"But you knew he was running for his freedom, and you could paddle ashore and tell someone" ( Twain 95). As the preceding quote summarizes, in Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, one of the central conflicts is over the nature of Huck's struggle with his conscience regarding the issue of slavery. Throughout the novel, the author slowly changes Huck's mind about the ethics of slavery by introducing him to situations where black people are taken out of their stereotypical roles. To a large extent, Huck's revelations about slavery are due to his friendship with Jim, a runaway slave who belonged to Miss Watson, the sister of the Widow Douglas. As a young boy, Huck does not have all the prejudices of older members of the Southern community, but he knows that helping a runaway slave is legally wrong. Thus, it is indeed a pivotal moment when Huck first discovers Jim on Jackson Island, as his decision to "spare" Jim radically changes the direction in which the novel proceeds and sets the stage for much of the maturation and development of Huck as a character. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay After staging his own death, Huck goes to Jackson Island to lay low for a while. When he comes across a smoldering campfire, he is afraid, but the next day he sets out to find out who his mysterious neighbor is and meets Jim. Admitting to being a fugitive after being reassured that Huck was not a ghost, Jim recounts how he had to flee to escape being sold down South by Miss Watson. It is at this point that the reader first sees Jim as a three-dimensional character, rather than the big black male who thought he had been taken around the world by witches when Tom Sawyer played a prank on him. Indeed, we can understand that Jim does not want to divide his family, although at the same time he is proud of the fact that he is worth $800. When he discovers Jim, Huck is immediately faced with responsibility. to protect Jim. As he himself is a fugitive, one could argue that Huck could not turn Jim in without risking exposure. However, it makes more sense to say that the main reason Huck "spares" Jim when he first meets him is because he craves human companionship. Throughout the first few chapters, the reader gets the impression that Huck is an extremely autonomous character. However, he often complains of being "alone", like a young boy left to his own devices. Jim is part of his old safe home with the Widow Douglas, a home that Huck can take with him as he embarks on his adventures. Although Jim is extremely superstitious and illogical, he also has practical skills. For example, when Jim sees some young birds flying strangely, he warns that it's going to rain, and lo and behold, a torrential downpour arrives, which would have soaked them to the skin if they hadn't taken refuge in a cave. In this way, Jim begins to become something of a father figure; certainly a better father for Huck than the one played by Pap. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article now from our expert writers. Get a Custom Essay The strength of character that allows Huck to accommodate Jim is tested continually during the course. of their travels. At first, Huck acts as master and Jim as servant in their relationship, as they seemingly continued their societal roles even in isolation from society. This probably makes Huck feel important, because he,.