After the storm, the river washes the shores, as do tears washing away lament and the past. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain, the protagonist Huck Finn runs away from home in order to find himself. When he spends time on the river, he sets the feeling of harshness experienced on land aside, and experiences new adversities. During his adventures, he has a constant underlying battle between his conscience and his heart. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the river is used to contrast to the harshness of society, reinforce the themes presented in the novel, and maintain a reoccurring function as a symbol.

Life on the river, in contrast to life on land, is much more lenient. Huckleberry was adopted by Widow Douglas and housed with her and her sister, Miss Watson. When living with the widow and her sister, Huck was dressed within...