Slavery Case

Slavery

In the 19.. society viewed African Americans as slaves and "niggers". They looked down upon them as less than human and more like objects. In the beginning of the book The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain, Huck, the protagonist of the story, shares the same views of much of society. While rafting down the Mississippi River Huck was accompanied by Jim, a run-away slave. Huck's feelings toward Jim change considerably throughout this book. At first he views Jim just as a slave and a piece of property; at the end of the book Huck begins to thinks against the norm in the society in which he lives and sees Jim in a new light, as a human being and a friend. Throughout this book Huck's changing feelings towards Jim can be observed at each chance he is given where he can turn Jim in.

In the beginning of this book, when Huck first discovers Jim on the Island, he is happy and excited to no longer be alone. After Huck promises Jim that he will not tell, Jim finally admits that he is a run-away slave. Huck is horrified. He tells Jim "I said I wouldn't [tell], and I'll stick to it. Honest injun, I will. People would call me a low-down Abolitionist and despise me for keeping mum."(Twain 43). At this point in the story if Huck had not made the promise to Jim, he would have turned Jim in immediately. He still had the same views as society about African Americans. Huck did not view Jim as a human being, or an equal to him instead he saw Jim as Miss Watson's property. Jim was $800 dollars worth of property which he felt he should return to its rightful owner.

As the book progresses Huck and Jim go through many adventures and unawaringly Huck begins to form a friendship with Jim. By the middle of the book Huck gets an opportunity in which he can turn Jim in. While passing a town he decides "it ain't too late yet- I'll paddle ashore at the first light and tell."(89). He quickly begins to feel guilty as Jim tells Huck was a great friend he is and what a good person he is for helping him escape. Huck has conflicting feelings about whether or not he should turn Jim in. He wonders if he should do what is right in societies "eyes" and turn Jim in or go with his heart and not turn in a friend of his. He finally gets the chance when a group of men inquire the skin color of Jim who is hiding on the raft. Huck feels nervous and guilty. He explains, "I didn't answer up prompt. I tried to, but the words wouldn't come. I tried for a second or two to brace up and out with it, but I warn't man enough- hadn't the spunk of a rabbit."(90). At this point in the middle of the story Huck had differing opinions of Jim. He still viewed Jim as a slave while at the same time he was slowly developing a strong friendship with him, whether or not he wanted to admit it.

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