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SUMMARY
When Huck finds Tom alone, he asks him what the latter had in mind in case the entire operation had turned out as planned. Tom replies that he would have tracked the adventure to the mouth of the river before telling Jim that he was free. He would, then, have brought Jim in a steamboat, in true heroic style, with the entire paraphernalia of a procession.
Uncle Silas, his wife and Aunt Polly are grateful to Jim for having helped the doctor save Tom's life. They pamper him with good food and lots of rest. Tom gives him forty dollars for having gone through the entire adventure with them.
Tom starts feeling much better and proposes another adventure "amongst the Injuns, over in the Territory". Huck consents to it but soon realizes that he doesnt have any money to buy the outfit. He anticipates that Pap must have exhorted all his money from Judge Thatcher. On hearing this, Jim reveals that the dead-body that they had seen in the floating house was that of Pap. Finally, Huck is glad that their adventures have come to an end and he doesn't have to write any more. He decides that he should be the first one to "light out for the Territory ahead of the rest" because Aunt Saly might want to adopt and "sivilize" him and he doesn't find that prospect appealing at all. He has "been there before". He'd rather taste some more adventure with Tom.
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| The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: Chapter 43 |
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
There is an important revelation made by Jim. Huck fears that, by now, all his money must have been used up by Pap. At this point, Jim divulges the fact that the dead body of the man in the floating house was that of Pap. Jim had not let Huck see the "gashly" body (Chapter 9). Some critics have commented that, probably, Jim had had an ulterior motive behind this. He had not disclosed the fact about Pap's death because he realized that if Huck knew everything, he would have no fear of going back. Jim needed Huck's help to get him out of slavery. Without Huck's presence, a long journey down the river, as a runaway slave, would have been fraught with dangers. Nevertheless, this view seems highly improbable in the light of Jim's nature. The various incidents in the novel have made it amply clear that Jim is a father-figure to Huck. He has always been there for him. He has been kind towards Tom as well. In chapter 42, he submits to being recaptured because he refuses to leave the wounded Tom to his fate.
After his odyssey, Huck still fears being "sivilized". He wants to be the first one to "light out for the Territory ahead of the rest" because he fears Aunt Sally will try to "sivilize" him. We realize that though, in the beginning of the novel, he had been an uncouth lad, he has matured with time. He doesn't need to adhere to table manners or grumble a little over the victuals" or go to school, to be civilized. He can behave in a civilized way when the situation demands. He knows how to conduct himself in the house of the "superior southerners" such as the rangerfords and the Phelpses. His demeanor here doesn't betray his crude upbringing.
It is also worthy of note how enthusiastic Huck is to be party to Tom's future attempts at adventure. So strong is Tom's influence that, despite such a lot of recent trouble, Huck looks forward to having another adventure "amongst the Injuns".