Huckleberry Finn Hero's Journey
The dictionary says that a hero is a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. This definition couldn’t possibly describe Fredrick Douglas, Jim, and Huckleberry Finn any better. While of course, these three are certainly not the first that come to mind when thinking of heroes, they all completely fit the bill. Douglas is a hero because of his journey out of slavery and because of his moral development, and how his story affected nations. While Huck and Jim go through a similar journey by escaping from the slavery of society, and through their moral developments, they started difficult, but important, conversations about race and prejudice at the time. However, as they compare, they are all
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For example, Jim shows plenty of bravery by choosing to run away from his master, and he also protects Huck from knowing about his dead father by saying, “Come in, Huck, but doan’ look at his face—it’s too gashly.” By protecting Huck from the truth, Jim shows himself as a hero, and he shows that he cares for Huck. Soon, Jim became like a father to Huck, and he went through a similar hero's journey while escaping slavery literally, and also by escaping from the slavery of society. In addition, Huck rescues Jim from slave hunters by telling them, “pap’s got the small-pox”. Because of Huck’s sharp wit, he and Jim weren’t caught by the hunters, and they even got some extra money because of it. Surprisingly though, Huck didn’t have to do any this, and in fact, it would have been easier for him to just turn Jim in, but he didn’t, and this continues his streak of heroism. Furthermore, Huck also became a hero when he chose to rip up the letter to Mrs. Watson, and by saying, “All right, then, I’ll go to hell”. Huck decided in that moment that he would not conform any longer to society’s demands if it meant that he’d have to send his friend back into slavery. Because of his hero’s journey down the river, Huck had risen above the chaos and hypocrisy of the world. Huck had found his identity in his own self determined values, while Jim had finally gained his freedom in the end, and this was the perfect ending to a hero’s
For example, Jim shows plenty of bravery by choosing to run away from his master, and he also protects Huck from knowing about his dead father by saying, “Come in, Huck, but doan’ look at his face—it’s too gashly.” By protecting Huck from the truth, Jim shows himself as a hero, and he shows that he cares for Huck. Soon, Jim became like a father to Huck, and he went through a similar hero's journey while escaping slavery literally, and also by escaping from the slavery of society. In addition, Huck rescues Jim from slave hunters by telling them, “pap’s got the small-pox”. Because of Huck’s sharp wit, he and Jim weren’t caught by the hunters, and they even got some extra money because of it. Surprisingly though, Huck didn’t have to do any this, and in fact, it would have been easier for him to just turn Jim in, but he didn’t, and this continues his streak of heroism. Furthermore, Huck also became a hero when he chose to rip up the letter to Mrs. Watson, and by saying, “All right, then, I’ll go to hell”. Huck decided in that moment that he would not conform any longer to society’s demands if it meant that he’d have to send his friend back into slavery. Because of his hero’s journey down the river, Huck had risen above the chaos and hypocrisy of the world. Huck had found his identity in his own self determined values, while Jim had finally gained his freedom in the end, and this was the perfect ending to a hero’s