In the book Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, Twain uses many social issues in the nineteenth century to show the corrupt way of thinking and living in this time period. To overcome this lifestyle, Huck needed to maintain whatever sanity he could, and that's when he realized that nature could help him in his time of need. Twain uses many different symbols in his writings to make his point, one of which is the use of nature. Nature is a key factor in Huck's life as it offers him an outlet and a safe haven to call home when he doesn't have one himself. Nature is an escape from reality for Huck because he believes that “human beings can be terribly cruel to each other.” Nature is more than an escape for Huck, it is what was there when no one else was and what helped him overcome his loneliness. Twain heavily uses the ideals of Emerson and Thoreau, who are both transcendentalists, which helps Huck through his journey. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Without nature, the book Huckleberry Finn would not have been what it is known for today. Nature is what brought the characters together and furthered the plot of the book. Nature in Huckleberry Finn is a symbol of Huck's newfound independence from his father Pap and Jim's key to freedom from Jim's master, Miss Watson. As Huck retraces his journey with Jim, he realizes that nature is the key to his problems and he will soon learn to use what the land is providing him. The first part of the book where the plot thickens is when Huck “drops the canoe down the river under some willows that hang over the bank, and waits for the moon to rise.” The Mississippi River will be Huck's best friend throughout the novel providing security to the child. Without the river, Huck would not have been able to execute his elaborate plans and ultimately save Jim's life. The Mississippi River and the nature that Twain displays in his writings shed light on the contrast between the harsh realities of life in the nineteenth century and how Huck lives happily as a minimalist living alongside nature. Huck feels a certain connection to nature. When he wakes up from a nap taken in the woods, he is awakened by “light filtering through the leaves, and the freckled spots have changed a little, showing that there was a light breeze up there. A couple of squirrels perched on a branch and chatted very friendly to him." This shows how calm and relaxed Huck feels around animals that almost look like his friends. With the absence of nature, Huck would not be close to the person he is. Huckleberry Finn's teachings and lessons closely resemble the teachings of the Transcendentalists, Emerson and Thoreau. Huck resembles their way of life by seeing the goodness in people and nature. Twain portrays Huck as someone who realizes that what society teaches you is not always right and that you must learn through your experiences to find what is truly pure. A turning point in the novel is when Huck goes against what society has taught him and "humiliates himself to the point of anger" and later "never regrets it." Another time when Huck goes against the social norm of how to view African Americans, Huck realizes that Jim "cares about his people as much as white people care about their people." These are just two examples of how Huck uses transcendentalism by using his own beliefs and morals instead of societies. Huck also understands the difference between what people tell you is the right thing to do and what his heart tells him.