Sometimes, civilization is not as civilized as people think. In return, nature is considered a place to find peace and an escape from civilization. In Mark Twain’s, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Huck’s relationship to nature is the result of his desire to escape from civilization and its demands. Huck opposes anything or anyone that might attempt to "sivilize" him. The conflict between nature and civilization is exposed through Widow Douglas and Miss Watson’s efforts to civilize Huck, Huck’s appreciation for the raft, and the deceptive king and duke. From the beginning of the novel, Huck does not want to conform to society. He describes how dreadful it is to live with Widow Douglas and her sister, Miss Watson, and deal with their efforts to civilize him. He says, "it was rough living in the house all the time, considering how dismal and regular and decent the widow was in all her ways" (Twain 9). When the rules become too much and he cannot stand them any longer, Huck would “lit out" (9). Widow Douglas tries to get Huck to change by attempting to get him to wear new clothes and abandon smoking. Traveling in the raft gives Huck …show more content…
The king and duke are a perfect example of people who are not “civilized.” Huck and Jim’s adventure on the raft takes a turn when the frauds join. They sell Jim and con innocent people of their money. Huck is disgusted by these men and says their actions are “enough to make a body ashamed of the human race "(165). When Huck thinks he has finally gotten rid of the king and duke, he gets on the raft and says, “it did seem so good to be free again and all by ourselves on the big river, and nobody to bother us.” Huck becomes relieved that he is finally back on his peaceful raft and away from civilization. However, the king and duke find their way back to the raft and Huck has to keep himself from