Huck Finn the original Poor American Hero

Huck Finn is perhaps one of the earliest and most descriptive of the abusive child father relationship. Huck has always held a special place in the hearts of readers everywhere. Whether it is those who relate to his troubles, those who know someone like him, those who wish they were as carefree as he claims to be, or those teenage girls who would undoubtedly fall madly in love with him just because he was different and confident. Despite his wild out going side there are three key points in this book in which Huck really illustrates his remarkable maturity and understanding of the way the world should be. The first can be seen when Huck realizes his father has come back and so Huck runs off and sells his money away to the judge for a small price. He knew what his father was after and what his father would do if he were to get the money so he got rid of it in a completely unselfish gesture to insure his father would not waste it on getting drunk. The next can be seen when Huck sits throughout the entire night with a shotgun pointed at his dad while he was sleeping after his father had savagely beaten him the night before. He could have ended the abuse right then and there without any one being upset or even blaming him but he showed restraint that not even most adults could show and he let his abusive drunk father live. The next and perhaps most monumental and true test of Huck's worth can be seen in his willingness and understanding of his relationship with his former slave and current companion Jim. In a world over run with slavery and harsh anti-black sentiment Huck befriends Jim and takes him on as a equal and even mentor in some cases and grows attached to him more that he has ever been to anyone before, even Tom in many ways.