Huckleberry Finn Symbolism Essay

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.

Satire is a rhetorical device which uses literature to integrate irony, humor, and ridicule to denounce others’ vices. When one reads a piece of writing by Mark Twain, he prepares himself for a satirical masterpiece. Twain’s essays, novels and stories provoke reverse meanings and quirky banter. In one of Twain’s famous works The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Twain scoffs the state-of-mind held by Americans during his time period by using both Horatian and Juvenalian satire.

“Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” a novel based around a boy named Huck and a freed slave named Jim as they venture out away from where the originally from in search of freedom. In the beginning of the story, the main character of the story was named Huck, and later we find out that Huck’s father, Pap Finn, was coming back to town. Huckleberry got terrified, because of, Pap Finn’s alcoholic past. I could visualize why Huck was so scared for by the news of his father coming back, and could relate to his feelings. Huck does nothing to prevent Pap’s presence to be around and Pap proceeds back into Huck’s life. He advised Huck to stop wasting his time and school and to stop going. Huck refused and continued to go to school, for this reason, Pap

The last and most prominent example of the river symbolizing peace, calmness, and freedom was the ability of Huck and Jim to when they wanted �lit the pipes, and dangle their legs in the water and talk about all kinds of things.� The most surprising aspect was when Huck stated that �we was always naked, day and night.� This continues to portray the theme of peace, calmness, and freedom that is given to the characters by the river. The most obvious is that because the river was so peaceful and calm that it led to their freedom to do as they please without the barriers given by society on land.

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

In Huckleberry Finn there are several themes. There are themes of racism and slavery, civilized society, survival, water imagery, and the one I will be discussing, superstition ( SparkNotes Editors). Superstition is a belief or practice resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, trust in magic or chance, or a false conception of causation (“Merriam-Webster”). Superstition was a very popular theme in Huckleberry Finn that you saw throughout the story. Huck was somewhat superstitious, but Jim speaks a wide range of superstition and folk tales. In the story it makes Jim seem as if he is unintelligent, when really his superstitions and beliefs come true and shows he

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain has been banned from many schools and public libraries due to the use of racial slurs. Although these slurs are frowned upon now, they were a normal part of the society shaped Huckleberry (Huck) Finns life. The world Huck Finn grew up in is before the abolition of slavery. This is when the states is begun to separate, but the civil war is not yet stirring. Huckleberry’s life was influenced by his small town of St. Petersburg, the time period he lived in, and certain people.

"I heard an owl, away off, who-whooing about somebody that was dead, and a whippo-will and a dog crying about somebody that was going to die; and the wind was trying to whisper something to me, and I couldn't make out what it was" (Twain 13). Twain often ridicules American society in the early 1800's. He pokes fun at various subjects throughout the novel, such as human brutality, women's roles in society, and slavery within christianity. Satire plays a major role in Mark Twain's classic novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

There are many forms of satire in Mark Twain’s book The Adventures Huckleberry Finn, one of which is racism satire. Twain uses this satire to show many different things in the book such as showing the way that African-Americans were treated back in the 1800’s or showing how they were viewed as in superior to the other races of the time. Racism satire was not as major a topic in the 1800’s than it is in the modern world, which is a good example of how these worlds differ so much. This topic in general is a major issue in today’s world which could make The Adventures Huckleberry Finn controversial.

In the Bible, God creates the Garden of Eden. In this Garden, God protects Adam and Eve from evil. But Ever disobeys God, and God banishes them from the garden. Once banished, Eve and Adam face consequences and hardships of the real world. The Garden of Eden is common in popular culture with many associating it with paradise. God gave Adam and Eve paradise with Eden. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain uses many allusions and metaphors to create his point. The Grangerford feud is metaphorical to The Civil War, but also an allusion to Romeo and Juliet. Twain also uses the raft as a metaphor for having the raft provide a place of Eden to the passenger and protect them from the evil natures of civilization.

“The situation of the orphan is truly the worst, you’re a child, powerless, with no protectors or guides. It’s the most vulnerable position you can be in, to see someone overcome those odds tells us something about the human spirit. They are often depicted as the kindest or most clever of characters.” Michelle Boisseau describes how important these types of characters are. In a Sunday Times article, she states that a lot of the stories and novels are considered to be apologues about orphans becoming the hero of the book. Huck’s story is quite like this subject. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a novel written by Mark Twain, it’s about a boy named Huckleberry Finn, who sets

“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 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.

it got tiresome and lonesome. . . . I felt so lonesome I most wished I

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain (published in 1885), considered a classic of American-literature, and to some the zenith of American realism in literature and the apex of satirical writing in history, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has proven itself as a milestone in the history of literature and a turning point in American literature. The garnering of such acclaim, and accolades were due to The Adventure of Huckleberry Finn possibly being the most poignant and successful critique on society every put into writing. Twain does not waste any time with sophomoric cant in his meditation, but instead critiques the inherent cant present in society and the people entertaining this cant throughout that time; showing