Key+Issues


 * Racism**...A major part of the novel, because as a black man fleeing slavery, Jim faces many struggles. He is constantly reminded of the dangers of running and is threatened by his capture. He is also forced to accept the fact that his race makes him inferior to a white, and even a friend like Huck is still of higher status. Huck and Jim overcome the race barrier, only after Huck overcomes the inner struggle of whether to save Jim or not. Huck's idea of racism is based on his upbringing, but he himself questions the validity of these statements of black inferiority.
 * Friendship**...Huck never had a true meaningful friendship. He found this completely, devoted, caring, generous individual in Jim as they traveled together. Although Jim was black, Huck learned that race didn't matter, and that Jim really loved him and would protect him from harm. Huck at first battled with the issue of supremacy by teasing Jim and playing jokes on him which made him feel ignorant. When Huck realized Jim had feelings and could be hurt, and that he missed his family, it became easy for Huck and Jim to remain friends because he realized that aside from skin color, they had similarities.
 * Freedom.**..Huck seeks to free himself of his father's neglect and abuse. He wants to live alone, and be able to survive by himself. He struggles to reach freedom by running away, living barbarically, and refusing to be civilized by those who attempt to fix his crude manners. Jim seeks freedom from slavery. He wants to find his lost family and free them. He runs away when he hears Miss Watson talking of selling him "down the river."