Essay on Symbolism in The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn

Huckleberry Finn is also lifted into great literary status by Twain’s compelling use of symbolism. An example of this symbolism is the Mississippi River. Throughout the novel, the river symbolizes life’s journey and, eventually, Huck’s natural integrity. It represents a place of ease and safety for both Huck and Jim. There is a major difference between their life on the river and their life on the land. On the river, life for Huck is peaceful and easy yet not without its dangers, whilst life on the land is most often cruel, demanding, and deceitful. Another example is how life on the raft is a paradox because, even

The symbolism of the Mississippi river throughout Mark Twain’s famous novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is beautifully painted to represent the river as not only as a path to freedom but a place of refuge as well as a second home. The river allows Huck to escape from not only physical imprisonment but also mental captivity of society’s standards and norms and therefore decides to abandon the society, and the way to accomplish this is through the river. Mississippi river functions as both an escape route away from civilization as well as a route to freedom for Huck and

The Mississippi River, as depicted by Mark Twain in his novel, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, is a recurring symbol representing freedom whose many challenges allow Huck to develop his own code of life in light of what society may have taught him. After faking his own death in the Mississippi River, Huck set himself free from the demands of Pap and society. When Jim and Huck reunite, Huck ultimately decides “people could call me a down low ablitionist” rather than turn Jim in, demonstrating how Huck is beginning to develop his own morals despite the racist views white society has taught him. As Huck and Jim continue to use the river to travel north, they’re both riding to freedom, but the journey is riddled with

Rivers flow freely and calmly, and people usually go to the river to get away from the hectic world around them. With nature surrounding them, people can find peace and quietness. The Mississippi River is the largest river in the United States. It’s length and width, along with its fast flowing current, makes it an ideal scene to escape civilization. In “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain, the two main characters, Huck and Jim, find peace on the Mississippi as they spend endless nights floating down stream. Becoming civilized in society is a major theme in the novel and the Mississippi river helps Huck and Jim become uncivilized as it provides them with protection from the outside world, freedom, and adventure. The

“Persons attempting to find a motive in this narrative will be prosecuted; persons attempting to find a moral in it will be banished; persons attempting to find a plot in it will be shot.” (Twain, ix) Mark Twain opens his book with a personal notice, abstract from the storyline, to discourage the reader from looking for depth in his words. This severe yet humorous personal caution is written as such almost to dissuade his readers from having any high expectations. The language in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is completely “American” beyond the need for perfect grammar. “Mark Twain’s novel, of course, is widely considered to be a definitively American literary text.” (Robert Jackson,

The river is a symbol of the power or right to speak and possibility for a case. The Mississippi River was not only just Jim and Huck’s transportation because there was more people. when the night began, the both of them would have always traveled and relaxed in peace without hiding or always forcing to make a strenuous and great effort to hide from others or Jim’s owner. That could have badly messed there their adventurous journey down the south. Because Jim was a runaway slave, getting caught on the boat with Huck could have taken away Jim and Huck’s freedom then determine where the both of them were going to end up. Huck would be most likely in just as much trouble for helping a slave to freedom on a river. Huck would have be taken back to be legally taken again because he was adopted,not liking the life of a civilized and a frightened young man.

Symbolism is a leading factor in Mark Twain’s novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The novel’s most critical symbol is the main character himself, Huck. Huckleberry Finn stands for an opposition to society because of his indifference towards organized religion, disregard to the ideas of slavery, and defiance to civilization.

In the novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Twain uses the Mississippi River to symbolize freedom to the two boys. In the story, Huck ventures out with his best friend, Tom, to find a sense of adventure. Huck and Tom construct a raft along the banks of the Mississippi, then venture downstream. Twain uses the Mississippi river to show how we (Americans) find freedom.

Many major symbols guide the main characters through their journey in the novel; the largest of these symbols being the Mississippi river. The river represents freedom. When Huck and Jim are on the river, Huck is free from rules and society, while Jim is free from slavery. There are, of course, times when civilization creeps up on their pleasant lifestyle, such as when the Duke and Dauphin barge onto their raft, representing society trying to overtake the freedom of the wild. Whenever Huck and Jim land the raft, all they can see is the hypocrisy of society. “And got to thinking over our trip down the river; and I see Jim before me, all the time, in the day, and in the night-time, sometimes moonlight, sometimes storms, and we a floating along, talking, and singing, and laughing.” (Ch. 18) Their happiest moments are on the river where they are truly free. Another major symbol in the story is the raft. “…and whilst I eat my supper we talked and had a good time. I was powerful glad to get away from the feuds, and so was Jim to get away from the swamp. We said there warn't no

Huck and Jim, while on the river, are free from the societal norms and influences which allow them to be their true selves, thus providing them with a sense of freedom. With Huck and Jim back on the river, “All by [themselves] and nobody to bother [them]” (183) Huck is comfortable once more. He doesn’t have to change how he acts and is free to speak his mind. Huck says it’s “so good to be free again” (183) which implies his relief of being able to be himself once more. With the many opportunities that freedom can give a man, the aspect of freedom comes with a large amount of responsibility. After encountering burglars, murderers, losing the raft multiple times, missing the Ohio River, witnessing the feud between the Grangerfords and Shepherdsons, in which Huck stated: “I had never felt easy till the raft was two mile below there and out in the middle of the Mississippi”

Rivers are often connected with freedom and growth, as they are immense and constantly moving. The Mississippi River has a more abstract meaning than just mud and water, almost to the extent of having its own ideal personality. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, written by Mark Twain, Twain paints a bildungsroman picture of an adolescent boy who drastically matures during his journey down the river with an escaped slave. The river provides Huck, the protagonist, and Jim, his partner, a means of freedom and escape from everything and everyone. Although the Mississippi River constrains them from freedom of movement, it is a character that offers them freedom through senses of adventure, home, and comfort.

Freedom is one of the most valuable things a person can have. Being free means doing whatever your heart desires when you want, as long as it does not affect others. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn neither Jim nor Huck were free before escaping their bonds of slavery and venturing on to the river which in this book represents freedom. The river is freedom because it allowed Huck to escape from civilization, Jim to be a free man, and it carries Jim to actual freedom in the northern states.

Oftentimes the river is a source to escape from society, maybe even to have a sense of freedom. This is a reality to Huck since he is running away from his abusive father. The Mississippi River is a place for freedom and adventure for Huck and Jim. In the novel “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain, the Mississippi River symbolizes freedom, as shown through safety, relief, & independence.

The following paper will briefly show arguments, and conclusions within the writings of Mark Twain’s story Huckleberry Finn. I will discuss the various themes that Mark Twain is bringing to light within his story. This paper will show how Mark Twain uses those themes within the story, and how they are specifically used. I will also briefly discuss the life of Samuel Clemons, the author known as Mark Twain, and give the reasoning behind choosing the name of Mark Twain when writing his novels. Themes of escapism will be discussed.

The Mississippi river is one of the most widely recognized symbols of freedom in the novel. It is used as a means of escape by both Huck Finn and Jim. The first time it is used as such is when Huck runs away from his father and the possibility of being forced back into society. Huck devised an elaborate scheme to escape via the river. He had a few close calls but when he saw his chance he took it: “I didn't lose no time. The next minute I was a-spinning down-stream soft, but quick, in the shade of the bank. I made two mile and a half, and then struck out a quarter of a mile or more toward the middle of the river,” (pg. 48).Without the aid of the river Huck’s departure