Huckleberry Finn River Analysis

Life’s Adventures

A wise woman once said: “Life is like a river, sometimes it sweeps you gently along and sometimes the rapids come out of nowhere.” The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a story about a young boy and his journey down the Mississippi. He makes a friend and goes on a compelling journey experiencing many situations and several mishaps. Two friends escaping from their past via river on a feeble raft. The river is of great significance is this book. It is Huck's sole chance to be free from society and his pap. His companion, Jim, a slave, is also looking for freedom and opportunity. The river is a symbol of freedom, adventure, and hope for anyone looking to escape their dreary lives. There is a great measure of symbolism for the river in
this exceptional novel by Mark Twain.
The river is passageway of independence and freedom from both society and any governing individuals. Huck is escaping from his pap and Jim from his master. “But by-and-by pap got too handy with his hick’ry, and I couldn’t stand it. I was all over welts. He got to going away so much, too, and locking me in. Once he locked me in and was gone three days. It was dreadful lonesome” (Twain 24). Huck and Jim were hoping to escape to Ohio to be free, but the river itself ultimately became a route of freedom. They felt absolute freedom from any rules of society. Just them two and nobody to oversee them. “So in two seconds away we went a-sliding down the river, and it did seem so good to be free again and all by ourselves on the big river, and nobody to bother us” (Twain 204). The river was their means of escape, but it subsequently became a tool of freedom and independence.
There were several misfortunate events on their journey by river.
The river signifies life and how uncertain it may be. At times, the river may be pleasant, but the rapids come out of nowhere and yield difficulties. Thus the river resembles life and all its predicaments. While en route on their escapade, they encounter burglars, potential murderers, losing their raft, and several other mishaps. “Quick, Jim, it ain’t no time for fooling around and moaning; there’s a gang of murderers in yonder, and if we don’t hunt up their boat and set her drifting down the river so these fellows can’t get away from the wreck there’s one of ’em going to be in a bad fix” (Twain 70). The river presented it’s challenges but they trudged on. The river is always moving, as is life. It is ever-changing and unpredictable. “There was a yell at us, and a jingling of bells to stop the engines, a powwow of cussing, and whistling of steam—and as Jim went overboard on one side and I on the other, she come smashing straight through the raft” (Twain 94). Huck and Jim were unexpectedly hit by a steamship, which resulted in the destruction of the raft. Sometimes in life, the unexpected occurs and struggles appear, but you push on till hope
arrives.
Huck and Jim had an entertaining adventure and a great relationship. The river symbolizes their friendship and loyalty to each other. Huck and Jim become very close and fond of each other. They survived by supporting each other and being honest. “Goodness gracious, is dat you, Huck? En you ain' dead—you ain' drownded—you's back agin? It's too good for true, honey, it's too good for true. Lemme look at you chile, lemme feel o' you. No, you ain' dead! you's back agin, 'live en soun', jis de same ole Huck—de same ole Huck, thanks to goodness!" (Twain 83). Jim is very sentimental towards Huck because he’s the only white man who’s ever kept his promises to him. Huck couldn’t find any faults in Jim. Their respect for one another grew as they learned more about each other. “Pooty soon I'll be a-shout'n' for joy, en I'll say, it's all on accounts o' Huck; I's a free man, en I couldn't ever ben free ef it hadn' ben for Huck; Huck done it. 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” (Twain 88). The river brought them together and forged their relationship to become strong and honorable.
The river: a symbol of freedom, adventure and hope. It is a symbol of independence and free will. A state of existence in which no one is above you. A symbol of friendship driven by loyalty and respect. The river is an embodiment of the many wacky adventures Huck and Jim experienced. Huck’s moral and ethical viewpoint are different from his peers. His relationship with Jim is a testimony of that. The river demonstrates life and how it constantly moves forward. Our heroes face many troubles on the river, but they move along and find happiness. It is important in life to never lose hope and strive to improve. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is an inspiring novel about two friends who withstood many obstacles as a result of their loyalty and respect for one another.