In the book Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, Twain exploits many societal issues of the 19th century to highlight the corrupt way of thinking and living during that era. To survive this lifestyle, Huck had to maintain any type of sanity possible. It was then that he realized that nature could help him through this difficult time. Twain uses many different symbols in his writing to convey his message, one of which is the use of nature. Nature is a key factor in Huck's life by providing him with an outlet and a safe haven where he feels at home when he had none 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's what was there when no one else was and what helped him overcome his loneliness. Twain makes extensive use of the ideals of Emerson and Thoreau, both of whom are transcendentalists, which helps Huck through his journey. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not 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 moved the plot of the book forward. Nature in Huckleberry Finn is a symbol of Huck's new independence from his father Pap and Jim's key to freedom from Jim's master, Miss Watson. As Huck goes through his journey with Jim, he realizes that nature is the key to his problems and he will soon learn to use what the earth offers him. The first part of the book where the plot thickens is where Huck "drops the canoe on the river under some willows that overhung the bank and waits for the moon to rise." The Mississippi River will be Huck's best friend throughout the novel, ensuring the child's safety. Without the river, Huck would not have been able to carry out his elaborate plans and ultimately save Jim's life. The Mississippi River and the nature that Twain shows in his writing highlights the contrast between the harsh reality of life in the 19th century and how Huck lives happily as a minimalist living alongside nature. Huck feels a certain connection with nature. As he wakes up from a nap he took in the woods, he is awakened by "light filtering through the leaves and the freckles swapping a little, showing that there was a little breeze up there. A couple of squirrels sat on a branch and chatted very friendly to him.” This shows how calm and relaxed Huck feels around the animals who almost look like his friends. In the absence of nature, Huck would not be close to the person he is because of it. The teachings and lessons of Huckleberry Finn are very similar to the teachings of the Transcendentalists, Emerson and Thoreau. Huck resembles their way of life by seeing the goodness of 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 own experiences to find what is truly pure. A turning point in the novel occurs when Huck goes against what society has taught him and "humiliates himself to the point of en*gger" and then, he "will never complain about it." Another time when Huck goes against the societal norm of how to view African Americans, Huck realizes that Jim "cares just as much about his people as white people care about theirs." These are just two examples of how Huck uses transcendentalism by using his own beliefs and morals rather than corporations..