The Symbolization of the River in Huck Finn
The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn has been widely recongnized as a great American novel. The book has many features which have helped sustain it over the years, but among the most important is the Mississippi river which carries Huck and Jim upon a winding path through a series od adventures. The river symbolizes many important aspects intrical to the novel's theme. These aspects include God or some other higher power, Huck and his irrepresible nature, and the change of characters in the novel as well as society in general. First and foremost the river symbolizes the novel's protagnist, Huckleberry Finn. The Likeness between the two is startling as one begins to examine the common trait. According to T.S. Eliot the most striking similarity that the two share is that like the river, Huck can not be contained (470). Throughout the course of the novel the river is constantly at flood, and all other powers pale in comparision to its awesome current. Evidence of this is found throughout Huck and Jim's journey in the form of swept away houses and smashed steam boats. Hucks personality is much the same. No matter how many times "respectable folk", like Miss Watson or Aunt Sally, try to civilze Huck or curb his extreme personality
A second comparrison which demonstrates this symbolization would be the fact that throughout the novel both Huck's path and the path of the River are circular in nature. The Stream then flows into a river and the river into an ocean or lake. It is the voice of fate and perhaps on some level it symbolizes god. " To put it simply it is the river that controlls the destiny of Huck in Jim. " In addition the symbolizing Huck and change, the river also plays apart in symbolizing some higher power. It is the force which controls their lives. In its beginning it is not yet a river, in its end it is no longer a river. Underneath which are hidden the more subverseive elements of the story dealing with hucks morals dilemas (slavery, honesty, relgion etc. The river gives the novel meaning and a "linear simplicity", while providing a seemingly basic plotline (Adams 41). The descions he makes over the course of the book and the departures from and returns to the river Huck goes through symbolize his passage into manhood. Within the pages of the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn many uderlying themes and messages can be found. , Huck always breaks free and returns to his roots. It is the river who drives them apart and brings them back together. Eliot says "A river, a very big and powerful river, is the only natural force that can wholy determine the course of human peregrination. It is here that the aformentioned morals and the heart of the book are delt with, and eventually resolved (Devoto 14).
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