Contrasting Places in "Huck Finn"
             In the novel "Huck Finn", by Mark Twain, there are two definite contrasting places. The land and the river both represent different things, and they both contribute to the meaning of the work.
             The book begins with Huck living in St. Petersburg with the Widow. This place was restrictive and binding. The house had rules and regulations which Huck followed without a choice. The Widow also taught him about the Catholic religion.
             St. Petersburg also represented Huck's insane father. An obvious gold digger, Pap beat and taunted Huck whenever the opportunity presented itself. Both Huck and a servant, Jim, needed to escape this jail of a life. Huck wanted to leave because of Pap and the Widow's attempts to civilize him. Jim, on the other hand, yearned for freedom and the idea of not being property.
             As soon as the duo escapes, they depart on the Mississippi River. The river, fast-moving and peaceful, carries Huck and Jim quickly away from their problems. Thus, Huck and Jim are willing to change their attitudes towards each other. Huck regards Jim as more of a human being rather than a slave. Although land surrounds the river, the places from which Huck and Jim want to escape, the river symbolizes a place where racial differences are put aside.
             After a short period of contentment on the river, Huck and Jim are constantly brought back to the prejudice and injustice of the land. Their contact with thieves and frauds show that no matter much time they spend on the quiet and relaxing river, society will keep coming back. When they miss the Ohio River due to the fog, Huck starts to realize the river is not the serene and melancholy place he thought it was.
             When the duke and dauphin come into the story, Huck and Jim spend more and more time on land (the society they did not want to be a part of). Instead of searching for freedom and happiness, Huck and Jim are stranded i...