How Does Twain Use Satire In Huckleberry Finn

Words: 624
Pages: 3
Open Document
American humorist, Mark Twain, in his classic novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, narrates the adventures of a boy named Huckleberry Finn, and a runaway slave, Jim, that takes place down the Mississippi River in the nineteenth century. Through their adventures, Twain uses satire to critique the superstitions of the Southerners. His purpose is to expose the absurdity in Southerners’ use of their superstitions to blame bad occurrences on their superstitions. By utilizing exaggeration, sarcasm, and humor, Twain is successfully able to explain how human nature tends to attribute things for the wrong reasons. As Huckleberry Finn opens, Twain employs exaggeration to present the Southerners’ way of using their superstitions to avoid ‘bad …show more content…
“Jim always kept that five-center piece around his neck with a string and said it was a charm the devil gave him with his own hands… Niggers would come from all around there and give Jim anything they had, just for a sight of that five-center piece…” (Twain 10). African Americans, who lack education and logic to determine right or wrong at the time being, use their superstitions to open up new ways of thinking. However, Tom Sawyer, “Afterward Jim said the witches bewitched him and put him in a trance, and rode him all over the state, and then set him under the trees again, and hung his hat on a limb to show who done it” (Twain 6). Jim, who is webbed to the superstitious world, believes that he is a victim of the witches’ magic. Since it is apparent that it was Tom who hung the hat on the limb, Tom is able to deceive Jim using use his own superstitions zeal against him. Twain furthermore reveals how slaves use their superstitions to explain things that are out of their understanding.
In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the author Mark Twain applies satirical tone in order to ridicule people’s way of using their superstitions. In criticizing the superstitions of the Southerners using exaggeration, sarcasm, and humor, Twain reveals the absurdity of the Southerners’ beliefs and how minor things can affect their choices
Show More

Related Documents: How Does Twain Use Satire In Huckleberry Finn

How Does Twain Use Satire In The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn

In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, there are many aspects to consider for analysis. Among them are characterization, style, and criticism. Mark Twain and his story really nail these aspects. In this essay, I will explain how characters develop, how Twain uses a technique called Satire, and even how people have criticized the writing of the book. How can a book that explains so much about a certain view on society be criticized? As the characterization comes up in The Adventures…

Words 1064 - Pages 5

How Does Mark Twain Use Satire In Huckleberry Finn

Mark Twain uses satire in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn to poke fun at some of the biggest problems in America at that time. The setting of the novel is pre Civil war around 1835. In that time period; near the California Gold Rush people were more concerned with materialistic things. Many were consumed with ideas of money and wealth but they were blind to see the real issues going on in their world. In this novel Twain sheds light on the moral issues going on then. Twain uses satire and irony…

Words 965 - Pages 4

Use Of Satire In Huckleberry Finn

A satire defines itself as something that mocks the seriousness of something widely known and accepted. Mark Twain uses multiple satires in his novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. This book discusses the moral growth of a young, white boy, Huck Finn, who attempts to escape civilization with the help of his African American friend Jim. Mark Twain uses satires to mock topics, such as slavery, the American Civil War, the gullibility of the human race, and the pointless complexity of writers from…

Words 1083 - Pages 5

Huck Finn Satire

novel, “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”, was written it has caused fiery debate amongst readers and critics. This novel was written in a time where the equality of a black man comes into question, and Twains ability to portray the actuality of human interaction, while under duress from an entire society, shows that Twain was not only a stellar writer but also a revolutionary thinker who was not afraid to go against the grain. The claim that “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” is anything less than…

Words 1006 - Pages 5

Essay about Huck Finn

The Satire of 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…

Words 953 - Pages 4

Criticism Of Huckleberry Finn Society Essay

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, written by Mark Twain, Twain uses satire to criticize the American society. Satire is the use of humor or irony to ridicule or criticize any issue. In this story, Mark Twain fills the pages with this literary tool to "poke fun" at many different social institutions or ideas. From the first page to the last, Twain secretly spoke his mind on how he envisioned society. His opinions during this time period were drastically different from others. Whether Mark Twain was describing…

Words 910 - Pages 4

Huckelberry Finn Essay

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Human Nature Essay The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is the story of a boy named Huckleberry Finn and his struggles as he escapes an abusive father and an environment that he does not want to be a part of. Huckleberry Finn soon encounters many different events while traveling down the Mississippi River with Jim, an escaped slave, who is fleeing from the same woman Miss Watson. These events are addressing actual issues of the time. Mark Twain uses satire in The Adventures…

Words 775 - Pages 4

Huckleberry Finn Analysis

the many reviews written about Twain’s Huckleberry Finn. The N-word is seen on the book’s pages over 200 times, putting the tale of self-discovery and friendship on more than one banned book list. The narrator, a twelve year old boy by the name of Huck, takes the reader through his adventures of escaping his uptight caretakers as he travels the Mississippi river with Jim, a runaway slave. The pair face dangers and racists who, because it was the 1850’s, use the N-word as part of their everyday language…

Words 1296 - Pages 6

Huck Finn Essay

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain has been discussed as a book that needs “re-publishing”. In my opinion, great writing does not censor its purpose and style to fit the needs or to meet the expectations of society; the author should make his point by demanding the attention of the audience and disregarding social disapproval. Although some argue that Mark Twain’s Huck Finn needs republishing, the novel teaches universal truths in schools and in the world, in the way that Twain had intended…

Words 1125 - Pages 5

Huck Finn Racial Stereotypes

In the satire, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, written by Mark Twain as much as it promotes racial stereotypes it still has a legitimate academic purpose and should be taught to high school juniors. We may say that now that we are in the 21st century we mustn’t learn about what it was like back then, but we should and the book has it all from historical to a truly great story behind it. In the satire, racial stereotypes often occur and are celebrated, promoted, and otherwise exploited. Back…

Words 977 - Pages 4