American Literature Themes in The Adventures of...

To many readers, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain is known as the â€Å"Great American Novel†. It tells a story about a young boy and an escaped slave who develop an unlikely friendship while traveling down the Mississippi River. Twain explores many American literature themes in his writing. Three themes that appear frequently throughout the novel are freedom, nature, and individual conscience. Freedom plays a significant role in the story because Huck is trying to free himself from Widow Douglas and his father and Jim is escaping from slavery. When Miss Watson and Widow Douglas took Huck in, they were determined to make him more civilized. They don’t allow him to smoke and they’re constantly reminding him to stop scrunching up†¦show more content†¦When Huck runs away from his father, he goes down the river in a canoe that he found until he gets to Jackson Island. There he is able to relax and recharge while feeling â€Å"rested and ruth er comfortable and satisfied† (44). While Huck is on the island, no one can find him and take him back to the widow or his father. He is safely hidden from everything he was trying to escape from. Jackson’s Island is where Huck and Jim find each other after they’ve both escaped and it’s the place where they first become acquaintances. â€Å"†¦it was Miss Watson’s Jim! I bet I was glad to see him† (49). In this moment, Huck and Jim are no longer on their own. From then on, they both had each other and nature to rely on to help them escape from what was holding them back. The river is the only place where Huck, a white boy, and Jim, a black slave, are able to interact as friends and form a deep level of bonding. Jim even tells Huck, â€Å"’Jim won’t ever forgit you, Huck; you’s de bes’ fren’ Jim’s ever had; en you’s de only fren’ ole Jim’s got now’† (106). In norm al society at that time, a black and white would never have a friendship like theirs, but on the river there’s no one to see them interacting and judge them for it. Huckleberry displays individual conscience several times throughout the book when he makes the decision to not turn Jim in as a runaway slave. One foggy night, Huck and Jim get separated from each other and spend a lonely night apart. When they reunite in theShow MoreRelatedMark Twain : Seeing America s Flaws1593 Words   |  7 PagesMark Twain: Seeing America’s Flaws â€Å"You don’t know about me, without you have read a book by the name of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer , but that ain’t no matter. That book was made by Mr. Mark Twain and he told the truth, mainly. There was things he stretched, but mainly he told the truth† (qtd. in Jones 237). That was the very first line in Mark Twain’s controversial book, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Samuel L. Clemens, as a young boy, grew up on the Mississippi and learned the ways of southernRead MoreAnalysis Of Mark Twain s Works Made A Huge Impact On Readers And Literary Critics1288 Words   |  6 Pages2/26/17 P:2 Outline Mark Twain’s works made a huge impact on readers and literary critics. His writing occurred during both the romantic and realist time eras in American Literature. He has simple, seemingly artless narrators and an understated style leads readers to arrive at the social commentary of his narratives on their own. Mark Twain’s writing influenced society because he created a new perspective on life with the views pointed out in his books. The distinctive trait of Twain s was his senseRead MoreThe Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain1130 Words   |  5 Pages Mark Twain, a realistic writer, explores the ideas of ordinary people and freedom in his novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The Civil War and the Industrialization of America were historic to the rise of the realistic period, and contributed to the shaping of it. The authors developed the period with an emphasis on regionalism, transparent language, and character. Common themes of racism, class, and freedom emerge during realism. Mark Twain s novel demonstrates the subjects of racism andRead MoreShould The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn Be Banned?1984 Words   |  8 PagesShould The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn be banned? Since the early ages of literature, there have been works of literature that have been considered controversial because of the content, as some believe they are offensive or inappropriate. Works such as Martin Luther s 95 Theses and The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger are just two works of literature that have sparked major controversy. One of the most controversial works of American literature is The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn writtenRead MoreAnalysis Of Mark Twain s The Tale Of Adventures Of Huckleberry Fin 1468 Words   |  6 PagesII Honors November, 19th 2014 Mark Twain Mark Twain was a boy from missouri who rose to become one of america’s most iconic novelists. Twain stood out in his era by using his realistic writing style and mixing with his experience as a boy growing up in missouri, Twain wrote classics no other would dare write about at this time. Twain stepped out of societies bubble and wrote the tale of Adventures of Huckleberry Fin. Through is writing, Twain was open about the horrors of slavery andRead MoreThe Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain1675 Words   |  7 PagesThe Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Ernest Hemingway once stated, â€Å"All modern American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called Huckleberry Finn. American writing comes from that. There was nothing before. There has been nothing as good since.† Accordingly, Hemingway believes that The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Huckleberry Finn) is an iconic book that sets the stage for all other American literature in the future. In any case, three reasons why Huckleberry Finn is one of the greatestRead MoreLife and Works of Mark Twain Essay1634 Words   |  7 Pagesand Works of Mark Twain Introduction Mark Twain is considered as one of the most renowned authors of his time. He attained worldwide success, very early in his professional career. Twain was mostly known for writing realistic novels, in which the language and the mindset of the people reflected the traditions and values of their environment. As he spent ample time near the Mississippi River, the symbolism of the river and its significance is reflected in his books. Overall, Mark Twain was a celebratedRead MoreCommentary on Mark Twain ´s Huckleberry Finn742 Words   |  3 PagesLiterary legend, Ernest Hemingway once said, â€Å"All modern American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain; Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.† Mark Twain’s historical fiction, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, is about a boy, Huckleberry, and a runaway slave, Jim. Huck decides to fake his death and runaway. Eventually, Jim and Huck run into each other and together they travel down the Mississippi River. They encounter many ob stacles in their way, but overcome anything that comes their way. AlthoughRead MoreThe Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn By Mr. Mark Twain929 Words   |  4 Pagescolor literature was most dominant in American literature. From the very beginning, within the first few pages, or even sentences, the evidence of local color prevails in the novel of the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, written by â€Å"Mr. Mark Twain† (106). Local color is defined by Donna Campbell of Washington State University as â€Å"fiction and poetry that focuses on the characters, dialect, customs, topography, and other features particular to a specific region.† The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is oneRead MoreExamples Of Hypocrisy In The Adventures Of Huck Finn1542 Words   |  7 Pageshumans throughout history. Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huck Finn is an example of him using satire to reach his readers denouncing slavery and religious hypocrisy giving examples of man’s inhumanity to wards man. His main objective in using satire in Huck Finn was to protest the evil practices that were so frequent in the Frontier. By using satire this made it more appealing and enjoyable for readers and hopefully more effective in his attempt to change society. Twain depicted it under different