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The Mississippi River in Huckleberry Finn


            In Mark Twain's novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn the Mississippi River plays many different roles and has many different meanings. It is a gateway to freedom for both Huck and Jim. The river can also be seen as a home to Jim and Huck. In addition, Mark Twain uses the river to take the two to new destinations and adventures.
             The Mississippi River is a gateway to freedom for Huck and Jim because they both escape their own prisons to it, and they let it take them away from their respective confinements. Huck uses the river to get away from the Widow Douglas and her sister, Miss Watson, but most importantly he escapes the restraints of civilization. Jim has a similar escape but less childish than simply running away from guardians. Miss Watson was going to sell Jim but he left as soon as he could. "I tuck out en shin down de hill, en "spec to steal a skift "long de sho" som"ers- pg.43 Jim is a fugitive on the run with a bounty on his head. If Jim can get to the town of Cairo then he will be freed from slavery.
             The River is also a home to Jim and Huck. They leave their home to have their adventures, but then they always return to it. "We said there warn't no home like a raft, after all." pg.116 It is on the river where Jim and Huck are like relatives who live together. They eat and sleep together on the river. While they are on the river it is like they have the freedom of their own house and they can do whatever hey want to. "You feel mighty free and easy and comfortable on a raft." pg.116 When they leave the house, they have to follow the rules of others.
             Mark Twain uses the Mississippi River as a means of transportation from one adventure to the next. Rather than simply walking the characters are being pulled by the current of the river, a sort of invisible force driving them around. This force is much more interesting than a human urge to continue, its almost as if they don't have a choice but to continue in their journey towards unknown hardships and fortune.


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