prevented Huck from finding the raft. Finally, Jim catches on after seeing all the smashed equipment on the raft and becomes upset with Huck and says:When I got all wore out wid work, en wid de callin' for you, en went to slee, my heart wuz mos' broke bekase you wuz los' en I didn't k'yer no mo' what became er me en de raf'. En when I wake up en fine you back agin', all safe en soun', de tears come en I could a got down on my knees en kiss' yo' foot I's so thankful. En all you wuz thinking 'bout wuz how you could make a fool uv ole Jim wid a lie. Dat truck dah is trash; en trash is what people is dat puts dirt on de head er dey fren's en makes 'em ashamed. (121)This teaches Huck a lesson he would have never learned from his Father, or the widow. Jim plays a true role model in this scene, and teaches Huck the importance of friendship and how he should not make his friends feel stupid. Huck takes a giant leap of maturity after Jim's speech, and again goes against the beliefs of the time. It was fifteen minutes before I could work myself to humble myself-but I done it, and I warn't ever sorry for it afterwards, neither. I didn't do him no more mean tricks, and I wouldn't done that one if I'd a knowed it would make him feel that way. (121) Huck feels remorse for his deception, and this remorse causes Huck to mature, and realize that his actions have enough impact to harm others. This then causes Huck to start questioning society's view of African Americans. Society of the time justifies slavery by saying that Blacks are incapable of being human. This is reinforced by the "savage" state blacks were found in, in Africa. But Huck questions this after he views Jim expressing emotion and "being human." This occurs when Huck sees that Jim's feelings are hurt, and that he must make amends. This begins the transformation Huck goes through to finally decide that despite strong consequences, he had a responsibility to free Jim. When the Mississippi...
