The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain, follows Huck, a young boy, through his adventures down the Mississippi River. Through his adventures and many obstacles with Jim, a loyal runaway slave, Huck changes and becomes more mature. He overcomes his carelessness and prank playing that he had at the cost of other people. Toward the end of his journey, Huck reunites with Tom Sawyer, an old and close friend. The two were once very similar but now have many obvious differences. Huck differs from Tom in his way of thinking, his treatment and attitude of Jim, and his tendency to question his surroundings.

Huck now sees and interprets the world in realistic and practical terms while Tom, a romantic, believes the world to be that of a story in a book. For instance, Huck’s idea to rescue Jim from his captivity is to steal the key. Then and Jim run to the canoe and escape on the raft down the river. Huck’s plan is straightforward, simple, and effective. Tom, however, believes that to be too simple. Tom’s plan is full of complicated and unnecessary difficulties and dangers. He invents ideas of digging through hard rock, climbing down from a tall tower into a cell full of rats, snakes, and spiders to rescue Jim. However, Huck sees no logic to Tom’s plan and claims it to be one of the craziest plans Tom has ever imagined. Huck, with his realistic mind could not understand Tom’s romantic nature and disagrees with Tom on a several occasions.

Next, Huck sees Jim as a human being and close friend after his journey with him down the river. However, Tom still believes what his white southern elders told him. Huck never realized until he found the raft unoccupied and Jim missing how much Jim meant to him. Thus, because he feels so str...

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...ically. Huck, after spending so much time with Jim and getting to know him, acquires a new understanding, compassion, and respect of him. Likewise, Huck sees past the color of Jim’s skin and treats him as a human being. Nevertheless, he will never consider Jim equal to him; however, he takes great steps in realizing that slavery is unjust. Clearly, we see right away their difference in thinking because Huck sees the world in realistic terms while Tom sees the world as though it is out of a story in a book. Next, Huck sees Jim as a friend and equal but Tom only sees him as black slave. Last, Huck questions his surroundings however Tom never questions anything because he sees his stories as the standard for life. Huck has become free of the limitations that the southern society had placed on him unlike Tom who still believes, thinks, and lives the southern lifestyle.