Accompanying Huck on his trek down the river, Jim ran from slavery seeking his freedom. Seemingly struck by idiocy when at Widow Douglas’ house, Huck thinks nothing of him as a wise role model. Yet, as Huck inquires about Jim’s superstitions, he is given a deep, logical, and natural answer, showing Jim’s capacity for the first time. After Jim and Huck are separated in the fog in chapter fifteen, Jim feels that he must “’terpret it, because it was sent for a warning”(Pg. 85). Jim paints an elaborate picture including every detail of the events, and revealing the meaning of each sign. Similarly, Huck is not shown the emotional side of his friend, until on the raft. After Huck returns to the raft, Jim explains that his “heart wuz mos’ broke bekase you wuz los’….En when I wake up en fine you back ag’in, all safe en soun’, de tears come…”(Pg. 86). He makes Huck feel so bad that he humbles himself to Jim, and apologizes, which was unheard of in the nineteenth century.
In effect to Jim’s presence, he becomes somewhat of a father figure to Huck, caring for and feeding him, while also molding his moral views of right and wrong. While helping Jim escape slavery, Huck always knows, in the back of his head, that he is doing something socially unacceptable and supposedly morally wrong. Despite Jim’s moral example, Huck writes a letter for the Widow Douglas, explaining where her slave is. Yet after the letter is on paper, he was torn “betwixt two things”, giving Jim back, or setting him free (Pg. 214). After contemplating his predicament for a short time, he decides to set Jim free, and go against to status quo. This is the major turning point for Huck, and also his changing moral climax, by this point he is one hundred percent set in his standards, having Jim rub off on him, even when they are miles apart at this point in the novel.
Throughout the novel, the relationship between Huck and Jim progressively blossoms into a beautiful friendship. An invisible tie between everyone, yet distinctively measurable, relationships unveil the sides of man that he himself does not know exist. This life is not about gaining material possessions, but to make as many relationships as possible.
