Meghan Katzenberger
English III Honors
Mrs. Hill
May 17 2005
The Refining River
The current beat upon the wooden raft, cooling the hot, dry feet of its passengers. At home on the river, the pair of runaways eased back and ate “some corn-dodgers and buttermilk, and pork and cabbage and greens- there aint nothing in the world so good when it’s cooked right” (Twain 116). Neither of the oddly matched companions could have been prepared for the conflicts they would face that would refine their characters like fire purifies blown glass. In his book The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Mark Twain uses the conflicts in the story to bring out and shape the characters of Huck and Jim.
At the beginning of the story Huck was irresponsible and unconcerned with the troubles of others. But as the story progresses Huck matures as a result of the conflicts he encounters. David E.E. Sloane observes that “the story traces Huck’s initiation from boyhood into maturity as a humane individual” (111). One conflict that causes Huck to mature is the feud between the Grangerfords and Shepherdsons. This feud results in a gunfight because of Sophia Grangerford and Harney Shepherdson eloping. After witnessing the massacre, which results in the death of his friend Buck, Huck feels a certain responsibility for what happened. He feels guilt because he could have interpreted a note that was exchanged between Sophia and Harney, revealing their intentions. His conviction is
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demonstrated when he says “I reckon I was to blame, somehow” (Twain 115). Huck feels that if he had turned Miss Sophia in before she ran away and got married, no one would have been killed. The fact that he could have prevented this tragedy gives him a sense a responsibility that he should have prevented it.
Following Huck’s experience with the Grangerfords and the Shepherdsons, he comes into contact with another interesting conflict. Upon Huck and Jim’s adventures involving the duke and the king, Huck replaces his naivety with knowledge of human nature. The conflicts between the “royalty” and the people they deceive cause Huck to see the true nature of his companions: these men were wicked liars. After the king tricks a group of people into believing a recently deceased man was his brother and receiving their condolences and pity Huck’s reaction was that “it was enough to make a body ashamed of the human race” (Twain 162). Huck sees the king and duke for what they are: frauds. He learns to not be as trusting toward the human race knowing to what lengths men will go for money, no matter what it takes.
Learning that not all men are good natured brings out in Huck a deeper awareness of those characters that are good natured, such as Jim. The conflict of Huck against loneliness brings out in Huck an appreciation for the friendship of Jim. Huck has always been out of place, whether it be with Miss Watson who tries to “sivilize” him, or with his Pap who abuses him. Before he runs away Huck “significantly feels ‘lonesome,’” until meeting up with Jim, because “with Jim he is no longer "lonesome’”(Cummings 1). “Huck and Jim’s escape encompasses a variety of adventures and discussions that deepen and enrich Huck’s understanding and appreciation of Jim” (Sloane 111). Throughout the story he sees how Jim has taken care of him and how in some ways Jim takes the role of a father for Huck: caring for him in a way that his real father never did and selflessly putting his well-being above his own. After the horrifying massacre between the Grangerfords and the Shephersons, Huck, frantic and scared, hears Jim call out to him from the raft and “nothing ever sounded so good before. I run along the bank a piece and got aboard, and Jim he grabbed me and hugged me, he was so glad to see me” (Twain 115). Huck realizes what a blessing Jim’s company and loyalty are. He begins to see that it is not only Jim who benefits from Huck’s friendship, but that Huck also is cared for by Jim and needs his company. With this realization Huck recognizes Jim’s humanity and, as declares “Themes and Construction: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” “He turns his back forever on society’s ethics and decides he’d rather ‘go to hell’ than turn his back on Jim” (1). Huck gets the opportunity to develop a relationship with Jim as a companion and a friend rather then as a slave, as he had been raised to view him.
Unlike Huck, Jim does not change through the conflicts of the story. Rather, the conflicts he faces reveal that “his character is ultimately very strong” (Sloane 112). A reoccurring conflict in the story is that of nature against man. By this conflict we see the unselfishness of Jim when Huck has to keep watch from the raft during a storm on the river when in the company of the King and the Duke. By the third watch Huck “was pretty sleepy by that time, so Jim he said he would stand the first half of it for [him,] he was always mighty good that way, Jim was” (Twain 127). Jim looks out for the well being of Huck, even when it costs him his own comfort or safety. In the face of conflicting weather and weariness Jim’s concern for others above himself is revealed in his sacrificial actions.
Nature is not the only opposing force that shows Jim’s true nature; even when faced with the conflict he has with society Jim risks his own safety for the sake of watching over Huck. After their raft is destroyed Jim and Huck are forced
to separate and swim to safety. Huck finds out later that Jim “swum along behind [him] that night, and he heard me yell every time” (Twain 111). By keeping near Huck, Jim was risking capture, yet his loyalty to Huck caused him to take that risk. It is not only Huck’s physical well being that is aided by the presence of Jim. Mark Twain uses Jim, “by his presence, his personality, his actions, his words, to call forth from Huckleberry Finn a depth of tenderness and moral strength that could not otherwise have been fully and convincingly revealed to the reader”(Brownell 1). Jim protects Huck from harm throughout the story and, unknowingly though it may be, helps to mature and sharpen his character.
The conflict of a man versus society returns when Jim is finally captured and jailed. This time the conflict reveals Jim’s long-suffering and patience when faced with difficult circumstances. Jim, “a model of patience…embodying a fundamental decency that is denied by the social characterizations of him” (Sloane 112), endures abuse from his captors without betraying Huck or complaining. During this time “Jim never said nothing, and he never let on to know me” (Twain 284). Jim is a strong and patient character who does not become overwhelmed by circumstances. He puts Huck’s safety above himself, knowing that is Huck was found out to have helped a runaway slave he would be in serious trouble. Jim is a static character in that, rather than changing throughout the story, his character is merely revealed as we see him endure conflict and injustice.
The characters of Huck and Jim are brought out and shaped by the conflicts in Huck Finn. In his story Mark Twain shows us how trials purify and refine our characters. Letting the cool waters of the Mississippi wash their feet, Huck and Jim don’t know of the tests that await them on their journey. None of us do, but we can take our example from Huck and Jim and just take each day as it comes to us.
Erin perched on the rocks at the campsite, overlooking the water.
Another picture at the Hallow.
Another picture of us lost. (sorry the chronology of these pictures is a little messed up)
At the campsite. Denver, our inspirational military leader.
Matt, Denver, and Charlie on the rocks.
We got lost trying to find the place, very lost. this is Denver going to ask directions from the visiters center.
This is the hallow. It is awsome. it's a waterfall at other times of the year, although now it is just a continuous trickle. it's do incredible to watch the water fall.
More of the hallow.
Looking up from in the hallow.
Erin in the hallow.
watching John Piper's don't waste your life DVD in the youth room
Discipleship training with Pastor Sawtelle
volenteering at His Nesting Place
on the way from the airport on the first day, in the most rockin vehicle ever. a '70 something station wagon. banana yellow with interior molding. seriously, this thing gives the Grotenhuis's van a run for the money. it rocks so much.
with the O'Neil's on the 4th of july.
