Huck thinks he might go to hell. He is trying to set Jim free. He feels bad that Miss Watson is out looking for her runaway slave when Huck has him the whole time. Huck feels so guilty that he stole Miss Watson's property. Jim belongs to her and Huck feels terrible that he knows where Jim is and is not saying anything. "Miss Watson, your runaway nigger Jim is down here two mile below Pikesville, and Mr. Phelps has got him and he will give him up for the reward is you send" (Twain 290). Huck starts to write a letter to Miss Watson that was going to explain what happened to Jim and where he was. He felt that since Jim belonged to Miss Watson, maybe he should return her property. Huck starts to feel bad about this letter though.
Huck starts to realize that maybe he shouldn't send the letter. He thinks that Jim has been locked up his whole life stuck being a slave. He does acknowledge that Jim is Miss Watson's property. Huck starts to feel even worse when Jim would have to return. He was about to send the letter,then he thought. "All right, then, I'll GO to hell" (291). Huck tore up the letter and would rather go to hell for not returning Miss Watson's stolen property, than have to know Jim is suffering and will be a slave for the rest if his life. Jim was so excited to be free from slavery, and for Huck to take that all away by writing one letter, would crush Jim's heart. This is ironic because Huck never meant to hurt anybody, but either way he will end up hurting someone. He cares for both of them but doesn't want to see them hurt.
Focus more on the irony part of the question. Most of this is a recap of the chapter. - MRP
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