Why Jim does not escape to Illinois in Mark Twain’s adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Among critical readers of Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Jim’s decision not to escape from slavery by merely crossing the Mississippi River to the Illinois shore provokes active discussion. This article examines Jim’s decision in light of the racial climates of Ohio and Illinois during the 1840s, the setting of Twin’s novel and provides more evidence that Jim’s plan to steer clear of Illinois and head toward Ohio was quite sound