The River Means FreedomBy Corey Criss

“So in two seconds away we went a-sliding down the river, and it did seem so good to be free again and all by ourselves on the big river, and nobody to bother us.”

“Sometimes we'd have that whole river all to ourselves for the longest time. Yonder was the banks and the islands, across the water; and maybe a spark- which was a candle in a cabin window- and sometimes on the water you could see a spark or two--on a raft or a scow, you know; and maybe you could hear a fiddle or a song coming over from one of them crafts. It's lovely to live on a raft. We had the sky, up there, all speckled with stars, and we used to lay on our backs and look up at them, and discuss about whether they was made, or only just happened.”

Quotes

Why the River Means Freedom• To Jim the river meant freedom because he was a slave and the river

was a place where he could relax and not have to worry about things. The river was taking him to a place where he could be free.

• To Huck the river meant freedom because society on shore kept him locked up with rules and his pap who literally kept him locked up.

Another reason the river meant freedom is that the shore meant the opposite. "I wished I hadn’t ever come ashore that night, to see such things“ said Huck when thinking about the Grangerford/Shepardson feud.

The River Means Freedom“We said there warn't no home like a raft, after all. Other

places do seem so cramped up and smothery, but a raft don't. You feel mighty free and easy and comfortable on a raft.”