The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, one of the most celebrated works by American writer Mark Twain, has had a profound impact on American literature. The story unfolds the life along the Mississippi River, bordered by in‐ accessible, overgrown wilderness and dense for‐ est on both sides. A small raft drifts down the stream, carrying two people: Jim, an uneducated black slave, and Huckleberry Finn, a sensible thirteen-year-old white boy. This book recounts Jim's daring escape from slavery and, more pro‐ foundly, chronicles Huckleberry's journey to transcend his prejudices against black people, forging a deep and enduring friendship with Jim.
Jim's depiction in the novel touches upon the racial stereotypes that were common in the 19th-century American society. During that time, people often portrayed black individuals as ignorant, superstitious, lazy, and untrust‐ worthy. For instance, when Tom hangs Jim's hat on a branch while he's asleep, Jim wakes up confused, unable to figure out how the hat ended up there. He believes a demon took him on a journey around the world while he slept and placed the hat on the branch to catch his at‐ tention.
Huck's growth and enlightenment play a significant role in exploring racial issues in Huckleberry Finn. At first, societal racial preju‐ dices shape Huck's views of Jim. As they jour‐ ney together, he begins to question these preju‐ dices. The friendship that develops between Huck and Jim helps Huck recognize Jim's worth as a person, not just as an enslaved individual, challenging the racist beliefs he had learned. Ini‐ tially hesitant to see Jim as an equal, after expe‐ riencing the journey down the river together, he gains a deeper understanding of Jim, accepting him not only as an ordinary person but as a loyal friend. Huck's personal growth allows him to see Jim as more than just an enslaved person; Jim is a complex individual with intelligence, bravery, and emotions. Huck's respect and care for Jim demonstrate his ability to overcome ra‐ cial prejudice.
Jim shows his determination to break free from enslavement and oppression, and his de‐ sire for freedom and happiness. Meanwhile, Huck's journey with Jim becomes a metaphor for the human quest for equality and justice.
Jim's bravery and Huck's friendship offer a profound critique of the early 19th-century American South's slavery system. This novel serves as a beacon, illuminating the path for re‐ sisting racism and pursuing freedom, inspiring countless individuals to seek justice and fair‐ ness.