The Importance of Dialogue in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

📌Category: Books, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
📌Words: 668
📌Pages: 3
📌Published: 11 February 2022

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain follows the titular character, Huckleberry Finn, and a runaway slave named Jim as they embark on a journey towards the North in search for freedom from the intellectually and physically oppressive conditions of the South. In Chapter 15 of the novel, Huck and Jim get separated in a thick cloud of fog on their way to Cairo. After the pair gets reunited, Huck tries to convince Jim that the entire ordeal was a dream, and is almost successful. In the passage, Jim chastises Huck for tricking him and Huck reluctantly apologizes. Twain uses the fog as a symbol of moral ambiguity; as Huck and Jim get closer to the North, Huck’s views about slavery and the humanity of black people begin to shift as his relationship with Jim gets stronger. In this passage, Twain uses dialogue, both internal and external, to show Huck’s character development, and the strengthening of Huck and Jim’s relationship. 

Firstly, Twain uses internal dialogue to show how Huck’s views about Jim’s humanity as a runaway slave have changed since the beginning of the novel. After Jim’s impassioned rant of disappointment, Huck is immediately remorseful, to the point of saying he “almost kissed his foot to get him to take it back.” The institution of slavery created a sharp divide between enslaved black people and white people, and this led to the black body being viewed as bestial, dirty, and unworthy of white touch or embrace. This is why Huck saying he almost kissed Jim’s foot, a sign of respect and penitence, is significant; it shows that Huck is slowly viewing Jim as less subhuman. Later on in the passage, Huck says “I didn’t do him no more mean tricks, and I wouldn’t done that one if I’d a knowed it would him feel that way,” further expressing his sorrow and, more importantly, his commitment to treating Jim as a person (one capable of feeling and emotion) in the future. This line also shows how Huck is starting to show empathy towards Jim, as he is able to not only understand Jim’s feelings, but also his own complicity in making Jim feel bad. 

In addition to showing Huck’s individual character development, Twain uses dialogue in this passage to further elucidate the nature of Huck and Jim’s relationship, and show how it has evolved. Through Jim’s chastisement of Huck, the reader gains insight into how Jim views Huck his own child. Phrases like “my heart wuz mo’s broke bekase you wuz’ los'” and “En when I wake up en fine you back again, all safe en soun’, de tears come, en I could a got down on my knees en kiss yo’ foot, I’s so thankful,” show how Jim truly cares about Huck’s safety and well-being; the language Jim uses is almost parental, similar to a parent reuniting with their child after a period of uncertainty. Jim is not paternalistic and abusive in the way Pap is, but he also is not afraid to put Huck in his place, saying “En all you wuz thinkin’ ‘bout wuz how you could make a fool uv ole Jim wid a lie,” in a disapproving tone that conveys his disappointment. He cares for Huck enough to be gently critical of him when he errs, just as many father figures are. Huck’s father was largely absent from his childhood, and his drunken appearances came with spurts of abuse. Huck may not yet view Jim as a surrogate for his dad, but he is surely viewing him as more than just a runaway slave. 

Huck and Jim’s journey as told in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain is chaotic and dangerous, but scattered throughout those moments of tension are tender moments like the one in this passage. Twain uses dialogue to show how Huck’s character has changed since the beginning of the novel, as well as to show how his relationship with Jim has strengthened. The lies Huck’s Southern Christian upbringing drilled into him about black people are increasingly at odds with who Jim is, and the novel is a testament to how rigid beliefs can change over time as new influences and experiences emerge. Huck, at this point in the novel, is certainly not antiracist, but he is making important progress as he further connects with Jim.

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