Jim is the slave of the widow Douglas and Miss Watson, Huck’s guardians in the beginning of the book. A key part in Huckleberry Finn is how Huck is the only person who treats Jim like anyone else. Most see Jim as just another useless black man but to Huck, Jim is a very important man. Jim acts as the sort of father figure for Huck when they are flowing down the river. Although Huck was taught how to be friendly, Jim is friendly by nature. When Huck has “Gone Away,” Jim is genuinely concerned, saying "Goodness gracious, is dat you, Huck? En you ain' dead—you ain' drownded—you's back agin? It's too good for true, honey, it's too good for true. Lemme look at you chile, lemme feel o' you. No, you ain' dead! you's back agin, 'live en soun', jis de same ole Huck—de same ole Huck, thanks to goodness!" (15.19). Huck is confused but, he can see how much Jim cares for him. Huck is always very respectful towards Jim, which is a way most people did not act towards slaves at the time; Jim tells Huck that he was the only "white genlman dat ever kep' his promise to ole Jim" (16.16). Later on in the story, the two come across a boat, and on the boat was Huck’s dead father. Knowing how much this would upset Huck, Jim shielded Huck from seeing this by saying "It's a dead man. Yes, indeedy; naked, too. He's ben shot in de back. I reck'n he's ben dead two er three days. Come in, Huck, but doan' look at his face—it's too …show more content…
The Duke and King are two con men who travel up and down the river swindling any unsuspecting passerby. Their friendship comes when they tried to con each other, when they failed, the Duke said "I reckon we might double-team it together; what do you think?" (19.16); and what the King thinks is “Like as not we got to be together a blamed long time on this h-yer raft, Bilgewater, and so what's the use o' your bein' sour? It 'll only make things on-comfortable. It ain't my fault I warn't born a duke, it ain't your fault you warn't born a king—so what's the use to worry? Make the best o' things the way you find 'em, says I—that's my motto. This ain't no bad thing that we've struck here—plenty grub and an easy life—come, give us your hand, duke, and le's all be friends.” (19.47). Their friendship is an odd one, not like most people think of when they think of friendship, but they are loyal to each other and that is what being friends mean. Huck Finn is a story of many different themes, but when it come to the most prominate theme, that is friendship. Weather it is best friend coming together and making Gangs, Making new friends and going on mass adventures, or just being partners in crime. Friends are friends, through thick and thin, they are there for each