o love and belongingness needs. However, in order to fulfill these safety needs, Huck must escape from society but, “he is a fugitive from society who cannot be alone”(219 ). Clearly, Huck is trapped between existing as a prisoner to society or as a prisoner to his own lonesomeness. “In lighting out, Huck preserves his independence but also commits himself once more to isolation”(219 ).Jim too exhibits the stronghold of slavery, however this is a general form of slavery. Initially in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, others regard Jim as an object to laugh at and play jokes on; slavery is presented as a natural institution. Early in Chapter 70, “pap also makes explicit the communal lie which passes as a rationale for slavery. Slaves are property, subhuman and necessary for commodities”(--------). Repeatedly in the novel, the reader is reminded of the absurdity by which one human owns another like one would a cow or a dog. The idea is introduced immediately after Jim runs away and speaks of himself as property, “I’s rich now, come to look at it. I owns myself”(-----). At the same time, what continually bothers Huck is that helping Jim escape, he is stealing Ms. Watson’s property and conspiring to help Jim steal his own children. The only way that Huck is able to hold off those who want to capture Jim, including the King and the Duke, is to claim Jim as his rightful property. The peculiar notion that one person can actually own another, body and soul is supported not only by the law and the government, but by the church and religion as well. It is no coincidence that Jim belongs to and is being sold down the river by the person in the novel who makes the greatest show of her religion, Ms. Watson. Mimicking the religious beliefs of the slaveholding society, which believes that the bible approves slavery, Huck thinks he hears the voice of God telling him to ...
