Many argue that The Adventure’s of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain is “one of the worlds greatest books,” and moreover “one of the central documents of American culture” (Trilling 6). The approbation of this novel results from its inclusion of “the fecundity…of genius” found in not only its plot, but also in its protagonist, Huckleberry Finn, acting as a great American character (De Voto 10). Twain describes what an American is in his novel: an American is a person who has a penchant for, and value of nature, a need for human companionship, and moral values which respect community. Twain’s plot includes “exploration of the human race” along with “the restlessness of the young democracy” occurring along the Mississippi River, while creating an
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The boy mentions emotion felt by nature as an owl grieves by “who-whooing about somebody that was dead,” along with the concept that nature serves as a warning sign full of emotion when he mentions a “dog crying about somebody that was going to die” (Twain 1292). These textual references show that Huck has a deep connection with nature, and views it as ubiquitous refuge within his life. Huck can speak to nature, and listen for an answer: he knows nature understands him, and its responses are rampant with emotion. Above all, he displays nature as an essential piece of him as he recognizes it and appreciates its steady presence and its ability to speak to him. The young child sees nature as an escape; it is the place where he depends on nothing but his own connection with it, and this “self-trust” is “the perfect sweetness and independence of solitude” for him (Emerson 553-554). Huck’s involvement with nature displays his want and ability to obtain freedom, experience the comfort of consistency, and discover a sense of independence, and thus makes him American. Accordingly, America bases itself on the concept of freedom and independence along with reliability upon a something consistent, which is nature for Finn and the natural rights protected within the constitution for
The boy mentions emotion felt by nature as an owl grieves by “who-whooing about somebody that was dead,” along with the concept that nature serves as a warning sign full of emotion when he mentions a “dog crying about somebody that was going to die” (Twain 1292). These textual references show that Huck has a deep connection with nature, and views it as ubiquitous refuge within his life. Huck can speak to nature, and listen for an answer: he knows nature understands him, and its responses are rampant with emotion. Above all, he displays nature as an essential piece of him as he recognizes it and appreciates its steady presence and its ability to speak to him. The young child sees nature as an escape; it is the place where he depends on nothing but his own connection with it, and this “self-trust” is “the perfect sweetness and independence of solitude” for him (Emerson 553-554). Huck’s involvement with nature displays his want and ability to obtain freedom, experience the comfort of consistency, and discover a sense of independence, and thus makes him American. Accordingly, America bases itself on the concept of freedom and independence along with reliability upon a something consistent, which is nature for Finn and the natural rights protected within the constitution for