Clemens was born two months premature in the small village of Florida, Missouri on November 30, 1835; he was the sixth child of Jane Clemens and John Marshall (Sweets). When Samuel was four, they moved to Hannibal Missouri …show more content…
A major symbol in the novel was the Mississippi River (The Adventures).
“So in two seconds away we went a-sliding down the river, and it did seem so good to be free again and all by ourselves on the big river, and nobody to bother us” : to Huck, the river symbolizes freedom, not just from rules of society but also from child abuse (Gise 204). The river also symbolizes freedom from captivity and transportation leading them to freedom (The Adventures).
“then we lit the pipes, and dangled our legs in the water, and talked about all kinds of things- we was always naked, day and night, whenever the mosquitoes would let us” (Gise 33). Twain’s view of the government at the time was embellished in Huck (Greenhalgh). A rough, independent individual who was self-sufficient, and was not going to let the government or society tell him what he should …show more content…
It was awful thoughts and awful words, but they was said. And I let them stay said; and never thought no more about reforming;... I would go to work and steal Jim” (Gise 216,217).
“There’s a nigger here that I’m a-trying to steal out of slavery, and his name is JIM… You’ll say it’s dirty, low-down business; but what if it is? I’m low down, and I’m a-going to steal him…” Huck was deciding on whether or not he should steal Jim back (Gise 228). When he finally decides, he believes he will go to hell for going against society. The grindstones, snakes, and rats thrown in the cabin where Jim was in, represented the Jim Crow laws causing delay (Greenhalgh). Jim was introduced as Miss. Watson’s big nigger who later runs away to seek for freedom.
“Well, it’s a blame ridicklous way, en I doan’ want to hear no mo’ ‘bout it. Dey ain’ no sense in it.”
“ Looky here, Jim; does a cat talk like we do?” (Gise 82,83).
Jim cannot comprehend that people speak different languages all over the world since people are all the same, and yet, if everyone is the same, why are only some enslaved? (Gise