Comparison Between the Representations of Nature in the Works of Hawthorne and Twain

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Huck always goes back to nature when he wants to keep his mind clear. He feels relaxed there, just lying and staring at the stars. He spends most if his time in the wild fields, surrounded by natural figures. It is an example of how nature can help him to deal with stress.

Huckleberry Finn discovers that nature is a safe haven and a hiding place where he can disappear if he wants to. Natural environment plays an essential part in showing the difference between society and nature. Huck finds serenity in the calming sounds of nature. This is a clear representation of how he feels free on the outside of his society. During his journey, Huck sees the beauty and freedom of nature, which attracted him to leave society behind:

‘Not a sound any Where's, just like the whole world’s asleep, only sometimes the bullfrogs a-cluttering, maybe.’ (Twain 1999: 135).

However, he can also view nature as aggressive, dangerous and unforgiving. He not only enjoys but rather respects nature as he knows that it can change at any moment This shows how people, just like nature, can alter their attitude from enemies to fellows. Twain wants to illustrate the form of his society by showing this kind of change .He says that even American society can change from worse to better, just like Huck’s ideas. At the beginning of the novel, he thinks all the blacks are the same but, after his close friendship with Jim, he changes his ideas.

From Twain’s point of view, the Mississippi River is a symbol of freedom to oppressed people. Huck and Jim are alone on their raft; they do not have any idea about anything. The river transports them toward freedom: for Huck, away from his abusive and feckless father and the restricting civilisation of St Petersburg; for Jim, towards the free states. Huck and Jim are changing their attitudes about each other, with little prompts ( Firas Abdulkadhim Sadeq Alhilfi).

Nature may be a theme or muse in literature for some time now, however it will never go out of fashion and will continue to inspire new generations of writes. While Hawthorne warned us and advised us to stay away from nature and its dangers,Twain encourages us to go out and live our best life in the freedom of nature and do not settle for society’s close-mindedness.

Bibliography:

- Ignacio González Almodóvar. The Concept of ‘Nature’ in Gothic and Romantic Literature.2014. Salamanca

- Hawthorne, Nathaniel Hawthorne's Works: Mosses from an old manse. 1875. Boston.J.R. Osgood and Company

- Twain, Mark. Adventure of Huckleberry Finn. 1999.New York: Norton & Company.

- Firas Abdulkadhim Sadeq Alhilfi. The Natural Environment in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. International Journal of Literature and Arts. Vol. 4, No. 2, 2016, pp. 25-29.

- http://www.exampleessays.com/viewpaper/201451.html

- http://www.litcharts.com/lit/young-goodman-brown/themes/nature-and-the-supernatural

- https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/how-does-nature-relate-charachters-young-goodman-341096

- http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/nature