Huck's True Father

Huck’s True Father

Huck had a father, not a good one but a biological one at least. Yet, Huck never looked up at him like one and didn’t really consider him like a father to him. If there had to be a fatherly figure in Huck’s like that he looked up and respected it would have to be Jim. Thought the book Jim showed many characteristics and actions that would earn him this title. He was found being selfless and protective over Huck, but in all he showed he was a true and loyal friend. Jim is someone that could fill in the father figure for Jim and fulfill it by being a loyal friend towards him.
Jim showed selflessness through the actions of shielding Huck from a horrible and haunting sight. During the flooded house Jim was faced with a horrible sight of Jim’s father’s dead corpse inside the house.
“ I didn't look at him at all. Jim throwed some old rags over him,
but he needn't done it; I didn't want to see him.”
Jim knew that if he allowed Huck see this he would be devastated and sad. Instead of allowing Huck to see this he shielded his eyes and never told Huck what was in, or who was in the house. He did these things not for his benefit, but for Hucks. Looking out for Huck’s feeling in advanced and his further actions in the future to come. This is a result of selflessness because of Jim’s regretful past of raising a hand to his daughter. In result Jim is considerit of Jim’s feelings because of his past actions, believing that he is making up for them by the actions towards Huck.
Jim is protective over Huck as well as protecting him from many events throughout the book.
Jim protected Huck by censoring his vision to the dead man in the boat house. "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 gashly." I didn't look at him at all. Jim throwed some old rags over him, but he needn't done it; I didn't want to see him."
By blocking Huck’s sight, he showed that he wanted to protect Huck from the horrible sight in front of him. Not to mention he wanted to protect him from the identity of the dead person that was Huck’s father. Jim didn’t want Jim to be hurt in any way, he was being protective by being concerned for Huck. Another way that Jim was protective over Huck was when he took on the role of the slave he was and kept Huck safe. He makes sure Huck is healthy by cooking food for him and taking care of his health and knowing his wear abouts. For example Jim would wonder where Huck was and what he was doing. This shows that he cared for Huck and wanted him to be
safe. Lastly to be a fatherly figure that would be looked up to you had to have good a good connection as well as being respected and trusted. The word for this is friendship and that’s exactly what Huck and JIm had and a rather great one I might add. Jim guided Huck many times showing him wrong from right. For example, when Huckleberry plays a prank on Jim by leaving a dead snake by the foot of his blanket, he is just trying to have fun. In a result to Huck’s prank Jim lectures Huck about being nice and that he should consider this to become a better person in general. As well as Jim staying up all night just so Huck can go to sleep. “I went to sleep, and Jim didn't call me when it was my turn. He often done that.” Throughout the book Jim is almost 100% always by Hucks side making sure he’s on the right track. In a good friendship the friendship has to mutual, which was shown when Jim was taken as a slave and sold. Huck risked his own life and future to go after Jim and free him. Making the friendship mutual on both sides. In all Jim clearly shows many characteristics of being a great father for Huck to look up to and want to be like. He shows Huck that he wants to protect him and want him to be safe in everything he does. He make sure Huck is doing what’s right and reminds him to do so. He believes that Huck can be a better person no matter what. The fact that the affection is mutual, showing that through friendship and actions of affection you can be someone’s father/motherly figure. Someone that they would look up too and have no problem being like them.