Huck Finn/Open Boat

682 Words3 Pages
Realism and naturalism are both literary and philosophical movement we see in American literature. Realism focuses on life as it is, while naturalism introduces characters whose fates are determined by factors out of their control. These movements can be seen in such writings as “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain and “The Open Boat” by Stephen Crane. The main character in “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” is a thirteen-year old boy named Huckleberry Finn, who is the son of the local drunk. He is somewhat of an outcast and is forced to survive on his wits. The correspondent is the central character of “The Open Boat.” The correspondent is a young man who discovers that nature and fate do not think and act as men do. Huckleberry Finn shows that he would enjoy a lifelong matrimony with nature, while the correspondent in “The Open Boat” scorns and is horrified of nature. Nature can be a method for survival, but it can also keep someone from surviving. In “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” and “The Open Boat” nature is the main aspect of survival in one way or another. In “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”, Huck Finn uses his relationship with nature as a survival mechanism. He is more comfortable in a natural environment, than an institutional environment. Huck knows how to fend for himself and live off the land. When Huck Finn live with his father, he, “Fished and hunted and that was what we lived on” (Twain 115). In order for Huck to eat, he must use the environment he lives in to obtain food. Also, Huck was getting used to living with Widow Douglas and Miss Watson until his father kidnapped him. While living with his father, “It warn’t long after that till I was sued to being where I was, and liked it” (Twain 115). Huckleberry Finn enjoys living a lazy, comfortable lifestyle, without responsibilities and studying. Eventually,
Open Document