Role Of Nature In Huck Finn

Words: 2055
Pages: 9

Nature is the space that exists around us, and lives outside the “walls” of our world. Unaltered by man, nature is composed of properties almost unknown to man now. The advancements of our world propel us away from what we originally had. Now, in the modern world, we are consumed and preoccupied with the problems of our world to notice nature, the world lying around us. Problems like making money, buying a house, or even finishing homework can divert us from noticing what's around us. All of these problems cause stress, and built up over time can cause a person immense struggle. However, a sanctuary of sort, a place where none of these problems exist could easily pose as a cure to the stress built up off problems. Nature is this sanctuary. …show more content…
Beginning with Into the Wild it is arguable that the same problems that Chris runs from in society also exist in nature. For example, one may argue that the need for material things is both present in society but as well as nature. In nature you still need things to survive such as food, water, and shelter. Also one may add on that near the end of Into the Wild Chris started wanting to be back in society with his family, especially as he started to read books about it. However, these are not valid arguments, primarily with the fact that this is not how Sean Penn, the director of Into the Wild, meant for things to be. Firstly, the material things needed in nature are almost impossibly compared to the material things in society. It is obvious that food and water will been needed materials in nature but nature there is no need for a car or a mansion. The material things in society are unnecessary and mostly luxuries. Also, the argument that Chris began to want society at the end of the movie after living in nature is also false. There is no mention of money, a phone, a bed, etc. that Chris says he wants. Chris only mentions his family, which he started regret abandoning. This is completely different than wanting to rejoin the society he previously lived in. In Huck Finn it is also …show more content…
Both Mark Twain, the writer of Huck Finn, and Sean Penn, the director of Into the Wild, use the main characters to show the many problems in society. They then show nature, and how its free of all of these problems. They also show advantages nature has over society. With all the importance they give to nature both Penn and Twain use the main characters and their problems with society to portray nature as a sanctuary. Nature is clearly a big part of both Huck Finn and Into the Wild and it is arguable that nature is not portrayed by Twain or Penn as a sanctuary but that argument can be easily refuted and disproved. The fact of the matter is that nature, in both the book and movie play important roles as a sanctuary in which the main characters will