Topic > The impact of the environment as depicted by Mark Twain in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and A White Heron by Sarah Orne Jewett

The role of nature is essential to every story throughout time. Nature has the ability to alter any situation and create a completely new atmosphere in the scene. Nature becomes a symbol with a deeper meaning that travels through the story, allowing the reader to identify with the character and adding depth to the plot. In the two stories The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The White Heron, nature is typically used as a form of symbolism and very often becomes a character itself. Although the two stories have opposing moods and produce contrasting results, the role of nature is the underlying cement that holds them together and moves the plot forward, giving the character obstacles to overcome on the journey through the real problems of the story. plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Nature is known for its beauty and magnificence that happens around us, but it can also turn into a dangerous enemy that fights us in everything we try to do. Huck and Jim experience nature's cruelest sadness as they travel up the Mississippi River. Huck even describes it as a “monstrous great river,” which gives nature a negative and frightening appearance, while also asserting the power it has over him as he tries to control his canoe (Adventures of Huckleberry Finn 155). Besides the force of the river acting against them, nature's next adversity is the fog that clouds their vision the entire way. Huck was confused and lost as he tried to listen to the noises around him but “nothing doesn't sound natural or seem natural in the fog” (154). The fog plays a significant role as a physical barrier that works to cloud and alter Huck's vision, while also serving as a symbolic barrier on the time period and harsh impact of slavery on people. Another case with the fog causes Huck to be frozen in fear as "it hurt me so much and scared me that I couldn't move..." (154). The role of nature takes on a decidedly negative connotation throughout this story. Play as a manipulator and constant struggle to overcome. By injecting fear and uncertainty into the characters, he achieves victory over them and manages to hinder them even more. Although the river and fog are physically stopping Huck and Jim, they are also symbolically hindering society as they uphold obstacles to slavery and the unjust treatment of African Americans. Although nature was fighting against Huck and Jim, it also had instances where it brought them closer as friends and acted as a peaceful break from all the chaos going on in their lives. “It was a little solemn, drifting down the great still river, lying on your back looking at the stars” (144). Nature acted as a peacemaker and a place of serenity for escape. Sitting silently in the background at ease, nature can show mercy to Huck and Jim in their efforts to achieve their own forms of freedom from pain and persecution. While nature seems to be a constant battle for Huck and Jim, it also has its moments of friendship where the story can take a little step back from all the action to sit back and relax, as if nature knows that the two they needed a break. “the river softened, moved away, and was no longer black…” (176). Later “the pleasant breeze rises…so cool and fresh, and sweet to the smell…” (176). It is as if nature were fighting a battle within itself over chaos and harmony. This new role as a safe haven from the world deepens the meaning of the symbol that nature represents in this story. Hard times and.