The Satire Element in Huckleberry Finn
Mark Twain proves himself a literary genius with the novel, Huckleberry Finn. At first glance, the novel appears quite innocently filled with wild adventures centered on the two main characters, Huckleberry Finn, an unruly young boy, and Jim, a black runaway slave. A closer examination of this novel reveals that many of the comments have deeper meaning filled with satire, concerning mostly the views of society at that present time. Twain's notice to "persons attempting to find a motive in this narrative will be prosecuted," clearly defines the sardonic tone of the novel he wishes to create. Throughout the novel, Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain satirizes white society's stereotypes, attraction towards crass humor and their hypocrisy. There are many statements on the stereotypes that most white people had of black people during that time period. Twain attempts to discreetly ridicule society with his many satirical comments. Huckleberry Finn's upbringing teaches him that black people are essentially different from white people. He expresses this through one of his many comical statements, "when we was ready to shove off we was a quarter of a mile below the island, and it was pretty broad day; so I ma
for a nigger." (Pg. 81) Huckleberry assumes that blacks are not as intelligent at whites. Twain depicts a common stereotype of that time. Using Jim, Twain discreetly portrays the fact that blacks are intelligent as whites. The final example of Twain's satire occurs when he writes of the speculation of Huckleberry's supposed death. "Some think old Finn done it himself," Twain then goes on to state, "most everybody thought it at first. He'll never know how nigh he come to getting lynched. But before night they changed around and judged it was done by a runaway nigger named Jim." (Pg. 74) This comment is filled with satire because the townspeople recognize Huckleberry's father, Pap, as the town drunk and Jim as the runaway slave. Pap's motive for murdering Huckleberry would be for his inheritance; Jim would not have a motive as Huckleberry and he were amicable with one another. Twain depicts that white people of that time would rather condemn an innocent black person for a crime, than blame one of their own kind. These are just a few of the many satirical comments that Twain writes concerning the stereotypes and prejudices of the white society. Throughout the novel, Huckleberry Finn, Twain is also rather satirical towards society's attraction to crass and vulgar humor. After the duke's failure with the Shakespearean Revival, he claims, "these Arkansaw lunkheads couldn't come up to Shake
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Approximate Word count = 940
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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