Essay on The River Of Freedom - 982 Words

In Mark Twains Huckleberry Finn, the Mississippi River plays many roles and holds a prominent theme throughout much of the story. Huck and Jim are without a doubt the happiest and most at peace when floating down the river on their raft. The river has a deeper meaning than just water and mud, almost to the extent of having its own ideal personality. It provides the two characters a means of escape from everything and everyone, and puts them at ease. Although quite constrained in its capacity to provide freedom of movement, the raft offers the two a certain amount of freedom in actions, words, and emotions. Huck senses this truth when he mentions how; other places feel so cramped and smothery, but a raft dont. You feel mighty free†¦show more content†¦When Rifkin, 2 on the raft, peacefully wading down the river, skin color plays no major part in the way that they interact and outright racist perception is nonexistent. The river is the only form of separation from all of the negative virtues of society which Huck has access to. However, it still does not completely separate them from what they disbelieve in. Although the river allows them a certain amount of freedom at first, this freedom is very limited in its capacity, for they must still make a big effort to avoid others, hiding by day and floating down the river by night. Huck has to constantly invent new stories to tell nearby boatsmen or any other people who might interfere with their quest for freedom. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Another appeal of the river its ideal peacefulness. It does not seem like Huck enjoys the company of others too much with the exception of Jim, Tom Sawyer, and secondary characters such as Mary Jane Wilks. He seems to enjoy a tranquil environment where there are not many unnecessary annoyances. When he and Jim anchor to watch the sun rise, he mentions that there was; Not a sound anywhere- perfectly still- just like the whole world was asleep...; (113) With just Huck and Jim on the raft things probably would tend to be more quiet for two people can only talk for so long, as opposed to having mixed conversations with many people. He loves these moments which possibly last for even daysShow MoreRelatedThe Mississippi River : A Symbol Of Freedom Or A River Of Death?965 Words   |  4 PagesThe Mississippi River: A Symbol of Freedom or a River of Death? Rivers and streams are generally some of the most overlooked aspects of an ecosystem. Many people would just see them as just aesthetic additions to a community, but in fact rivers play a much greater role not only to humans, but also to the health of an ecosystem as a whole. About 65% of the United States drinking water comes from rivers and streams (â€Å"Where Does My Water Come From†) and unless someone uses a well for waterRead MoreThe Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain952 Words   |  4 Pagesand to gain their freedom. Sometimes physical objects can resemble the feelings that a person is feeling. Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn he uses the raft, the land, and the river to represent the theme of wanting freedom. In the novel The adventures of Huckleberry Finn there is a theme of wanting freedom, as the story goes on the raft can be a symbol of the theme. The first time that Huck goes aways is right before Pap comes home, this is Huck first chance of freedom because he usesRead MoreThe Importance of the Mississippi River1143 Words   |  5 PagesMississippi River in Huck Finn In Huck Finn, what leads the whole story flow and reveal the whole adventure? It is of course the Mississippi River. In real life, river is always the kind of symbol that represents life, changes, growth, and hope, as they are constantly moving. There are always a lot of stories happened on the river. Water is in it and we cannot survive without it. River always plays an important role of human society, so does the Mississippi River in Huck Finn. The Mississippi River is aRead MoreHuck Finn River Symbolism1067 Words   |  5 PagesIn ï ¿ ½The Adventures of Huckleberry Finnï ¿ ½, the Mississippi River plays several roles and holds a prominent theme throughout much of the story as a whole. Huckleberry Finn and Jim are without a doubt the happiest and most a peace when floating down the river on their raft. However, the river has a much deeper meaning than just a compilation of water. It almost goes to an extent of having its own personality and character traits. The river offers a place for the two characters, Huck and Jim, to escapeRead MoreVenturing Freedom with Mark Twain1587 Words   |  6 PagesVenturing Freedom Mark Twain, notable for his works in the late 19th century, grew up in Hannibal, Missouri, and worked as a riverboat pilot along the Mississippi River. Missouri was a slave state; it was there that Twain became familiar with the institution of slavery, as well as the ideas and practices of racism and inequality that dominated American life during that period. Although freedom was the basis of America’s foundation, the novel is written during a time that freedom is often in questionRead MoreFreedom And Inhumanity In Twains The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn893 Words   |  4 Pagesand inhumanity. Life on the river on the other hand and the wildness that goes with it represent freedom and humanity. The life and realizations of Huckleberry Finn in the novel show that the life that we thought is clean and organized on the outside is actually very pretentious and inhumane inside and the life that we thought as dangerous and wild is the one that gives us the peace, freedom and se nse of humanity. Thesis: Twain compares life on land to life on the river by having all of Huck and Jim’sRead More Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: Freedom from Reality 1168 Words   |  5 Pagesthey travel down the Mississippi River which comes to serve as an asylum away from the influences of society. While the river initially appears to offer freedom from the wrongs of society, it ironically brings them closer towards the oppression of southern society. Initially the river offers Huck and Jim physical and mental liberation from society. Searching for freedom, Huck and Jim learn that they need to use the river as their path to freedom. On the river, they find beauty, peace, and alsoRead MoreRacism Through the Decades: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain647 Words   |  3 Pagesthe river, and land. Themes of this novel are racism and equality, freedom, and the importance of friendship. The raft that Huck and Jim spent many days floating on symbolizes equality whereas the raft was the only place that they could speak together as equals despite the colors of their skin. The Mississippi river which Huck and Jim floated down shows how free they are compared to being on land. Land represents the exact opposite of the river. It shows how Huck and Jim don’t have freedom and aren’tRead More`` True Freedom `` By Langston Hughes1163 Words   |  5 Pagesreally free? One might view freedom as abolished slav ery, but true freedom gives one the ability to make choices and act on decisions. True freedom might be gained through lessons learned from history, from accomplishing and seeing dreams become reality, or from standing up for beliefs. Langston Hughes, an American poet known for his writing during the Harlem Renaissance period said, â€Å"In all my life, I have never been free. I have never been able to do anything with freedom, except in the field of myRead MoreInternal And External Captivity By Langston Hughes1739 Words   |  7 Pagesand its literature can alter and shape the viewpoints of the world. Through a lens of conflict between freedom and confinement (something that is in constant tandem), it can serve as an interesting theme within a text. In Langston Hughes’ â€Å"The Negro Speaks of Rivers†, he uses imagery to symbolize the important places on the journey the reader has embarked upon and starts with a basis of freedom from a newborn civilization and goes on to explain the confinement of an ever-changing society who has