In the small town of St. Petersburg in Missouri, the sequel to an American classic is born. Mark Twain is a linguistic genius when it comes to writing about the American life. Twain was the author of both Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The adventure of Huckleberry Finn. In the story Huckleberry Finn, a young boy finds himself on adventure of the ages. He battles racism, alcoholism, and even death. Mark Twain littered these pages with all sorts of symbolism. Three types of symbolism in The adventures of Huckleberry Finn are the river, the raft, and Huck.
The first sign of symbolism in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is the river. The mighty Mississippi is Huck’s and Jim’s way to freedom. They have to face the twist and turns in the water, much like you have to face the twist and turns of life. Twain states in chapter twelve, “We catched fish and talked, and we took a swim now and then to keep off sleepiness. It was kind of solemn, drifting down the big, still river, laying on our backs looking up at the stars, and we didn't ever feel like talking loud.” The river was a way of life, it was their only way to life.
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the raft is their transportation to a new life. The raft offers no protection. They are just out in the open and exposed to the elements. The raft equalizes Huck and Jim, and they are no longer master and slave. Floating down the middle of a river is the only way a black man and a white boy could be equals. Twain says in chapter 40, “I knowed he was white inside, and I reckoned he'd say what he did say - so it was all right, now, and I told Tom I was going for a doctor.” Huck saw Jim as not a slave anymore, but as a