During the time of Huck slavery was a huge topic of the time. Should they really be free or not? Twain represents the topic of Freedom through the Mississippi River but also symbolizes the confusion Huck feels about helping Jim gain this freedom through the white fog. Twain also symbolizes the mob mentality going on at this time through Col. Sherburn and the lynching mob.
One of the biggest symbols for freedom in Huckleberry Finn is the Mississippi River. Before embarking on his journey, Huck begins to feel the confinement of society both figuratively and physically. Huckleberry does not want to live by Ms. Watson’s restrictive ways and rules and wants to escape from his abusive father, Pap. For Jim, he is escaping from a life of Slavery. The river is the only route both can take to truly escape. Huck describes such as: “So in two seconds away we went a-sliding down the river, and it did seem so good to be free again and …show more content…
This is shown through Col. Sherburn. After gunning down a local drunk, Boggs, a number of men decide march to his house to take justice. “Because you’re brave enough to tar and feather poor friendless cast-out women that come along here, did that make you think you had grit enough to lay your hands on a man” (110). Col. Sherburn describes man as being cowards due to the mob mentality it contains. He sees the mob seeking opportunities to take justice into their own hands without questioning the motive, making them seem to have a one-track mentality. Col Sherburn continues to lecture the mob stating “The pitifulest thing out is a mob: that’s what an army is a mob: they don’t fight with outrage that’s born in them, but with courage that’s borrowed from their mass” (110). Col. Sherburn states that none of these people have the ability to face true adversity by oneself. That each individual “borrows” courage from the masses that he does not possess on his
One of the biggest symbols for freedom in Huckleberry Finn is the Mississippi River. Before embarking on his journey, Huck begins to feel the confinement of society both figuratively and physically. Huckleberry does not want to live by Ms. Watson’s restrictive ways and rules and wants to escape from his abusive father, Pap. For Jim, he is escaping from a life of Slavery. The river is the only route both can take to truly escape. Huck describes such as: “So in two seconds away we went a-sliding down the river, and it did seem so good to be free again and …show more content…
This is shown through Col. Sherburn. After gunning down a local drunk, Boggs, a number of men decide march to his house to take justice. “Because you’re brave enough to tar and feather poor friendless cast-out women that come along here, did that make you think you had grit enough to lay your hands on a man” (110). Col. Sherburn describes man as being cowards due to the mob mentality it contains. He sees the mob seeking opportunities to take justice into their own hands without questioning the motive, making them seem to have a one-track mentality. Col Sherburn continues to lecture the mob stating “The pitifulest thing out is a mob: that’s what an army is a mob: they don’t fight with outrage that’s born in them, but with courage that’s borrowed from their mass” (110). Col. Sherburn states that none of these people have the ability to face true adversity by oneself. That each individual “borrows” courage from the masses that he does not possess on his