Huck Finn Essay

Isra Syed

Barnes

Honors English 3

3 April 2013

You’ve got a Dad in Me

                 A father and son’s journey is established the moment a child makes its way into the world, with bright curious eyes, as they lay upon that one man who will mold their life from scratch. But is this one bond, strong and unbreakable, only defined by the blood running though their veins? In the novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, the relationship between a father and son is proved to not be only perceived by blood, but by love itself. As both lack the love and commitment of someone in their lives, both of them quickly and closely unite themselves as one and they express their desperation for someone to fill the empty place left by someone such as Pap. Twain uses the personas of Jim and Huck to erase the thin line of what defines a true family relationship. By using qualities possessed in a father that are decidedly portrayed in the character Jim, the author innovatively creates a pure relationship that has no room for criticism or discouragement.  As Jim escapes from being sold off and finds himself with Huck, given time momentously makes them both become fully immersed in the admiration for each other, protection Jim provides for Huck, and the guidance that Jim delivers through his simplicity and intelligent nature.  

                A mutual trait found between a father and son is the longing to see each other well and content. The immense care and love that the two characters have for each other clearly proves the paternalistic dedication in Jim towards the son like figure in the portrayal of Huck. For example, as the two are lost in a blinding fog that engulfed the both of them, the separation causes much pain in the heart of Jim. When they are reunited after a long intermission, Jim expresses his aching desire to see Huck when saying, “Goodness gracious, is dat you, Huck? En you ain’ dead—you ain’ drowned—you’s back again? It’s too good for true, honey, it’s too good for true. Lemme look at you, chile, lemme feel o’ you,” (Twain, 84). Jim displays severe emotions that throb from his heart as he is devastated with his detachment from Huck. He describes him as his “chile”, proving his view of Huck as a son-like figure who holds much importance in his life and which without; it would be hard to withstand. Although it is seen that Huck is a young boy with much left to learn and comprehend, his love is reciprocated for Jim as well which is evident when he says, “I was ever so glad to see Jim. I warn’t lonesome, now,” (42). Huck massively relies on Jim to be there for him as well as support him by eliminating his loneliness by just his very presence. A deep eagerness to meet Huck is also realized when Jim explains, “When I got all wore out wid work, en wid de callin’ for you, en went to sleep, my heart wuz mos’ broke bekase you wuz los’, en I didn’ k’ yer no mo’ what become r me en de raf’, (86). This also displays how Jim waits impatiently for the unification with his “son” and he explicates his grief as he believes he won’t see his Huck again. Similarly, a father could be seen performing and feeling the same as he waits with pain to catch a glimpse of his son. As this value emerges in both Jim and Huck as their journey progresses over time, a father-son relationship also arises as they both convey an understanding and solid bond filled with love for each other without ever questioning race, heritage, or the blood identifying them.

                Although love is a major component of the father-son relationship, a virtuous father also comprises the significant quality of protecting their child from danger or harm; whether it is emotional or physical. Likewise, Jim performs in the same way for Huck. For instance, unaware of his true father’s whereabouts, Huck was oblivious to the fact that his father was actually dead. Before having to encounter this truth, Jim had already saved him from being exposed to his father’s dead body when it was first discovered abandoned on the floating house. To prevent this Jim held, “It’s a dead man. Yes, indeedy; naked too… Come in, Huck, but doan’ look at his face—it’s too gashly,” (50). Even though Jim knew at first glance that the man who was deceased and bare was Huck’s own biological father, he chose not to reveal this truth which was eventually unveiled before Huck later when Jim said, “Doan’ you ‘member de house dat was float’n down de river, en dey wuz a man in dah, kivered up, en I went in en git yo’ money when you wants it; kase dat wuz him,” (293). Jim is seen shielding his “son” from the real truth and saving him the pain mentally. Although this news wasn’t as shocking to Huck, it was most probable that his own Pap never succeeded in being the ideal father who stands like stone next to his son for support and encouragement which lessened the pain for Huck. According to Tuire Valkeakari,      “Huck in, at this point, mainly preoccupied with the latter problem: he is already sure that Pap Finn—an abusive parent—is alive, and for the young boy this state of affairs translates, tragically, as extremely disconcerting news; he is, in fact, horrified,” (Valkeakari, n.p.)  As Huck is terrified of having a father like Pap, he finds refuge under Jim’s wing as he replaces Pap’s place although having no intention of doing so.

                Finally, a true father is undoubtedly defined by the guidance that they deliver to their pupil as they are emerging to become a wise and mature adult. Morals, ethics, values are all rooted deep into them by the teachings of a father. For instance, when notifying Jim that Pap was back and alive, Jim replied, “Dey’s two angels hoverin’ roun’ ;bout him. One uv ‘em is white en shiny, en t’other one is black. De white one gits him go right, a little while, den de black one sail in en bust it all up…You gwyne to have considable trouble in yo’ life, en considable joy. Sometimes you gwyne git hurt, en sometimes you gwyne to git sick; but every time you’s gwyne to git well agin,” (18).  Demonstrating his values and his beliefs to Huck show Jim’s paternal instincts that guide Huck and generously teach him that it will be difficult and distressful  to make right decisions but even if he may be swayed in the wrong direction, he must stand tall and brave to accept what’s right and proceed with it, no matter the consequence. Also, Jim issues a huge message in a short while saying that life will not always be what you want it to be but it’s necessary to go along with it without any regret or worry. Notably is another experience with Jim that helps teach Huck to attain knowledge in the brain, not just the heart. As the two of them are embarking on their journey, Jim uses his intelligence to predict the course of the Mother Nature. This is illustrated when Huck said, “Some young birds come along, flying a yard or two at a time and lightning. Jim said it was a sign it was going to rain,” (45). Despite being an illiterate man who was also a depreciated slave, Jim utilizes his knowledge and awareness and communicates another moral to Huck about how to make predictions in life. Just like a mother bird nurtures her offspring and helps them learn one step at a time before letting them fly into the world themselves, Jim uses his knowledge to pass on to Huck so that he can be fortunate enough to apply these skills when he is on his own. An essential part of fatherhood is teaching the child how to survive in the world without holding onto a finger that guides them the whole way. The finger slowly loses its grasp from the elder experience and thus letting the child create independent adventures to pursue. Jim guides Huck by instilling these values in him at a young age so that as he grows older, he can distinguish right from wrong and learn about the truths in life which is a major role of a father.

                Blood is not the sole characteristic that defines a relationship; especially that of a father and son. This relationship of Jim and Huck propose Twain’s interpretation of relationships which are molded purely from the love that both people share with each other that binds them so closely.  Portraying the uneducated and belittled slave Jim, who at first seems insignificant, has unknowingly attributed to a true bond with Huck as being his paternal figure when he had lost his own long ago when he had denied his responsibilities as a parent. Huck, an immature, yet wise boy slowly grows to become a part of Jim. Jim exemplifies to Huck the values of love, protection, and guidance which doesn’t require genetic reports to prove that, ultimately, Huck is my son.

               

Works Cited

·         Smith, R. T. "Finn." Magill’S Literary Annual 2008 (2008): 1-3. MagillOnLiterature Plus. Web. 4 Apr. 2013.

·         Pittman, Frank. "Fathers and Sons”. Psychology Today. 1 September 1993. Web. 2 April 2013.

·         Valkeakari, Tuire. “Huck, Twain, and the Freedman’s Shackles: Struggling with Huckleberry Finn Today.”  Atlantis. December 2006. Web. 2 April 2013.