First and foremost the river symbolizes the novel's protagnist, Huckleberry Finn. The Likeness between the two is startling as one begins to examine the common trait. According to T.S. Eliot the most striking similarity that the two share is that like the river, Huck can not be contained (470). Throughout the course of the novel the river is constantly at flood, and all other powers pale in comparision to its awesome current. Evidence of this is found throughout Huck and Jim's journey in the form of swept away houses and smashed steam boats. Hucks personality is much the same. No matter how many times "respectable folk", like Miss Watson or Aunt Sally, try to civilze Huck or curb his extreme personality

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 was a-trembling, because I'd got to decide, forever betwixt two things, and I knowed it. I studied a minute, sort of holding my breath, and then says to myselfy:

A second comparrison which demonstrates this symbolization would be the fact that throughout the novel both Huck's path and the path of the River are circular in nature. T.S. Elliot put it sysnctally when she said;

As illustrated in the passage above Huck is forced to make a desicion between two things indefinately, something he probably would never have faced had he stayed of land. Because he can not escape making descions like this one Huck is forced to grow up over the course of the novel. The descions he makes over the course of the book and the departures from and returns to the river Huck goes through symbolize his passage into manhood.

Within the pages of the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn many uderlying themes and messages can be found. The lessons taught by the novel have universal appeal, which is why the book has become a literary fixture over the ages. Many of the most important aspects of the book are symbolized or in some way realted to one of the major players in the story, the Mississippi River. As the river carries Jim and Huck through a series of hoops and obstacles new layers of meaning are uncovered and the true spirt of the novel shines through.

"Like Huckleberry Finn, the River its self has no beginning or end. In its beginning it is not yet a river, in its end it is no longer a river. Things must merely happend, here and ther, to the people who live along the shore or who comitt themselves to the current. And it is impossible for Huck as for the river to have a beginning or end-a career." ( 470)

The river also plays a major part in the developement of the novel's characters, many Huck. The river is a symbol of chage in more ways than one. According to the Kazin, it id the river which is the driving force between all Hucks actions and descions (63-64). It is the river that thrusts into situations and forces him to make descions. Bac

Some common words found in the essay are:
Miss Watson's, Huck Jim, Finn River, Aunt Sally, TS Eliot, Huckleberry Finn, Jim Huck, Finn Withouth, According Kazin, Homer's Odessy, huck jim, huckleberry finn, adventures huckleberry finn, river river, huck river, adventures huckleberry, aunt sally, river huck, course novel, throughout novel, ts eliot,
Approximate Word count = 1464
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)