One of the major themes of the novel is the separation of races. Over the course of the novel, Huck's opinion of Jim changes. In the beginning of their voyage, Huck feels he shouldn't be helping Jim to freedom and almost turns him in to slave catchers. Huck says on page 160, "I was paddling off, all in a sweat to tell on him; but when he says this (that Huck is his one and only friend) it seemed to take the tuck all out of me." Huck soon realizes that he enjoys Jim's company and when the duke and the king sell Jim, Huck breaks down and cries. When asking the duke where Jim was, Huck says on page 236, “‘Sold him’ I says, and begun to cry; ‘why he was my nigger, and that was my money. Where is he? -- I want my nigger.’" Jim was important to Huck because he knew all kinds of signs about the future, people's personalities, and weather forecasting. Even more important, Huck feels a comfort with Jim that he has not felt with the other major characters in the novel. With Jim, Huck can enjoy the best aspects of his earlier influences. Jim allows Huck freedom, but he does it in a loving, rather than an uncaring, fashion.
This was truly one of my favorite parts of the book because it shows how much Huck really cares about Jim. All of the prior events of them building their relationship led to this, which seems to be the height of Huck's concern for Jim. Sadly, their relationship and Huck's concern for Jim's well being did not progress after these chapters.
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