Throughout the novel Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, Huck, the protagonist, is influenced by many different characters. Huck's closest companions, Jim and Tom Sawyer have perhaps more influence on him than any other personalities in the book. Though both are his friends, the effects of Jim and Tom's relationships with Huck almost entirely contradict each other. Because he sees Tom as "civilized", Huck submits to him and allows him to make him less of an individual, whereas Jim's influence ultimately helps Huck learn about humanity and make his own decisions. .
During the courses of all their "adventures" Huck follows Tom without questioning. He carries a great amount of respect for Tom, seeing him as a better person than he is because of his upbringing. "Here was a boy that was respectable and well brung up; and had a character to lose; and folks at home that had characters; and he was bright and not leather-headed; and knowing, and not ignorant; and not mean, but kind; and yet here he was, without any more pride, or righteousness, or feeling, than to stoop to this business, and make himself a shame, and his family a shame, before everybody." (p. 233). He is both admiring and envious of Tom's cultured background. Because of this, he automatically assumes that Tom is never wrong. "I never said nothing, because I warn't expecting nothing different; but I knowed mighty well that whenever he got his plan ready it wouldn't have none of them objections to it." (pg. 232). However, when Huck allows himself to follow Tom, they spend their time playing Tom's romantic games instead of doing what has to be done. He doesn't listen to his own beliefs when he allows Tom to have control over his actions, thus taking away from his individuality.
Jim's influence on Huck, however, teaches him a valuable lesson about life and humanity. Huck starts off seeing Jim as a "nigger", somebody below human status.
