Jim: character or caricature?

Jim's beliefs, actions, and feelings:
1. Family
2. Equality
3. Freedom
4. Gentle
5. Superstitious
6. Caring
7. Practical

Jim's physical appearance:
1. Tall
2. African-American
3. Poor

The picture that I chose to illustrate the words that I used to describe Jim is a photo of Jim hugging Huck. There is a caption in the photo that says, "Jim he grabbed me and hugged me." I chose this photo because it shows the qualities of Jim being caring, gentle, and practical. He is being a caring person by offering a helping hand to Huck when he is in need of comforting. While the photo depicts Jim as being a very tall black man, who could be stereotyped as being aggressive,  it is clear that he is very gentle while being showed hugging someone else.


The picture that I chose to illustrate the opposite of my description is the one showing Huck aiming a shotgun at Jim. I don't think that this correctly describes Jim or his relationship with Huck because to me are good friends and care too much for each other to be in this situation. The picture illustrates Jim as being a bad person because it is stating that he did something to deserve to have a gun pointed at him by a child. However, Jim is a very gentle and caring person who doesn't deserve what is being shown in the photo.


The image that most faithfully illustrates the novels text of the book is the one that shows the book cover with Huck and Jim standing on the raft, heading downstream on their quest for freedom. I think that this picture shows Huck and Jim working together to accomplish their similar goals. Huck is on a search for a life with no rules or restraints, and Jim is on a search for a life of freedom and individual rights. When showing them on a raft that they created themselves, Twain is depicting that even people that there really is no difference between the two individuals but their skin color, and that the color of ones skin should not hold them back from accomplishing what they want to in life. Twain uses this book cover to show that Jim is a strong person that goes after what he wants, and that doesn't worry about the consequences, or let anything hold him back. Twain shows him to be a thoughtful and freedom seeking human being, and one that cares for others besides himself. While some may stereotype Jim in some of the photos, by giving him features that most would relate to an African-American, this photo does a good job of showing him as a character, and not a caricature.