The Birth of a Friendship

One of the most crucial developments to follow in Mark Twain’s novel, Huckleberry Finn, is the blossoming of Huck and Jim’s relationship. Initially their relationship is one of mere associates and on in which Huck takes precedence over Jim, however as they spend more time together Huck’s view of Jim begins to change.
Initially, Huck does not view them as equals, thus the element of respect is missing from their relationship (in terms of Huck respecting Jim). When we are first introduced to Jim in the novel, it is through Huck and Tom’s childish pranks and teasing. Jim is viewed by the boys as a sort of a game, just something humorous to pass time with. They completely disregard Jim’s feelings and well-being. On the occasion in which Tom wants to tie Jim to a tree and commence to tease him, Huck rejects this idea, for his own sake not for Jim’s. “But I said no; he might wake and make a disturbance, and then they’d find out I warn’t in.” (74). Huck’s fear of getting caught and being punished guides his actions more so than morality and kindness. Jim is not even viewed as a human being. He is seen as property and thus Jim feels as if he can treat him however, unless it will cause some sort of unwarranted backlash on himself.
This treatment continues even as Jim becomes a sort of protector over Huck as their paths cross on Jackson Island after they both flee the mainland. Even though Huck expresses some joy in stumbling upon Jim, his emotions are all one sided and centered around himself. His joy over Jim is that now he does not have to be alone; now he has a form of entertainment and even someone to assist him in whatever dangers he might encounter. Huck and Jim do not have a friendship yet. Steps toward a friendship begin as Huck nervously and dubiously agrees not to turn Jim in for running away from his masters. This is a momentous step in their relationship and even though much doubt crossed Huck’s mind while he was agreeing to this promise, this shows that Huck cares for Jim some, because this promise not only continues Jim’s loyalty to Huck, but it initiates Huck’s loyalty to Jim. They are now bound together, however the relationship is still not quite 50-50 in equality, because Huck still encounters many experiences in their journey in which his childish and immature nature cause him to revert back to viewing Jim as a sort of concrete and emotionless joke/game in which he can toy with, for example, when Huck gets lost in the fog temporarily, Jim is worried about him and makes a big fuss, yet Huck tells him he dreamed it all up. “Well. This is too many for me, Jim. I hain’t seen no fog, not no islands, nor no troubles, nor nothing. I been setting here talking with you all night till you went to sleep about ten minutes ago, and I reckon I done the same.” (141). Jim knows this to be a joke and he views it as a cruel act from Huck, because Jim views Huck as his friend (esp. since Huck promised not to turn him in for being a run away).
I viewed this scene as the most crucial turning point in Huck and Jim’s relationship. I feel it was this occurrence that really bound Huck and Jim together, despite some of the doubt hat crept into Huck’s head from time to time. Here Huck began to view Jim as a human being, a person, a friend, whom he really did care for, because only when we care for someone do we allow for ourselves to be moved by their emotions. This only happens with people we hold dear; their sorrows become our own and we are able to empathize with them. Huck begins to realize how he has hurt Jim and he does not like the way that makes him feel, so he apologizes. “It was fifteen minutes before I could work myself up to go and humble myself to a nigger-but I done it, and I warn’t ever sorry for it afterwards neither. I didn’t do him no more mean tricks, and I wouldn’t have done that one if I had a knowed it would make him feel that way.” (142). Huck has accepted Jim as a person and as a friend. They now have a special bond that moves beyond loyalty and sense of duty. There is feeling and emotion involved.