Adventures of Huckleberry Finn All children have a special place, whether
chosen by a conscious decision or not this is a place where one can go to
sort their thoughts. Nature can often provide comfort by providing a nurturing
surrounding where a child is forced to look within and choices can be made
untainted by society. Mark Twain once said "Don't let school get in the way
of your education." Twain states that this education which is provided by
society, can actually hinder human growth and maturity. Although a formal
education shouldn't be completely shunned, perhaps true life experience, in
society and nature, are a key part of development. In the novel Adventures of
Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain throws the curious yet innocent mind of Huck
Finn out into a very hypocritical, judgmental, and hostile world, yet Huck has
one escape--the Mississippi River constantly flowing nearby. Here nature is
presented as a thought provoking environment when experienced alone. The
river is quiet and peaceful place where Huck can revert to examine any
predicament he might find himself in: "They went off, and I got aboard the
raft, feeling bad and low...Then I thought a minute, and says to myself, hold
on,- s'pose you'd a done right and give Jim up; would you felt better than you
do now? No, says I, I'd feel bad..." (p.127). Only a few weeks with Jim and
still feeling great ambivalence, Huck returns to the river to think. Twain tries
here to tell the reader how strong the "mob" really is, and only when totally
alone is Huck able to make the morally correct decision. The natural flowing
and calm of the river cause this deep-thought, show! ing how unnatural the
collective thought of a society can be. The largest and most obvious test of
Huck's character is his relationship with Jim. The friendship and assistance
which he gives to Jim go completely against all that "sivilization" has taught
him; at first...