name in my post was a case of typing what I was saying seeing you were right next to me when I did it, embarrassing. But besides that, I agree with many things you say in your post. I like how you touched base on their not being a definite answer if Huck and Jim were really friends, because we do not know what they're actually thinking we can only read about their actions not their thoughts. I also liked how you brought up how Huck doesn't feel it's "right" how Jim is treated. Going back to my click theory, I believe this is just another thing that helps Huck and Jim's friendship click better.
There is not one way to describe the relationship between Huck and Jim because they have a very complicated relationship. In one aspect they are friends because they have been protecting each other from being discovered and even though Huck had thoughts about turning Jim in, he quickly changed his mind. It could also be a father/son relationship because Jim is always trying to keep Huck out of trouble by warning him of things that bring bad luck, or by telling him that they should get away from the King and the Duke before they came up with a scandalous plan that would land all of them in a heap of trouble. In the case of it being a relationship between equals, I would say that they may be equal in status while on the river, I would say they were not equal in their moral values. Huck would be more obliged to take what he needed to survive than what Jim would because that was how he was raised as a slave. Neither one of them are more dominant than the other because they are almost always conferring with each other to make all of their decisions. This is one of those complicated relationships that has so many different sides to it that it is hard to place it into one category. After all that they have been through together, though, I would agree that they have definitely become friends in a certain way.
In response to Adrian...
I do too believe that what they have is a friendship, but what I am getting at with the father son part is that at some parts of the story one or the other steps up and takes lead, or informs, or teaches the other, it's not the same person every time. That's why I believe along with them having a friendship they also have a father son relationship, with them alternating the father position.
In response to Jake L....
I have to say that I disagree with how you defined a friendship. In a friendship, you are supposed to make decisions together, not just have a leader and a follower. I do agree, however, with how you said there are always secrets in a friendship. Some things are just so important or so private that you feel no one but yourself deserves to know about it. The person I agree with the most would be Adrian because he described their relationship as one where each person is benefitting from the relationship. Friendship is a stretch for this relationship because Huck and Jim do not decide everything together and I believe that some of the secrets Huck was keeping from Jim could have been useful knowledge that could have resolved many problems when it came to the King and the Duke.
Check #1
As with the previous post, there can be many different point of views on the topic at hand. There is obviously a strong bond between Jim and Huck, but it would be hard to categorize this relationship as father/son, mother/daughter, or any other definite category. Most traditional relationships such as these require one of the parties to be the leader or role model of the duo, but this is primarily where the relationship between Huck and Jim fails. Both of them have a mutual level of support, and I can’t find either to be more or less of a leader than the other. Jim and Huck equally share their moments of leadership throughout the book, teaching each other new skills, tricks, and general ways of life. I believe both Huck and Jim have characteristics that collaborate relatively well with each other. Jim may not be the smartest or most mature, but his sense of the world, and very logical viewpoints help Hucks rather erratic characteristics that any young child would have. Their common cause binds them in a truly unique way, and as the story progresses, their reliance and dependency on each other continues to grow.
In response to Paige...
I like the point you made about how Jim is too immature to be a father figure, yet at the same time Huck may also be considered too immature. This really backs the opinion that their relationship cant be solely classified as a father/son one, because they both lack the necessary characteristics. Right now it just seems as if it's a son/son relationship, or in other words, just good friends, united by a common bond.
Great discussion, everyone. It IS a very complex relationship!
The relationship between Huck and Finn has definitely started to become more of a friendship than anything else. It began as them just having a common interest (not getting caught), but now I feel as though they are extremely thankful to have each other. Neither of them would have been successful in their runaway attempts without the other, they would have also gotten REALLY bored. As all good friends do, they have been teaching each other valuable lessons and growing in maturity together. There is a strange sense of protection that Jim has for Huck. When they are on the boat with the corpse, Jim doesn't want Huck to see the face because it is so mutilated. Also, when they were on the boat with the robbers, Huck wished Tom Sawyer could have been there to experience the adventure with him, but I believe that he was thankful to at least have Jim with him. Later on when the "Duke" and the "King" reveal their royal identities, Huck decides not to tell Jim that they are lying. He is doing this to save Jim from some embarrassment, just as a friend would do. Their kind-of friendship definitely has a lot more room to expand (and I think it will), but it is on the right track so far!
In response to Chris...
I like how you explained that their relationship is more complex than we originally may have thought. Personally, I said that the relationship leaned more towards a friendship, but you made some good points. I agree with your vague time line as to when each type of relationship shined the strongest. I also agree with your opinion on how it would be hard to point out a more dominant figure. Good thoughts, Chris!
I feel that the relationship between Jim and Huck is fairly balanced in terms of one having dominance over the other. Multiple times throughout the story, the two benefit by listening to the other’s advice. Since there exists a mutual appreciation for said advice, there is no yearning for total power. In addition, both Huck and Jim could get in serious trouble for being on the run. By having this in common, they share a certain level of trust and gratitude for each other. They both place great value in each other’s presence as a result, and refrain from seeking dominance. Their relationship isn’t incredibly friendly and intimate, and I feel that this comes about as a result of their difference in skin color (sadly). Compared to the standard of the time, perhaps they are very intimate for being white and black. As typical friend relationships go, however, they aren’t’ too close with each other. Regardless, the bottom line is that Huck and Jim are thankful for each other, and that they are thankful for each other’s presence/support.
I would categorize Huck and Jim’s relationship as a “survival relationship”, in that they both recognize the need for each other and each other’s cooperation. As we have reiterated numerous times, both Jim or Huck could turn the other in if they wished, though they risk their own capture in doing so. It can also be observed that while residing in similar situations, they each bring unique sets of skills and knowledge to the table, such as Huck’s conniving street smarts and Jim’s surprising knowledge of kings. Mannerisms also play a role in their interaction. Jim, having been a slave, is often more composed in a stereotypical manner, as opposed to the rowdy adolescent, Huck. On that point it can be argued that Jim has a father-like role, though it would probably be better categorized as an older brother younger brother relationship.
In response to Joe...
I like your decision in classifying Jim and Huck as friends for the reason of Huck’s defying stereotypes, in so much as not immediately dismissing Jim. It is worth noting that a father-son relationship is something that generally takes a longer time to develop than one of friendship. Thus in this short amount of time it would be more probable for Huck and Jim to become friends; however it can also be argued that Huck’s poor relationship with his father could leave a gap in his life that he would more readily fill with an older friend and mentor, of which Jim may be considered.
In response to Elliot,
It is interesting as you pointed out that typical relationships rely on a dominant figure (father - son etc.) Since this is lacking in the relationship between Jim and Huck, it certainly becomes difficult to describe the two in terms of their bond. Since one person is not dominant over the other, I think that readers can easily begin to regard the two characters as a single entity. Such a circumstance is unqiue, and I think it adds a special feel to the adventures that have taken place so far. Also, I agree with your observation that Jim does in fact offer useful advice (logic as you said) to Huck even though he could be deemed 'stupid' or 'unintelligent' on the surface.
Throughout the book, Huck and Jim’s relationship has evolved. They began in similar situations and with similar goals, and that is what bound them together at first. They knew that they needed each other to successfully run-away; but as the novel continues, they become more than just acquaintances. Jim’s relationship with Huck matured a bit faster than Huck’s did with Jim. It wasn’t until Jim told Huck that he was his best friend that it really sunk into Huck that he and Jim had become so close. Until this point Huck viewed Jim more as a companion rather than a best friend, but then Huck realized that he actually cared about Jim too. Obviously Huck had cared about Jim before this point, because he didn’t turn him in, but he just didn’t realize how much he cared about him. Now that we are over half way through the book we can see a mutual deep friendship between the two. However, it is not only a friendship; at times we see a teacher/student relationship. Jim likes to learn from Huck and although Huck sometimes tricks Jim, he mostly is agreeable to teach Jim. We also see a father/son type relationship emerge. Jim is actually a father and so he has that instinct in him, so when Huck needs guidance Jim is there for him.
In response to Casey…
I had never thought of Huck being a fatherly figure towards Jim! I viewed Jim as a fatherly figure towards Huck, and Huck as a mentor for Jim, but never a father. But now that I read your post I can really see that relationship. Huck didn’t turn Jim in but instead they joined forces to try to reach safety. When we think of father/son relationships we automatically assume the father being the elder.
In response to Jake L…
The points that you made about for it being a true friendship were really good! I liked that you talked about Huck keeping a secret from Jim, and how that made it like a real-life friendship. That is so true, because at sometime or another everyone has had to keep a secret from their friend, and decide whether it will hurt them or not.
Huck and Jim share a somewhat complex relationship that is difficult to describe in just a few words. They’ve had multiple experiences in which trust has been lost or gained. A decent instance of this is in chapter fourteen when Huck attempted to fool Jim that everything he explained was a dream. They seem to be very resilient to these kinds of tangles, however. Not long after, Huck saves Jim from being caught when he encountered a group of men on the river who wanted to search his boat. Overall, I contend that the relationship between Huck and Jim can be roughly classified as a solid friendship, almost as if they are brothers. Although they are prone to fighting every now and then, they do not hold grudges and are able to forgive each other easily.
In response to Emily…
I like your idea that their relationship has evolved. Huck and Jim are in fact very dependent on each other, and that was a major factor in the growth of their relationship as you pointed out. Each character changes more and more with every pivotal experience they share.
In response to Mitchell...
The point you made about them being like brothers was really good. Huck likes to trick Jim, but Jim always quickly forgives him. True brothers may fight and get mad with one another, but they always still love eachother.
Check 3/9/11
I would compare Huck and Jim’s relationship to that of the Three Musketeers, in that the are not open with each other only in an informative way, but they go out of their way to protect each other. They are equal with each other in some ways, but I find that Huck, though accepting of Jim’s shortcomings, still takes advantage of them. I would say it is more of an uncle-nephew relationship than a father-son because that they are equivalent in authority and responsibility. Their relationship is a complete 180 from Tom and Huck relationship, which is based only on common interest. Jim and Huck’s relationship started on the common interest of survival, but has grown to be based on common feelings of respect and love for each other.
In response to Jake R...
I like your idea of a "survival" relationship! They both do have a mutual need for one another, and that becomes very evident as the story continues. However, I believe at the beginning of the story Jim needed Huck more so than Huck needed him. This is because if Huck told anybody about Jim he would be facing daunting repercussions. However, now that we have read the entirety of the book, we know that Huck's father is dead and Jim was set free. If this was revealed to us earlier on surely the need for this "survival" relationship would have diminished.
In response to Nick…..
I like how you pointed out that one person has not assumed the dominant father role in their relationship. They take turns caring for each other in different ways, mainly listening to each other, but one person does not make all the calls.
In response to Vicki…….
I agree that Huck and Jim are not “buddy buddy”. The don’t share things to be mushy, but only as a survival technique. But their relationship is still deep and sincere.
final check
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