Symbolism: the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Essay

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Many novels have used symbolism to express certain feelings and emotions in discreet ways. What is symbolism? "The practice of representing things by means of symbols or of attributing symbolic meanings or significance to objects, events, or relationships" (Dictionary.com). Numerous authors use the same denotations to illustrate different thoughts or ideas. Mark Twain uses various symbols, such as the river and the land to expose freedom and trouble in his novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain, uses various concrete objects, such as rivers, to symbolize a diverse range of feelings, emotions, and even actions. The ultimate symbol in the novel is the Mississippi River. Rivers often …show more content…
The river also promotes Huck's maturity. "We actually see Huck grow up having the river as a place for solitude and thought, where he can participate at times and other times sit back and watch" (Examining the River in Terms of Symbolism in "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn"). One major dilemma Huck contemplates over is turning Jim in. If he does so, he will lose his best friend. But, on the other hand, if he does not, he will be "forever damned to the pits of Hell" (TK, Angie). "When asked who is on the raft, Huck masters his inner dilemma by replying 'He's white,' and showing us a sliver of inner mortality in the face of a racist world (Twain, 76)" (TK, Angie). The river also illustrates calmness opposing to the land, which is very demanding and troublesome. Another prominent symbol in the novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is the land. The land is where everything bad happens. Anything even vaguely associated with land, initiates danger and/or hidden tricks that could be turned on Huck and Jim at any given time. For example, the first dilemma Huck and Jim encounter are on Jackson's Island. "What Huck considers to be an amusing joke almost kills Jim. Huck puts a dead snake in Jim's bed, but little did Huck remember that a dead snake's mate will always come after it. Jim was ‘laid up for four days and nights,' before he's finally well again (Twain, pg. 46)" (TK, Angie). As one can see, Huck prefers life on the river, compared to
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