a noble and uncharacteristic achievement, allowing Huck to unknowingly be bound for heaven.Jim's sacrifice, although small in his own mind, is in fact one of the bravest sacrifices made throughout this book. For example, after Tom gets shot in the leg, Jim displays his concern for Tom as he says, "No, sah-I doan' budge a step out'n dis place 'dout a doctor; not if it's forty year!" Despite all of the racist and harsh tricks Tom has played on Jim, Jim risks his life to save his "friend." Rather than abandon Tom, Jim is willing to risk his freedom to save Tom's life. Moreover, as Jim makes this brave sacrifice, Huck thinks to himself, "I knowed he was white inside."(chap. XL) Through Jim's sacrifice for Tom, Huck discovers that all men, including blacks, are in fact equal. Huck no longer looks down upon Jim as a "nigger," but rather as an equal human being. Lastly, the doctor describes Jim's heroic sacrifice to the Phelps and tells them that, "He ain't a bad nigger...and I never see a nigger that was a better nuss or faithfuler, and yet he was risking his freedom to do it [save Tom]."(chap. XLII) Jim risked his freedom to save an insolent, racist white boy who had treated him, not as an equal, but as an inferior, unequal nigger. Jim's sacrifice is clearly an act of bravery far more heroic than the sacrifice Huck made earlier in the novel.Huck and Jim's sacrifices for each other, however different, also present many similarities. For example, Huck and Jim both think they are sacrificing themselves for a friend. Huck sacrifices himself for a black friend he has come to love as an equal. Similarly, Jim sacrifices himself for a friend, when in reality, he is risking his freedom to save the life of a racial bigot, Tom. In addition, both sacrifices have as a consequence a life of everlasting hell. When Huck sacrifices himself for Jim, he accepts a literal hell (that is truly the path to heaven). Jim, on the other hand, accepts a life ...
