In chapter 34, why does Huck become so passive and deferential?

Tom Sawyer comes up with a new plan to save Jim because he thinks Huck's plan isn't romantic and exciting enough. Tom reads a lot of adventure stories, so he wants reality to conform to what he sees and enjoys in fiction on a regular basis. Huck admits this plan could get them all killed, even if it is "worth fifteen" of his plans on the basis of style alone.
Huck defers to this plan for two reasons: one, he is pretending to be Tom at this point and does not want his cover blown by Tom, and two, he feels the plan could at least work, so the end will be the same whether they go by his plan or Tom's—Jim will be free. So while Huck is still being realistic in knowing the plan is a bit silly and more than a little dangerous, he still admires Tom enough to take a chance on it. He is still, after all, a boy.


Huck and Tom are trying to figure out a way to free Jim from his captivity on the Phelps property. Huck comes up with the idea of stealing the key to the shed where Jim is being kept and then taking off with him into the night. Tom is none too impressed. Huck's plan is just way too unimaginative; there is no sense of adventure about it. For a boy like Tom Sawyer, that is a major consideration.
As a result, Tom hatches a much more daring rescue plan. Huck goes along with it even as he admits that it might get them all killed. He is not by nature a particularly passive individual, but he always defers to Tom when it comes to dreaming up exciting and adventurous plans. Huck admits that Tom's ruse to free Jim is much more stylish than anything he could ever come up with. Accordingly, Huck is more than willing to go along for the ride.

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