How Does Jim Influence Huck Finn

In life, one must prove his or her worth to establish a place in society. More specifically, one must realize his or her surroundings, altering the situation for the benefit of others. This truth presents itself today similar to Mark Twain’s exploitation of it in his novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn through the protagonist, Huckleberry Finn. Twain uses other characters to influence Huck, who demonstrates a progressive internal change, ultimately leading to his bildungsroman and disbanding of society’s beliefs.
Jim, a runaway slave, influences Huck enough to invoke a change within himself. Twain presents Jim as an antithesis, combating Huck’s depressed and lonesome state at the beginning of the novel. Huck and Jim share unique commonalities

Posing as a king and a duke, the frauds board Huck’s raft to escape authorities. Huck realizes their true identity almost instantly but continues to play along with the hoax as not to harm Jim. Upon meeting the frauds, Huck says to himself, “I kept it to myself; it’s the best way…I learnt that the best way to get along with his kind of people is to let them have their own way” (125). Huck utilizes the lessons he learned from an early age, making a conscious decision to keep peace on the raft. Also, Huck resists the idea of becoming a thief, an outcast from society who constantly senses the need to flee. The duke and the king attempt to corrupt Huck with their lies regarding society and life, but Huck refuses to believe them. Disgusted by their lies, Huck feels the sudden urge to help all those cheated by the thieves. For example, the duke and the king accumulate $6,000 from an innocent family, and Huck says to himself, “I felt so ornery and low down and mean that I says to myself, my minds made up; I’ll hive that money from them or bust” (175). All the lies and thievery of the frauds impact Huck in such a way that generates a necessity of justice for others. Twain uses the frauds and their interactions with Huck Finn to satirize society, one of the most influential concepts for an individual. Similar to the influence of the frauds and society, Huck’s family

Similar to Jim, Pap expands Huck’s view of reality through his abusive actions and racist comments. Upon returning home, Pap ridicules Huck for attending school and receiving an education by saying, “You’re educated, too, they say—can read and write. You think you’re better’n your father…” (19). Huck’s education, in the eyes of Pap, will incite more problems in his life than if he remains uneducated, altering Huck’s perception of school and education. Twain’s insertion of Pap into the novel acts as his way of criticizing society’s racial judgement. Pap describes his hatred for blacks and complains about them, saying, “There was a free nigger there from Ohio…they said he could vote when he was at home” (27). Huck listens to his father’s words, not knowing any better than to accept them as the truth. Thus, Twain reveals the most overpowering influence in one’s life, his or her loved ones. Unlike most, Huck feels a sense of relief and easiness upon hearing about Pap’s death because of his abusive nature. Twain argues through his writing that self-reliance and independence results in happiness. As the novel progresses, Huck’s negative emotions evolve into positive feelings as he gains more independence and