“With all beings and all things we shall be as relatives…”
The process of self-discovery is one made up of genetics, environment and personal experience and interpretation. All of these elements affect our personality development and worldview to one degree or another. Ideally, the individual will develop a well-rounded perspective that encompasses self-actualization directed towards community with others. Unfortunately, education, economics, and a host of other factors play a role in the degree to which one is able to evolve such a perspective. In both Mark Twain’s The Adventure’s of Huckleberry Finn and Peter Jenkins’ A Walk Across America, we are presented with journeys that are symbolic of the journey of self-discovery and growth. In Twain’s, we see Huckleberry Finn born and raised to have a racist perspective that his journey teaches him is not a well-rounded nor particularly truthful one in light of the reality of human beings—a reality that becomes more lucid to him as he makes his journey. In Jenkins’ self-written story of his own journey walking across America, we see how attitudes, perceptions and personal reactions are often modified by our interaction and experiences with others. Both works help illustrate the interconnected nature of all humans, regardless of the personal differences which often separate them from one another. The opening quote from Jenkins’ book is similar to a quote made by Mark Twain, “I can stand any society. All I care to know is that a man is a human being—that is enough for me…he can’t be any worse” (Racism 1).
In Jenkins’ story we meet many interesting characters during his journey across America. One of particular interest is Homer, whose mountain life is his reaction against a changing society, one in which he feels displaced. Homer loves the land and his reaction to a society of industrial development and timber-logging is to isolate himself and ...