The Relationship Between Huck and Jim By William Reculard

In his novel Huckleberry Finn, the relationship between Huckleberry Finn and Jim evolves a great deal, especially during their journey on the raft. The two rely upon each other to survive and keep their mental up. The fact that Huck proves to be willing to sacrifice many things and ideals for Jim, involving honour, pride and even come near loss of life, proves that he really cares about Jim, considers him to be his friend.

Huck makes his first consequent sacrifice while still on Jackson Island. He promises not to reveal Jim’s location to anyone. This oath proves to be quiet important, it sets the tone between Huck and Jim and tells the reader that Huck is a nice fellow, wanting no harm to be done. He succeeds in keeping his oral oath, even though it isn’t signed on paper -or with blood- and knowing he won’t face reprehensions if he breaks this oath. At this point, Huck is unconsciously breaking the social conventions imposed by society regarding Black people and not respecting the law. He might not know it but he is taking enormous risks, thus indirectly showing his true friendship.

When the two protagonists encounter slave-hunters while navigating on their modest raft, Huck invents a hoax to save Jim from slavery. He lies so well he is able to make the hunters deduce, and believe, that he is carrying an invalid stricken with smallpox. Jim now completely realizes he can trust Huck, he considers him to be the only friend he has in the entire world, for if it wasn’t for this lie, Jim would have been ruthlessly carried back to the horrible word of slavery. This episode is related to an incident that took place before, when Huck played a trick on Jim. Huck discovers that Jim loves him beyond doubt and was truly worried about his disappearance into the river. Jim’s expression of his feelings affects Huck. The young boy realizes that Jim has feelings and really cares about him, thus leading him to apologize and break one more time the social conventions.

The respectable acts Huck performs serve to strengthen his friendship with Jim. Although these acts are mutual, Huck takes more risks and is willing to loose everything for this friendship. His great acts made Jim free, as it would have been easier to ignore him, or even worse, alert the authorities.

Even though Huck plays nasty tricks on Jim, he still likes him dearly. Since he is just a child, he doesn’t think about the consequences and doesn’t mean them in a hurtful way. Huck even makes apologies to Jim while at these times people shouldn’t apologies to “niggers” regardless of the sin done. The friendship between Huck and Jim shapes the entire novel, makes it special, whereas a slave-master relationship would have made it cold and unhappy.