Huckleberry Finn and His Journey

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is one of the most well known pieces of American literature. The novel contains many different truths about the current world around Huckleberry Finn, and the many different conflicts that people face. The title of the novel makes it obvious; it is going to be a story of adventure, where someone needs to get something they desperately need. As Huck and Jim travel up the Mississippi River, it becomes obvious what they both need. Huck, the protagonist, is on a quest for fun, which is an experience he needs after having to deal with his abusive father. Jim is on this adventure because he needs freedom. While reading this novel, the relationship that forms between Huck and Jim from being on the river is based on being away from the flawed society and searching for their way to greater freedom.

Huck and Jim are already connected from the beginning of the novel. They are a part of the same family. Jim is the slave of the family that was providing for Huck. In the beginning, Huck thought of Jim only as property. As they spent more together and traveled down the river, Huck realizes that everything he was taught is actually flawed by society and that Jim is a person, not a slave. Just like a river, they are forced to accept each other for who they are and it is possible to change their attitudes towards each other. Jim soon becomes Huck’s father figure. Jim provides for Huck like a father and keeps the harshness of reality away from Huck. When the corpse of Huck’s father appears, Jim shields Huck from it. Jim is sets an example for Huck to follow.

Immediately, the reader sees that the river is a symbol for freedom. After Huck fakes his death, he finds a raft that carries him down the Mississippi River. When he runs into Jim, they realize they both are going in the same direction and make the journey to the North together. We see that they run into troubles when they are off of the water and on land. This shows how the societal problems...