Perspective Through Religion

Fatherly Love

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain, is one of the greatest American classics of all time, not to mention a tool for the equality of blacks. Readers learn about the life of a twelve or thirteen year old boy that helps a slave runaway. They see everything through his eyes and learn about the time period according to him. Readers meet two very important characters that Huck, the main character, has a special relationship with: Jim and Pap, and they learn about how important the relationship between a father and son is. As the story progresses, it becomes obvious that Jim is more of a father figure to Huck than Pap ever was.

Huck's relationship with his real father is completely lacking. "Yes, he's got a father, but you can't never find him these days. He used to lay drunk with the hogs in the tanyard, but he hain't been seen in these parts for a year or more," says one of the children (18). Pap really does not care what Huck does with his life, or if he is even alive. Since he is regularly absent from Huck's life, he cannot create the foundation needed for a strong father-son relationship. "You're educated, too, they say--can read and write. You think you're better'n your father, now, don't you, because he can't?" Pap says to Huck (30). Most fathers want their children to do better than them in life, and to get an education. This may more of a common desire in the modern day than back then, but still the desire is present. Pap, wanting to stay in control of their relationship, if it can even be called that, wants to keep his son ignorant, the same way that slave masters want their slaves to remain ignorant. If one person is more intelligent than the other in a relationship, they hold the power. Pap, not used to being in a lower position, especially when it comes to Huck, feels threatened and wants to keep the power and remain the tyrant. "He used to always

Harutunian 2 whale me when he was sober and could get his hands on me; though I used to take to the woods most of the time when he was around," tells Huck (22). One of the reasons that the foundation for the bond is lacking is the fact that Pap is an abusive parent. He drinks most of the time, and when he is not drunk, he is beating Huck. This is the reason that Huck lacks the desire to attempt to fashion a connection with his father. Pap may have helped conceive Huck, but didn't help Huck in any other way.

Jim and Huck's initial encounter is not exactly the status quo for the beginning of a father-son bond, but it starts the growth of something sacred. "Goodness gracious, is dat you, Huck? En you ain' dead--you ain' drownded--you's back agin? It's too good for true, honey, it's too good for true. Lemme look at you chile, lemme feel o' you. No, you ain' dead! you's back agin, 'live en soun', jis de same ole Huck--de same ole Huck, thanks to goodness!" exclaims Jim as he finds Huck along the river (94). This quotation shows that Jim is worried about Huck and has Huck on his mind. This is a perfect example of how a true father feels about their child and how Jim is shaping up to be that character. "I went to sleep,