Psychogeography In Mark Twain's The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn

Society can play a major in how a person feels psychological. Humans to some extent have foreseeable behaviors in public environments. These environments such as workplaces, and malls and public areas can ultimately affect how we feel about the standards and expectations involved. This idea of thoughts and feelings as shown by scientific experiments and research is known as psychogeography- the study of the relationship between the places we go and how they play a part in our thoughts and feelings. The fact that we are in a certain place, being exposed to certain standards and beliefs is what shapes these views. Like for instance, being at a college party that may not be the most appropriate type, we are exposed to all these things such as …show more content…
Psychogeography is used in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn based on where he was in the story. When Huck was in different villages and town, he felt as if he had to act a certain way in order to be recognized and accepted. In the different villages, such Huck was shaped to be more civilized, and he needed to try and be completely literate, and he felt obligated to follow society’s standards in order to be a part of it. When Huck is in St. Petersburg, Miss Watson and the Widow Douglas hold high expectations for him as long as he is in their presence. Huck is expected to act the same as all the others, and follow the norm with school and behavior.” ...And allowed she would sivilize me; but it was rough living in the house all the time, considering how dismal regular and decent the widow was in all her ways (1). Huck is expected to act civil . He is shaped and morphed and expected to be normal. He eventually could not handle being normal and such, he found that he was someone he was not. When, in absence of these restrictions and expectations from them, he is left to freely think. When the story shifted to Huck in the raft, floating down a river, he gets free will. Huck realizes he is able to think freely, and reflect on his surroundings without feeling the obligation to outwardly conform. Huck is allowed to let his thoughts wander so he can just ponder, and determine what he must do and where his stands in society. One can infer that the river in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn represents freedom, while land represents civilization and having to act a certain way. Not only, is this concept demonstrated in Huckleberry Finn, but is also just a part of society and how their standards influences our actions and how we view such