Examples Of Transcendentalism In Huckleberry Finn

Sometimes standing up for what is right, especially when it goes against customary beliefs of society, is not an easy task. In the novel Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, the protagonist Huck encounters many situations that cause him to question his morality. This conflict of values and beliefs can be expressed by the inner turmoil Huck experiences with a conscience versus heart battle, a facade for the oppressive public views against his individuality. Alexander, the main character from “Into the Wild”, has significant family issues that leave him depressed and hateful towards the people he is supposed to love. He then faces the difficult decision to either stay with his hypocritical family, or venture out on his own. By the widely

Alex and Huck were depicted by their creators not necessarily religious, but following a way of life they prefered; Transcendentalism. Penn and Twain created their characters to make the transition from the popular belief to a personal choice swiftly. Alex believed that in order to find his true inner self that civilization locked away was to find sanctuary in nature, thus being a hitchhiker and living in Alaska. By doing so, he planned to live solely off the designated land with nothing but the bare minimum, as well as his renaming himself as an act of western rebellion and to his parents values. By fearing no rejection for himself, Alex acted almost God-like by dictating which path his life would follow and trusted no one but himself because self-dependency is necessary. He was confident that it would all work out, but Huck was the opposite. He grew up lacking money and typical childhood things except the necessities provided by his neglectful father. His Pap was abusive towards him relentlessly, he had no mother, and his friends acted much like the stereotypical white, southern boys. Huck always rendered the idea of transcendentalism as he grew up in such a life and repetitively believed it was the best for him. Even when living the luxurious life with Miss Watson and Widow Douglas who cared for him very much, he could never submit to a

Huck hearing voices in the wind wasn’t an estrangement of his mind, but because he feels one with nature and understands it in a way the others don’t, the same with Alex. Both boys always feel as if they are accompanied by something even when nothing is around because that's how fulfilling the wilderness is to them. By the creation of such a deep connection between human and Mother Nature, Penn and Twain offer the chance to Huck and Alex as a major driving force to morph into who they feel they