him. Jim calls Huck "honey", a sort of pet name that is given to those that are loved, as Jim did. Huck never experienced such a quality, and it was just the ingredient he needed to grow. From the direct influence of Jim, Huck makes many mature decisions throughout the novel. Two of these emerge more distinctively than the others. Both occur later in the book, obviously, because Huckleberry Finn is a coming of age tale, and Huck's maturity grows steadily from the beginning. One of these choices was when Huck decides to go against society and free Jim, which was discussed earlier. The other important choice Huck makes is when he decides to tell Mary Jane that the King and Duke were frauds. Huck had been traveling with the King and Duke for quite some time and even partook in a few of their scams. Even though he did not really like them, they were helping Huck and Jim travel during the day. Huck chooses to do the moral and mature thing, and betray the King and Duke. I says to myself, this is another one that I'm letting him rob her of her money. And when she got through, they all jest laid theirselves out to make me feel at home and know I was amongst friends. I felt so ornery and low down and mean, that I says to myself, My mind's made up; I'll hive that money for them or bust. (225)This is very commendable for a boy that has a history of scamming. He does not really know these girls, yet he makes the mature decision of risking his neck to save them from being swindled and humiliated. This judgment proves Huck's ever-rising maturity and has Jim to thank.Jim's influence gave Huck something that he needed all of his life: a role model. Through this maternal role, he teaches Huck to value friendship, that society is not always right, the convenient way out may not always be right, and how to make moral decisions. These lessons are taught by example, not mere verbalization. Therefore, Jim was the best example of a parent Huck ever experienc...
