Huck Finn Escape Analysis

As Huck and Jim grow closer to Cairo, Huck realizes that he has helped an African American escape. His conscience is telling him that he has made a huge mistake because Miss Watson, Jim’s owner, has not done anything cruel to harm him; she has only helped by teaching him to read. Huck is about to turn around the canoe and head home when Jim starts to tell him,”I’s a free man, en I couldn’t ever ben free ef it hadn’t ben for Huck.”(95) Jim conveys that Huck is now his best friend. Huck now would feel terrible if he turned around because Jim has so much faith in him, so he continues on his adventure. During the night, people stop Huck and ask if the person in the raft is white or black. Now that Huck has decided to proceed with the plan, he tells
the men that it is his father on the raft and that he is white. Huck’s ability to protect Jim highlights his growth throughout the book. Earlier, he played tricks on people for his own pure enjoyment, but now, he is using his incredible imagination to protect his friend. He is feeling uneasy about lying to the men, but he discovers that if he gave Jim up, he would feel worse than he did about lying. He has grown from an uncivilized boy, to a boy who protects and cares for his friends.