The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has been doubly considered one of the greatest masterpieces of American literature and one of the greatest American literary controversies. Mark Twain develops his story along the Mississippi River where young Huckleberry Finn helps a slave, Jim, escape to his freedom. In a criticism of Twain's novel, T. S. Elliot says, "...Twain has two elements which, when treated with his sensibility and experience, have made a great book: these two are the boy and the river" (348). The river makes Twain's literature “big” and controversial because it functions as much more than just the setting of the novel: the river is a multi-faceted symbol that plays a crucial role in illustrating the dichotomy between civilization and freedom. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Although the Mississippi River provides the literal path to freedom for Huck and Jim, Twain's depictions of the river reveal that true freedom exists only in nature. The geography of the river provides literal and figurative protection for Huck and Jim. They had “mountains on the Missouri coast and heavy timber on the Illinois side, and the canal was along the Missouri coast at that point, so we were not afraid of anyone running towards us” (74). Huck and Jim don't have to worry about anyone from civilization trying to stop them. Since Jim is a runaway slave, it would be extremely dangerous if the two were caught. During an extremely racist time in the antebellum South, it is only the river that can provide comfort and serenity. The river is not tainted by the immorality of society and is almost Eden-like because “there was not a sound, anywhere – perfectly still – just as if the whole world was sleeping” (135). Huck and Jim would also "dangle [their] legs in the water and talk about all kinds of things" while they were "always naked, day and night" (136). With racial tensions at a fever pitch during this time, it would be rare to see a black man and a white child spending time together. Twain's pure and blissful images of Huck and Jim on the river together demonstrate that true freedom for humanity can only exist outside the confines of society. Although Jim is ultimately seeking legal freedom, he gains his emotional and personal freedom along the river where he can express himself without society's reproaches for seeing him only as black. When the externalities of civilization make their way onto the river, Huck and Jim's freedom is completely lost. First, a “solid white” fog (92) momentarily encapsulates the entire river and separates Huck and Jim. This fog is Twain's powerful symbol representing the dangers of racism. The fog physically separates Huck and Jim from each other, as was common practice in the South. It also prevents Huck from seeing anything on the river, similar to how racism blinds people from any morality or compassion for other human beings. This brief scene from the novel provides a more in-depth look at Twain's criticism of racism, particularly towards whites, during that period. Additionally, the fog causes Huck and Jim to overshoot their intended destination of Cairo, lengthening their path to freedom. Huck proclaims, “if you think it ain't sad and lonely like that out in the fog, alone, at night, try it once – you'll see” (93). When the theoretical cloud of racism contaminates the river, Huck loses his freedom, trust and security. Twain is very critical of white prejudice throughout his novel. Although it is ambiguous whether Twain's intent was to symbolize the.