A ‘true father’ can be described as one who displays paternal qualities, whether the person is the biological father or not. A true father also takes the role of teaching his child morals and maturity. In Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, Huck’s biological father does not show any paternal qualities towards Huck and does not bother to teach him how to become more mature. Contrast to Huck’s father, Jim shows paternal qualities and teaches the fundamentals that Huck lacks and helps him to grow. Jim had the experience of familial love, and therefore, knows what Huck lacks and is able to provide him his needs. At first, Huck only sees Jim as a slave, but he later learns to see how Jim is a father figure.
Huck experiences a gradual progression of acceptance as he grows in his understanding of Jim’s paternal figure. The interactions between Huck and Jim help them realize their similar qualities. Therefore, they eventually begin to see themselves as family members. Huck viewed Jim as a slave and felt justified to exploit him and treat him as an inferior person. This is shown when he does not bother to stop Tom from pranking him as he says, ‘Tom said he slipped Jim’s hat off of his head and hung it on a limb right over him, and Jim stirred a little, but he didn’t wake’ (Twain 9). Although Huck repeats similar pranks later on, he continues to grow in connection to Jim. With each prank Huck plays on Jim, the sense of guilt and remorse rises until he no longer has the desire to mistreat Jim. From this growth, Huck shows more maturity as the morals of right and wrong are taught to him by experience. Eventually, he acquires an understanding of Jim’s impact on his life, showing a growth in maturity for Huck.
The growth of Huck’s sense of guilt and maturity is marked by the three pranks he did on him. When Tom hung Jim’s hat above him, it caused Jim’s superstitions to show, leading him to make stories about witches to share among the other slaves. Huck was with Tom when he pulled this prank, but did not bother to stop him, showing how he believed that pranks were fine. This represented how Huck saw Jim before any interactions they had between them. It shows how Huck was not mature at this time since he thought pranks were acceptable. Later when Huck and Jim made their first connection on the cave, Huck put a dead rattlesnake next to Jim’s bed while he was sleeping. This attracted the snake’s mate to come and bite Jim’s leg. The outcome of this action led to Huck feeling anxious and guilty from the severity of the situation.
These feelings help Huck grow in maturity and affection as they teach him how much his actions can affect others. While on their journey on the river, Huck made Jim believe that the events when they were separated were fake. When Jim found the truth he did not show sympathy towards the prank. He responded in a serious and genuinely concerned manner due to him being worried about Huck. Jim in a paternal manner scolded Huck for his deeds. This triggered Huck to realize how much Jim cares for him and how Huck feels towards Jim. At this time Huck understood his wrongdoings and showed remorse, as he said, ‘made me feel so mean I could almost kissed his foot to get him to take it back’ (Twain 80). These series of events bred Huck’s maturity and realization of the connection between him and Jim.
Since Huck did not have a family, he did not realize what importance or connection a family had. However, as he progressed in his connections he understood what it means to be family. Huck having realized the role that Jim has in his life, lead him to understand the bond between the two and finalize his maturity.
Jim’s conduct and actions throughout his journey with Huck manifest his paternal side, showing an escalation in distress. At first, Jim is overwrought and tense with Huck, as he understands his position in society and racism. He took all of Huck’s words as orders since he did not want to show a rebellious nature towards his master. However, it does not take long for Jim to have trust in Huck. The two share each of their experiences from when the first meet, causing a bond to form between them. This sharing of experiences help Huck understand how cruel the slave life is and breeds pity in him while Jim realizes that Huck is not as prejudice as he seems.
However, what made Jim a father was how he accepted Huck before Huck accepted him. When they have their first conversation at the cave, Huck did not have a complete bond with Jim. On the other hand, Jim already started to nurture and protect Huck both mentally and physically. When they found the dead body at the cave, Jim refused Huck to view the body as he knew that the body was his father in order to protect Huck’s mental state. Several times Huck recalls Jim’s selflessness and care as he said, ‘I’d see him standing my watch on top of his’n, stead of calling me, so I could go on sleeping…'(Twain 194) when they were on the raft. As Jim and Huck realize the importance of each other, they begin to exhibit the connections that are shown between father and son. The actions that are displayed show how Jim has the qualities of a father.
Jim impacts Huck in a way that can only be provided by a father. Although there were racial prejudices at this time, Huck and Jim both overcame these judgments as they revealed their similarities. From when they first meet to the end of their journey Huck remained irresponsible and a child. However, Jim takes Huck as his responsibility and is the father figure of Huck allowing Huck to grow in maturity and develop bonds that he had never experienced before. This completes the bond between them. Ultimately, Huck and Jim’s bond is distinguished by the purest emotion that one has with their family which is love.
