it gives the reader an objective view of Huck's father.
Even though the passage is written from Huck's point of view, Huck keeps his thoughts and opinions about his father to himself. We see some of Huck's personality in the way he describes the white of his father's face. Huck gives this objective view of his father so that the reader can form his own opinion about the man. Huck also does not have a good relationship with his father and frequently distances himself for protection. There is no hint that Huck and his father will have an argument later. Since the description is objective, we do not get to "see" Huck's father through his eyes since he adds no personal opinions or commentary about what he sees. The option about distancing the reader is also simply wrong.
