The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain, follows Huck, a young boy, through his adventures on the Mississippi River. Through his adventures and his many obstacles with Jim, a faithful escaped slave, Huck changes and matures. He overcomes his carelessness and his pranks at the expense of others. Towards the end of his journey, Huck reunites with Tom Sawyer, an old close friend. The two were once very similar but now have many obvious differences. Huck differs from Tom in his way of thinking, his treatment and attitude towards Jim, and his tendency to question his surroundings. Huck now sees and interprets the world in realistic, practical terms while Tom, a romantic, believes the world to be that of a story in a book. For example, Huck's idea to save Jim from captivity is to steal the key. Then he and Jim run to the canoe and escape on the raft going down the river. Huck's plan is direct, simple and effective. Tom, however, thinks it's too simple. Tom's plan is full of complicated and unnecessary difficulties and dangers. He comes up with ideas for digging through hard rock, descending from a high tower into a cell full of rats, snakes and spiders to save Jim. However, Huck sees no logic in Tom's plan and claims that it is one of the craziest plans Tom has ever come up with. Huck, with his realistic mind, could not understand Tom's romantic nature and disagreed with Tom on several occasions. Afterwards, Huck considers Jim a human being and a close friend after his trip with him on the river. However, Tom still believes what his white Southern elders told him. Huck never realized it until he found the raft unoccupied and Jim didn't realize how much Jim meant to him. So, because it feels so strong... middle of paper ...... ically. Huck, after spending so much time with Jim and getting to know him, gains a new understanding, compassion, and respect for him. Likewise, Huck sees beyond the color of Jim's skin and treats him like a human being. However, he will never consider Jim his equal; however, he takes great steps to realize that slavery is unjust. Obviously, we see their difference in thinking right away because Huck sees the world in realistic terms while Tom sees the world as if out of a story in a book. Afterwards, Huck sees Jim as a friend and equal, but Tom only sees him as a black slave. Finally, Huck questions his surroundings, but Tom never questions anything because he considers his stories the norm of life. Huck has freed himself from the limitations that Southern society had placed on him, unlike Tom who still believes, thinks and lives according to the Southern lifestyle..