Throughout the years, authors have been influential figures in society who push change through the use of their novels. Usually they shed light on topics that are not well discussed and/or try to correct a social norm which is unjust. In Mark Twain’s classic The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, slavery and racism are portrayed in a humorous light through the eyes of a child. Twain could have narrated his own story about critiquing American society, but when he uses Huck to recount, he is given the freedom to write about the obvious injustices of slavery and racial discrimination which, the South shied away from. Twain utilizes satire throughout the novel to mock the norms of society throughout the many amusing experiences Huck has with …show more content…
This illustrates the fact that even though Ms. Watson is a “good christian women” she still believes that owning another human being and considering them as property is alright in the eyes of the bible. Twain uses satire to show how hypocritical a "good Christian woman" can be when it comes to owning slaves and treating them as property. Later on in the book Pap goes on a unintelligent ran on how the government is corrupt and how “free nigger there, from ohio”(Twain 27), is allowed to vote even though it is obvious that the man has had more education than Pap. In this scene, Twain attacks the ignorance of a man in this time period, and showing how uncultured he is. He does this with Pap because Huck 's father is simpleminded. Another key example of satire in the novel is the Sherburn-Boggs incident. Boggs enters the story and says that he has come kill Sherburn for some reason. The situation escalates and Boggs is shot and killed. The townspeople become furious and form a mob to lynch Sherburn. The townspeople arrive at Sherburn’s home, and he is sitting on the roof with a rifle. Sherburn states how the whole crowd is a coward for being in a mob wanting to lynch a man. The mob eventually disperses and Huck adds that “... the pitifulest thing out is a mob” (Twain 142). Twain mocks Southern bravery and the justice system. An example that really shows Hucks innocences and
Twain feels that by making Huck do this Twain is poking fun at Huck's intelligence. Not his nature intelligence but his book intelligence. In other words Twain is making fun of Huck.
In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Mark Twain satirizes Pre-Civil War society through Widow Douglas and Miss Watson over their treatment of Huck. They are hypocritical, single, old women who attempt to educate Huck in the ways of the "sivilized" society and show him the benefits of religion. Ironically they are racist even though it contradicts their religious beliefs. Twain emphasizes these satirical points in his descriptions on there treatment of Huck and through their own habits. He illustrates there hypocritical views further through there behaviors and teachings toward Huck. While these characters are similar in many ways, their subtle differences reveal variations on Twain's satire of a
“Huckleberry Finn” incorporates examples of satire in its story. These episodes of satire reflect Twain’s opinions on topics such as slavery. These examples include Miss Watson trying to be a “good Christian woman” but still is, herself, a slaveholder. Another may be seen when Pap becomes enraged about a black man being free and holding the right to vote as though he was less of a human even though the black man was better educated than Pap himself.”They said he was a p’fessor in a college… They said he could vote when he was at home… I’ll never vote ag’in.” (Huckleberry Finn, pg. 24)
The particular motifs he uses are the abilities to be unashamed and courageous. The concept of being unabashed shows in the quote, “It was fifteen minutes before I could work myself up to go and humble to a [African-American]; but I done it, and I warn’t ever sorry for it afterward, neither” (Twain 86). Huck’s realization that he is not sorry for apologizing to someone who society perceives as beneath him, becomes a major breakthrough in the story. A second quote that further portrays the motif of being unapologetic also helps support the theme that society’s views must be conquered: “All right, then, I’ll go to hell”-- and tore it up. It was awful thoughts, and awful words, but they was said. And I let them stay said; and never thought no more about reforming. I shoved the whole thing out of my head; and said I would take up wickedness again, which was in my line, being brung up to it, and the other warn't.” (Twain 214). To provide context, Huck had written a letter to send to Miss Watson telling her that he had Jim. After having a moment to comprehend his actions, he reflects on the memories and moments he shared with Jim. Tearing up the letter and acknowledging that he would remain loyal to Jim, even though there is an immense pressure for him to abide by a “civilized” form of rules, displays his strength. Twain writes a final quote, symbolizing his courage, on the same page: “And for a starter, I
Throughout the novel, Twain shows his contempt for corrupt human nature. Although these instances are often satirized and exaggerated, the message is still the same. For instance, when the King and the Duke first start to lie about being the dead Peter Wilks’ brothers to obtain his money, Huck says, “It was enough to make a body ashamed of the human race,” (191). In this instance Twain is utilizing Huck to show his aversion to the way people lie and cheat, and how a couple of people can make a bad name for all of us. Another example is when Jim sells the King and Duke out to the townspeople and they are carried on a pole, tarred and feathered. Although Huck, has tried to escape the King and Dukes several occasions and has witnessed the cruelties put on others and lies they tell, he does not think that they deserve similar treatment. In fact, he says, “Human beings can be awful cruel to one another,” (269). Through Huck, Twain is voicing his opposition to how people treat one another, whether they deserve it or not. Thus Twain is using his novel to voice his enmity for the cruelty in human nature.
Transcendentalism can be observed throughout the text of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and through the text textbook examples of Transcendentalism can be seen from the cast of characters and Huck himself and the situations/adventures that he gets himself into throughout his journey, a journey which enables him to develop his Transcendental ideals.. Transcendentalism is a vital part of The novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. By reading and studying the content of the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn it is perceived that Transcendentalism is a prevalent influence that can be attributed to plot and the motivations of the Protagonist.
Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has been controversial ever since its release in 1884. It has been called everything from the root of modern American literature to a piece of racist trash. Many scholars have argued about Huck Finn being prejudiced. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain uses satire to mock many different aspects of the modern world. Despite the fact that many critics have accused Mark Twain’s novel of promoting racism, through close analysis of the text, it becomes remarkably clear that Twain is satirical in his writing as he ridicules slavery and the racist attitudes prevalent in his day.
Many authors use satire to discuss issues in society that they have opinions on. These authors express their opinions by mocking the issues in a subtle way in their writing. Throughout The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain satirizes many societal elements. Three of these issues include the institution of slavery, organized religion, and education.
In Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Huck struggles to conform to society’s views and expectations. Society pressures Huck Finn into earning a standard education, but through his worldly knowledge and common sense, he can view the world differently than the people around him. Through his perspective on Southern society, Huck struggles to accept the moral beliefs that have been instilled upon him at birth because he befriends an African American slave. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Twain effectively uses the motif of dead bodies to suggest that truth finally reveals the inconsistencies in society through Huck’s common sense.
Throughout the novel, Mark Twain uses satire to mock southern hospitality. When Huck is staying with the Grangerfords, he learns about the feud they have with another family called the Shepherdsons. No one in either family can remember why or how this feud started, but they continue killing each other nonetheless. When Huck asks the Grangerford’s boy, Buck, how long this has been going on, Buck replies, “ Well I should reckon! It started thirty year ago, or
To begin, one of the biggest human traits that Twain satirizes is Ignorance. The largest example of an individual with a strong sense of ignorance is Huck’s father, Pap. This is shown when he says “I won’t have it. I’ll lay for you, my smarty; and if I catch you about that school i’ll tan
Molly Ivins once said, "Satire is traditionally the weapon of the powerless against the powerful". This quote explains how the use of satire, which is the use of humor or irony to point out or mock someone's stupidity, could be used as an insult to point out the obvious in any situation. The use of this figurative language technique is portrayed perfectly in Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The three most prominent examples would be the way African Americans are viewed in that time period, the situation when Huckleberry pretended to be a girl, and the way Huckleberry talks about Pap verse how he actually acts. Twain's use of satire is used perfectly in this novel; these are only three examples out of the millions in the story.
Another adequate example of satire conveys through Pap Finn, a racist, drunk man, who serves as a strong ironic exaggeration of slave owners and common white men. As Huck states in the novel, when Pap Finn drinks, he tends to fulminate about controversies in his life, such as criticizing the “govment”, and while doing so, he inadvertently begins to fulminate about slavery in this society. “Whenever his liquor begun to work he most always went for the government...Here’s a govment that calls itself a govment, and lets on to be a govment, and thinks it is a govment, and yet’s got to set stock-still for six whole months before it can take a-hold of a prowling, thieving, infernal, white-shirted free slave, and-” (36-38) While Pap Finn was ranting, he begins blaming
Additionally, One of the most significant satires used in Huckleberry Finn was slavery. The novel is set somewhere around The Civil Era when slavery was very prominent. Jim one of the main characters was a slave who eventually became free. “And it was the niggers- I just expected (Twain 180(.” Twain demonstrates how unfair slavery is by using this quote. Twain demonstrates how slaves were treated poorly and used as scapegoats for things they didn’t do. “Well I Reckon! There’s two hundred dollars reward on him. It’s like picking up money out’n the road (Twain 202).” Twain shows how people will do anything for money. People at the time saw slaves as money instead of actual people. People treated slaves like property as if they didn’t have any rights.
Twain uses colloquial diction to convey Huck’s struggle between the values of his southern upbringing, which urge him to return Jim, and his strong friendship and loyalty with Jim, which encourage him to protect the runaway. Although Huck lacks education, Huck interprets the laws in ways that are morally sound, an interpretation that most educated people fail to understand, while they blindly accept the injustice of slavery. Throughout the novel, Twain makes use of uneducated diction and syntax to convey an ironic contrast between Huck’s ability to discern between moral and immoral actions and his lack of education.