Chasing Pavements: Huckleberry Finn

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Chasing Pavements Huck states, “It’s lovely to live on a raft,” (XIX, 118) In “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”, by Mark Twain, the Mississippi River becomes a symbol of maturity, freedom and Huckleberry’s escape from the constrained style of society and civilization; while for Jim the River becomes an escape from slavery and a corridor to the free world. The River becomes Huckleberry’s shelter from his abusive father and a way out of Widow Douglas’s restraint. The river guides Huckleberry to self-discovery and maturity. When faced with obstacles, Huckleberry is forced to act courageously and only through these circumstances, is he able to develop his maturity. Huckleberry states, “It felt good and all washed clean of sin for the first time I had ever felt so in my life, and I knowed I could pray now” (XXXI, 213) It is the river and what Huckleberry encounters on the river that helps him find purpose behind his own character. Although Huckleberry is a young boy, he depends on the river to help him find adventure and his identity. He states, “…a big storm after midnight with a power of thunder and lightning…we stayed in the wigwam and let the raft take care of itself” (XII,66) Huck leaves Pap and St. Petersburg because he desires to begin his journey. In search for his significance, Huckleberry begins to feel attached to the river and becomes dependent on it for sustenance, the most important being that it provides them with comfortable transportation towards freedom. Huck states, “We catched fish and talked, and we took a swim now and then to keep off the sleepiness. It was kind of solemn, drifting down the big, still river…” (XII, 64) Huck becomes fond of the Mississippi River, and through it, he tries to actively seek his fate and anticipate the adventures that await him. The river is Huckleberry’s refuge from trouble and a place of peace. Huckleberry

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