[H] Ali: Chapters 11-13

The good versus evil conflict is shown through the influence of Pap over Huck is seen throughout chapters 11-13 as Huck recounts Pap’s lessons on “borrowing.” The lesson to “take a chicken when you get a chance, because if you don’t want him yourself you can easy find somebody that does, and a good deed ain’t ever forgot” (page 49) and “it warn’t no harm to borrow things, if you was meaning to pay then back, sometimes” (page 49). Since Huck was raised with a low morale, he has trouble differentiating between right and wrong. Huck depends on other people to guide him, which is why when he runs away, he either comes back or stays with someone else. Every time Huck switches who he lives with, the rules change and put him in a point of confusion. Huck does not choose his situations and ideas, but they are chosen for him which leaves him without any decision for himself. Even when he runs away, he is dependent on Jim to make the decisions for him because he has never made any himself.

Another reoccurring theme in the novel is Jim’s participation in his and Huck’s “friendship.” At first glance, it looks as though it is double sided, but “because we read Benito Cereno” (Ms. Stokes) Jim’s silence and reluctance to share with Huck shows the perhaps usage of Huck for Jim’s gain. In chapters 11-13 what leads us to question Jim’s behavior is his loss of strength during the time Huck believes they are in great danger as well as falling asleep and losing the raft. Both are damaging to Huck and lead to Huck’s further dependence on Jim. In the past chapters, Jim uses his knowledge of superstition to get money off of the other slaves, and now the question is “what is he trying to get out of Huck by damaging them?”

Finally, there is Huck’s misconception of helping the “wrong.” After helping the gang of murderers, Huck thinks to himself “I wished the widow knowed about it. I judged she would be proud of me for helping these rapscallions, because rapscallions and dead beats is the kind the widow and good people takes most interest in” (page 56). This shows the naïve side of Huck as well as his trouble differentiating right from wrong.