Written at a time when racial inequality is the norm and people of color are considered inferior, Mark Twain, in his historical novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, writes a character in Jim who is the embodiment of restrained maturity and understated grace. With the constant threat of being discovered and subsequently returned to his "owner", Mrs. Watson, Jim maintains his remarkably calm demeanor and serves as a surrogate father to the wild and uncontrollable main character. Although Jim does not play the main role in the novel, he is in fact the most integral character and perhaps the only true adult responsible for the entire novel. A testament to Twain's forward thinking, Jim functions as an intermediary between the uneducated Huck and the outside world, while fighting for his own freedom and the right to live unburdened with his family. Considered more than just a slave, as most blacks were in Huck Finn's era, Jim commands an unusual amount of respect; "He was more admired than any Negro in this country. Strange Negroes stood with their mouths open and looked at him everywhere, as if he were a marvel" (6-7). This esteem comes not only from the other slaves, but also from Huck and Tom Sawyer. It becomes apparent that Jim is an intelligent and analytical man, who happens to be of color. Completed in the late 19th century, Twain made a bold decision when he wrote the sympathetic character Jim, who represents the author's not-so-subtle protests against the treatment of black people in the South. However, despite the objections of his contemporaries, Twain uses Jim as the protagonist's guide and, in doing so, demonstrates a clear respect for the abilities of all races. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay The clearest sign of the respect Twain shows Jim lies in his moral strength and the ability he has been bequeathed to use that strength in a positive way. . On countless occasions, Huck needs Jim's help in one way or another, whether it's advice on a complex problem or help getting out of a jam. The most obvious occasion for this support is actually deception; When Huck and Jim come across a houseboat on the Mississippi River, they find a dead body covered with a piece of cloth. When Jim goes to identify the body, he realizes that it is Huck's Pap and, using his common sense, hides the information from Huck in order to protect his fragile psyche. Instead, Jim scares Huck with a superstitious story, telling him, “It would bring bad luck; and what's more, he said, he could come and get us; he said a man who wasn't buried was more likely to one day leave. haunt only the one who was planted and comfortable” (58). This example reconfirms Jim's paternal position in Huck's development, and it is clear that he is a far superior role model to Huck's biological father. Additionally, the reader comes to recognize the respect Huck has for Jim, despite the fact that he holds the fate of the runaway slave in his young hands. An important theme of the novel is the use of superstitions, primarily by Jim, in keeping with antiquated folklore passed down from past generations. Despite the surprising accuracy and usefulness of these myths, Huck is skeptical and often disagrees with Jim's directives. Shortly after discovering Huck's father, Jim again warns Huck of potential bad luck, this time in the form of a discarded snakeskin. Instead of heeding his wiser, older friend, Huck places the snakeskin next to Jim.