Free Huckleberry Finn Essays: Jim Character Analysis

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Jim is one of the most underrated and most understood characters in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. There are many arguments that people can use about the way Twain portrays Jim. Even for the best arguments that readers can have, there is always an argument to rebut with, unless the readers completely understand Twain’s purpose for writing Jim in such a way. Twain shows Jim in a complex environment that helps strengthen him as a character. In Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Twain depicts Jim to be a kind, loving, and trusting family man who, against all odds, challenges the social norm that black and white people are different. Even from the beginning of the story, Jim and Huck trust each other despite Jim’s knowing …show more content…

When the king and the duke come along, they use Jim’s trust in the wrong way. It does come to a limit, and Jim says, “Well, anyways, I doan’ hanker for no mo’ un um, Huck. Dese was all I kin stan’” (Twain 158). This statement is the first time Jim really takes a stand for himself, yet he still does it in a nice manner. After this Jim starts to realize who his real friends are and put even more trust into them. The trust Jim carries for his friends is one of this most important characteristics that is shown throughout the book since it shows how similar he is to Huck in that way. Though Jim usually has trust in his friends and their actions, he also makes good choices …show more content…

This quote shows how much he cares about his family and what he would do for them. He even acts as a surrogate father to a white child and during this time period that is unheard of till Jim steps up. Where some people would say Jim wants to become free just like anyone in his situation, some contradict and say he holds bigger things to worry about and more than just his freedom is at stake. The doubters who say that Jim wants freedom only do not understand the longing of family and sadness Jim has. Jim feels that the only way to get retribution and the love of his family again was to be free and the only way that would have happens was if Jim was freed. Jim’s family and close friends show how much his life revolves around them. Even when his family and friends are around, he stays loyal like when Huck was at the Sheperdsons Jim does not leave, but instead stays in the swamp biding his time instead of running to freedom. This shows just how much Jim wants freedom, as well as the freedom of others. In a time where blacks are disliked heavily, for an influential writer such as Twain to write a black man in such a way would have been hard to overcome and to accept. Jim is a pivotal character because Twain shows the progression of how he is accepted in society. Twain gives Jim a sense of trust, family, and kindness to help the reader think about the possibilities of the world without people like

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