Symbolism – The Mississippi River

1. Symbolism – The Mississippi River The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

2. The Mighty Mississippi • The river is Huck and Jim's transportation, taking them from captivity (slavery; child abuse) to (hopefully) freedom in the state of Ohio. • The river ends up symbolizing freedom in its own right.

3. Ol’ Man River • Before hitting the rapids, Huck feels confined—both by society (which, figuratively, kept Huck imprisoned by its restrictive rules) and by Pap (who, literally, kept Huck locked up). And the river is the only route they can take if they want to be free both in that present moment and in their respective futures.  • to Huck, the river represents a life beyond the rules of society. 

4. The Big Muddy • For Huck and Jim, the Mississippi River is the ultimate symbol of freedom. Alone on their raft, they do not have to answer to anyone. The river carries them toward freedom: for Jim, toward the free states; for Huck, away from his abusive father and the restrictive “sivilizing” of St. Petersburg.

5. The Raft and the River • Floating down the middle of the river might be the only place this black man and white boy can speak together as equals; it provides a space for Huck and Jim to get to know each other man-to-man rather than master-to- slave.

6. Proud Mary • Despite their freedom, however, they soon find that they are not completely free from the evils and influences of the towns on the river’s banks.  • Even early on, the real world intrudes on the paradise of the raft: the river floods, bringing Huck and Jim into contact with criminals, wrecks, and stolen goods.  • a thick fog causes them to miss the mouth of the Ohio River, which was to be their route to freedom.