Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Characters Analysis

Huckleberry Finn - He is the protagonist of the novel, and is a young man who has been mostly raised by an abusive and alcoholic father. At the start of the book, we meet him after his adventures with Tom Sawyer and he has been taken in by the Widow Douglas who is trying to teach him manners. Huck is reluctant to learn civility and escapes both the Widow Douglas and his father when he gets the opportunity. He sails down a river with Jim, a runaway slave, and has several adventures over many southern towns.

Jim - He is the black slave of Miss Watson, and he decides to escape his servitude when learns that she is planning to sell him to someone in New Orleans. Jim is certainly not the protagonist of the novel, but he is just as certainly the main hero of the plot. Jim displays a highly evolved sense of morality as he places both Huck and Tom’s well-being above his desire for freedom several times throughout the novel.

Judge Thatcher - Huck and Tom entrust their rewards to the Judge for investment, and he attempts to free Huck from the clutches of his abusive father several times but ultimately fails due to the laws.

Widow Douglas - She along with her sister, Miss Watson, take in Huck after the conclusion of his adventures with Tom. They attempt to civilize Huck by teaching him manners, and religion and enrolling him at a school. Huck enjoys some of it but ultimately decides that he can do without it and so he does not return to them even after learning of his father’s death.

Pap - Huck’s father is a mean drunk who only returns to find Huck when learns that he has found a fortune for himself. Pap kidnaps Huck when he is unable to find a legal means of confiscating his property, and beats him frequently.