The word quintessential sounds quite intimidating. What does it even mean? Quintessential is defined in the English language as an adjective meaning “of the pure and essential essence of something: of or relating to the most perfect embodiment of something.” The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is indeed the most pure, essential and perfect embodiment of American culture. Mark Twain envelops the joys and the heartaches, the triumphs and tribulations, and the simplest meaning of happiness into a novel that fills a soul to the brim. Nothing feels more patriotic than a story about a brave and courageous young man just trying to discover his own path amongst the influence of others. Even though the time gap may seem extremely large between the book and today, the relevance and inspiration found in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn make it the quintessential American novel. The first concept that comes to mind when thinking of Huck Finn is bravery. What twelve-year-old boy can navigate the largest of rivers and not only survive, but thrive??? Any American knows the stories of persistence and courage of the country’s trailblazers, which can draw parallels to the adventures of Huck. He first escapes his abusive father, fakes his own death and embarks down the Mississippi in the darkest hours. The bravery does not end there. After finding Jim in hiding the both of them continue on a new journey for his freedom tackling treacherous storms, conniving thieves and gang members, and bounty hunters. They stared death straight in the eye and escaped it’s grip multiple times. Just as Huck and Jim think they’re finally close to reaching the northern states and freedom, that dream slips right by. Literally. Instead of getting discouraged and deciding their journey a lost cause they chose to keep on keeping on. The strength displayed all throughout the book is amazing and definitely proves The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn the quintessential American novel. Not all of Huckleberry Finn’s encounters make your heart skip a beat. There are also moments of innocence and serenity. The idea of happiness coming from something small and seemingly insignificant makes the book a quintessential novel. Words spoken like this remind us of the simple beauty in life: “Not a sound anywhere-perfectly still-just like the whole world was asleep…..then the nice breeze springs up, and comes fanning you from over there, so cool and fresh and sweet to smell on account of the woods and the flowers….” (Twain 117). Often it is all to easy to allow material things to supply happiness. This book reminds every reader to take the time to stand still, look around themselves and not just quickly glance over the ordinary , but to truly take in the natural beauty surrounding them. If Huck found just even a few seconds in his journey to understand and appreciate that, then no one has any excuse to ignore it either. Sometimes it takes a book like The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn to point out what should already be recognized.
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Throughout every twist and turn that Mark Twain threw at Huckleberry Finn he never failed to stand by Jim’s side. Sometimes that proved to be a tall task and he fought himself on what was the best idea, but he always prevailed. Of course, slavery and the abuse of African Americans is one of the most horrid points in American history. But where there is a tragedy, there are heroes. There are a number of success stories and inspirational people to find within the awful confines of slavery. Huck Finn is just one of those citizens to be considered fearless in the jaws of societal oppression. American culture highly idolizes and admires those who are wiling to speak for those without a voice and make a change. Even though Huck may not have stood up in the front of the village and defended Jim, he had many opportunities to conform to what was expected and he chose not to. Jim was kept his little secret and Huck rung his own neck and risked his own life for that of a runaway slave. Who knows what would have happened if he was discovered?? Huckleberry Finn’s defiance to the expected actions of the South makes him a hero and to this day make him the quintessential
Throughout every twist and turn that Mark Twain threw at Huckleberry Finn he never failed to stand by Jim’s side. Sometimes that proved to be a tall task and he fought himself on what was the best idea, but he always prevailed. Of course, slavery and the abuse of African Americans is one of the most horrid points in American history. But where there is a tragedy, there are heroes. There are a number of success stories and inspirational people to find within the awful confines of slavery. Huck Finn is just one of those citizens to be considered fearless in the jaws of societal oppression. American culture highly idolizes and admires those who are wiling to speak for those without a voice and make a change. Even though Huck may not have stood up in the front of the village and defended Jim, he had many opportunities to conform to what was expected and he chose not to. Jim was kept his little secret and Huck rung his own neck and risked his own life for that of a runaway slave. Who knows what would have happened if he was discovered?? Huckleberry Finn’s defiance to the expected actions of the South makes him a hero and to this day make him the quintessential