“Symbolism is a representation of what actually exists, really or unchangeably.”(Yeats) Literature often takes a reader through journeys that involve elements of both the physical and intellectual senses. Through these journey the reader can become more in tune and have personal developments. Symbolism is a tool used in literature that can convey a deeper meaning to the physical existence of the simplest thing. The reader can see an ocean with all its beautiful creatures through the description of a clear sky by the writer. Society uses symbolism in the same form, just like an ocean can represent beauty, it may also represent freedom and peace. Symbolism is present in a great majority of literary works. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, contains elements of symbolism that use Jim, the Mississippi River, and Huckleberry Finn, himself to convey humanity, freedom and the nonconformist ideal.
Jim represents humanity in Huckleberry Finn, by showing Huck that slaves are not different from white men and women. In the novel, Jim spends most of his time with …show more content…
To become civil, Huck is forced by the Widow Douglas to learn how to properly act within the society. Huck must dress, act and talk in a certain way but he can never bring himself to conform to the rules. “She put me in them new clothes again, and I couldn’t do nothing but sweat and sweat, and feel all cramped up.”(Twain, p12) Huck is not accustomed to being civilised and finds great discomfort in being proper. Charles Kaplan, Professor at the University of Michigan declares, “Huck is trapped by society whose shortcomings he sees and hates.” The character of Huck can never be civil and this causes the constant struggle between the individual and the society. Huck’s inability to adapt to a civilized manner represents the idealism of a nonconformist that despite society’s pressure is reluctant to follow the