The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has been considered both 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 review of Twain's novel, TS Elliot says: "...Twain has two elements which, treated with his sensitivity and experience, formed a great book: these two are the boy and the river" (348). The river makes Twain's literature "great" and controversial because it functions much more than just the setting of the novel: the river is a multifaceted 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 Should Not Be Banned”? Get the 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 went down to the Missouri coast there, so we weren't afraid of anyone crossing us" (74). Huck and Jim don't have to worry about anyone from civilization trying to stop them. Since Jim is an escaped slave, it would be extremely dangerous for both of them to be caught. In an extremely racist era in the antebellum South, only the river can bring comfort and serenity. The river is unmarred by the immorality of society and is almost Eden-like because there was “no sound anywhere – perfectly still – as if the whole world was sleeping” (135). Huck and Jim also “dangled [their] legs in the water and talked about all kinds of things” while they were “always naked, day and night” (136). With racial tensions at a high during this time, it would be rare to see a black man and a white child spending time together. Twain's pure and happy images of Huck and Jim on the river together prove that the true freedom of humanity can only exist outside the confines of society. Although Jim ultimately seeks legal freedom, he gains his emotional and personal freedom along the river where he can express himself without the reprimands of society for seeing him only as black. When the externalities of civilization end up on the river, Huck and Jim's freedom is completely lost. First, a “plain 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. This also prevents Huck from seeing anything on the river, in the same way that racism blinds people from any morality or compassion toward other human beings. This brief scene from the novel provides further insight into Twain's criticism of racism, particularly against white people, at the time. Additionally, the fog causes Huck and Jim to drift past their intended destination, Cairo, thus lengthening their path to freedom. Huck proclaims, “If you think it’s not sad and lonely in the fog that way, alone, at night, try it once – you’ll see” (93). When the theoretical cloud of racism taints the river, Huck loses his freedom, his.