Many themes are discussed in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The themes as in each case mainly involve issues addressed throughout the novel's duration such as: racism and slavery, prejudices faced while exploring civilized society, superstition, and the importance of the Mississippi River. Mark Twain does an extremely excellent job of combining all these elements into what is considered essentially the best piece of American literature according to Ernest Hemingway or at least it is: “All modern American literature comes from a book by Mark Twain called 'Huckleberry Finn'. '”Very early in the book superstition is established as a major theme. It is revisited multiple times and for the most part is never taken lightly. Huck is superstitious to a certain extent while Jim is extremely superstitious to the point that the superstation is almost like a paralyzing fear for him. Which he has to overcome as the novel progresses. One of the first themes regarding superstition was the superstition of Huck's bad luck. “Very soon a spider crawled onto my shoulder, I put it out and it lit up in the candle; and before I could move it was all crumpled up. I didn't need anyone to tell me that it was a bad sign and that it would bring me bad luck, so I was scared and most shook my clothes off. I stood up and turned around three times and crossed my breasts each time; and then I tied a little lock of my hair with a thread to keep the witches away (Twain 110).” Another time Huck's bad luck superstition was shown in the story was when he accidentally spilled salt on his breakfast. “One morning I happened to turn the salt shaker at breakfast. I grabbed some as fast as I could, to throw it to the left... center of the paper... escape exists in the larger context of a continuing southward drift, towards the Deep South, and entrenched slavery. In this transition from idyllic refuge to source of danger, the river mirrors the complicated state of the South. As Huck and Jim's journey progresses, the river, which once seemed like a paradise and a source of freedom, becomes merely a short-term means of escape that nevertheless pushes Huck and Jim further into danger and destruction. Not only does the river symbolize freedom, but it symbolizes God. The river is God, he is the provider, providing them with the food and tools they desperately need during their journey. It keeps them safe, as they travel on the river they risk being spotted and handed over, which is especially important considering Jim is a runaway slave. The river is also a means of travel that guides them towards their goal of escaping the south.