Essay on the development of the theme of loyalty in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Mark Twain) through the actions of a young boy’s abandoning class-lines in the racist antebellum years. BY Bilingually Loyalty Is a state of devoted attachment to someone or something. Loyalty Is perhaps one of the most admirable qualities one can have; It Is not only a measure of one’s true character, but one’s decisions as well. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, there is no greater loyalty than that which exists between young Houck Finn and Jim.
Jim demonstrates his loyalty to Houck by remaining with Houck as almost a paternal Geiger once he misses his turn on the river for Cairo, thereby continuing deeper into the hazardous South. Houck, in turn, demonstrates his loyalty to Jim by returning for Jim once Jim Is taken captive. By doing so, Houck also demonstrates his loyalty to humanity through his betrayal of racism. In Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Twain develops the theme that loyalty is measured through one’s actions in times of crisis by having Huckleberry break class lines and befriend a runaway slave in the racist antebellum years.
Jims loyalty to Houck is best demonstrated through Jims decisions on the river. Jim, who Is a runaway slave, heading to Cairo In search of work and his family, Is heading downriver with Houck and misses his turn for Cairo. Jims decision to remain with Houck costs him a chance to find work and a chance to find his family, whom he dearly misses. Their mistake in navigation also leads the duo farther South into slave territory, bringing potentially hazardous situations for a runaway slave.
Jims loyalty is reinforced later on in their adventures, as Jim passes his greatest opportunity for freedom in order to find medical attention for the wounded Tom Sawyer. Jims loyalty o the two young boys simultaneously contradicts racial stereotypes while affirming the consequences may accompany decisions of loyalty. Husk’s loyalty to Jim, although perhaps out of reciprocity, is demonstrated best through Husk’s decision to withhold Jims location from the Widow Douglas and his efforts to free Jim from the Phelps family.
Husk’s ability to recognize that Jim is a decent person, not Just a slave, allows Houck to overcome his immoral roots and his supposed Christian obligations to return Jim to the Widow Douglas. Husk’s development as a character allows Houck to recognize some of collects Immoral institutions, among of which is slavery. When Jim is sold to a local farmer by the Duke and the King, Houck decides to attempt to free him, rather than leave him to be returned to the Widow Douglas.
Although Houck begins a slight regression during his attempted escapes, Houck is able to work with Tom Sawyer to free his friend from of true friendship. Husk’s betrayal of racism and friendship with Jim demonstrates not only Husk’s loyalty to Jim, but his loyalty to humanity. In a time where interracial relationships were taboo, Houck befriends a runaway slave, knowing well the potential uniqueness of his actions. Husk’s decision to ignore his embedded racist values does not come without inner-quarrels, as the reader learns: “All right, then, I’ll go to hell’ and tore it up.
It was awful thoughts and awful words, but they was said. And I let them stay said; and never thought no more about reforming. I shoved the whole thing out of my head, and said I would take up wickedness again, which was in my line, being bring up to it, and the other warrant. And for a starter I would go to work and steal Jim out of slavery again; and if I could hind up anything worse, I would do that, too; because as long as I was in, and in for good, I might as well go the whole hog. (Twain ) Husk’s ability to overcome his immoral roots demonstrates not only his development as a character as well as his loyalty to humanity. In his writings, Saint Thomas Aquinas suggested that individuals had an obligation to disobey unjust laws or that are “human laws that are not rooted in eternal and natural law. ” By disobeying the Fugitive Slave Act and not returning Jim to the Widow Douglas, Houck breaks a law signed to degrade humans and perpetuate racism.
Betrayal of racism is loyalty to humanity; individuals who pledge against degrading institutions pledge to aid their fellow man. Loyalty, trust and friendship are formed over the hot coals of adversity. They are measured by one’s decisions in times of crisis, in front of consequences that may or may not be in the best interest of the individual who must make them. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Jim and Husk’s reciprocated loyalty to one another demonstrates the strength of character of both Jim and Houck in times of peril.
When faced with difficult decisions, both characters are able to revisit their loyalties and make decisions that reflect their loyalties. Husk’s loyalty to Jim is not only an example of strength of character, but also an example how betrayal of racism is loyalty to humanity. Mark Twain weaves these loyalties together into an excellent novel with a theme is truly capable of touching every human in an uplifting manner. Please note that: 1 . A strange text version was used therefore page numbers for intent quotes may differ from the text used by you.
