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Comparing Satire In 1984 And The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn

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There are several examples of irony in both 1984 by George Orwell and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. Orwell and Twain also utilize satire as 1984 is itself a satire on dystopias, while The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn satirizes the inhumanity of man. Together, the irony and satire enable the novels to illustrate an in-depth exploration of the construction of society’s norms and shedding light on the importance of thinking for one’s self. It is clear that the hero of 1984, Winston Smith, is upset with his life because he knows that Big Brother and The Party are full of lies. To deal with the sadness that this brings him, he uses “Victory Gin” and “Victory Cigarettes” because when he did “the world began to look more cheerful” (5). Alcohol and cigarettes are also his way to escape and to suppress his stress and fears. Before he can get himself to write in the journal because he knows the party will punish him severely if they were to find it, he pours “nearly a teacupful” of the gin… and gulp[s] it down like a dose of medicine” then gets a cigarette and “incautiously held it upright” causing the tobacco to fall out. Orwell states that he “incautiously” handled the cigarette it shows that he …show more content…

One way Twain uses irony to reveal the conflict of religion and slavery is through the use of the n-word. This derogatory term is used by the members of the civilized Christian society, including Miss Watson, to refer to slaves. It is ironic because Miss Watson is trying to use the Bible to civilize Huck, yet her teachings are hypocritical. She does not allow Huck to smoke yet “she took snuff, too; of course that was all right because she done it herself” (Twain 4). Another discrepancy is the fact that she is also a slave owner. She believes it is alright to own a certain type of people, yet it conflicts with her claim as being a

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162 Words | 1 Pages

Twain extends his satire to the moment surrounding the funeral service of Peter Wilks. The dark humor of the funeral scene is obvious with the actions of the undertaker and the interruption of the dog catching rat. When the service is interrupted by the noise of the dog, the undertaker tells the people at the funeral that "He had a rat!" Huck's says "there warn't no more popular man in town than what that undertaker was" which is another example of satire directed at the subject of death. The scene in which Mary Jane is saddened by the unfortunate situation of the slave family, forces Huck to act based on both his instincts and his conscience.

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715 Words | 3 Pages

Throughout Huckleberry Finn, the author Mark Twain showcases his beliefs about religion through satire and satirical properties. Mark Twain himself was a Christian, so his exposure of satire to religion wasn't out of disrespect. He satirizes throughout the book the fact that many people during the 1800’s did not practice what they preach. Instead, they were doing it for show. He also satirizes religion to show how hypocritical and absurd it could be.

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443 Words | 2 Pages

In the beginning of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain proscribes his audience from finding a motive, moral, or plot. In using rhetorical strategies such as satire, irony, and humor he challenges the reader to look for deeper meanings not only in the Notice, but throughout the whole novel. His purpose was to shed light on the false ideals that society represents as seen through the eyes of young boy. The ironic events that prohibit Huck from being a dynamic character suggest the inadequacy of blind faith in society. Twain uses satire to show the conflict between slavery and Christianity.

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1555 Words | 7 Pages

Throughout history, irony has been used in a multitude of ways. It is not just a way to inject humor into a story, but a way to slip a message in without saying it flat out. By doing that, it allows the reader to take in the information, and possibly come to the conclusion that the author wanted them to. This way, though, it does not seem like something forced upon them. Authors who used this tactic were Frederick Douglass in The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass and Mark Twain in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

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278 Words | 2 Pages

In Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain uses satire to teach an overall theme. One particular theme Twain emphasizes in this fashion is the treatment of slaves. During the Duke and the King’s funeral scam, Johanna questions Huck about slave treatment in England. Johanna asks: ”’... How is servants treated in England?

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659 Words | 3 Pages

“But I reckon I got to light out for the territory ahead of rest, because Aunt Sally she’s going to adopt me and sivilize me, and I can’t stand it. I’ve been there before. ”(294). In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, there are numerous examples of Twain’s witty humor like satire and irony throughout the novel. Twain pokes fun at things like slavery, romanticism, religion, etc.

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902 Words | 4 Pages

Mark Twain uses Satire to highlight the problems and social issues in America before the Civil War. Throughout the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, there are many characters and situations, that Mark Twain uses to expose the problems that are happening during this time period. These situations are illustrated when Mark Twain shows the Duke and the Dolphine wasting their time and talents by conning people. Huck's Pap drives home this example when he says that a person with dark skin should not be able to vote even though the black man has more education than Pap. And finally, Mark Twain shows that social class does not equal morality when you meet the Grangerfords and the Sheperdsons who have been feuding for years, over reasons that no one

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1707 Words | 7 Pages

hey might not know they influence him but they do. Miss Watson uses the n word and it becomes a part of Huck's vocabulary Page 3 Twain uses diction to prove this view of morality because that word was a part of everyone's vocabulary at the time. Huck may have known the word before but Miss Watson and Widow Douglas are just prolonging it and making it seem likes it's alright. They’re not teaching him that it's not good and they're still promoting it.

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869 Words | 4 Pages

Both Jim and Huck Finn want to achieve their own form of freedom and happiness. In conclusion, Mark Twain was a remarkable author. In Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain's use of satire is used to expose the wrongs of society and add to the theme of the novel. The satire of religion, racism, and honor are used to portray this humorous

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923 Words | 4 Pages

Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a satire of the American society and human nature. Written during a period where hypocrisy was prevalent, the novel mocks the slavery, superstition, judicial system, family feuds, racism, ignorance, and the cruelty displayed by a majority of Americans. Twain used many of the characters and situations in the novel to represent pieces of the society he thought were ironic, and he did so in a humorous and hyperbolic manner. One major conflict in the novel that Twain uses for satire is when Pap, Huckleberry's father, reappears after a long abandonment and is angry at Huck for going to school. Pap's character is exaggeratedly used to symbolize illiterate, dead-beat, racist, white, wandering drunkards.

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1115 Words | 5 Pages

Huckleberry Finn is considered controversial due to being commonly discussed for its highly extensive use of course language throughout the course of the novel. In reflection of its language of vernacular slang and racial contents, some readers view it as part of a deeper meaning in understanding the history of the period, whereas many other readers had interpreted it as demeaning and damaging to a past culture. Since its original publication in 1884, the modern criticisms from the book Huckleberry Finn have paled in comparison to what they used to be. When it was first released, the author was condemned for his speech and many civilians rioted in burnings of the book without having even taken the time to read it.

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684 Words | 3 Pages

“The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain is a “satirical novel… that accurately portrays a time in history – the nineteenth century – and one of its evils, slavery”, according to the NAACP (their current position on Huck Finn). The nineteenth century was by no means an easy time to live through, even more so for non-whites. It was a cruel, harsh, and dark time for many people; the environment and living conditions alone are almost completely unimaginable for the children in our world today learning of these times, so how does any school, teacher, or parent plan to teach their children of the most inhumane, demeaning, and evil act of slavery? In order for our generation and for generations to come to be able to understand our own history

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815 Words | 4 Pages

Satire In Huck Finn Satire is defined as the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues. This literary device is extremely popular in literature and entertainment, and is evident in everyday life. One modern example of satire is The Onion, which, in its home page today has satirized American politics as well as day to day American living. In one specific article, The website satirizes the current American Presidency when it says, “From building a brand new nation, to safeguarding the ideals of liberty and democracy around the world, to moving on her like a bitch, The Onion takes a closer look at each of America’s

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939 Words | 4 Pages

He included multiple types of irony, and using Huck, showcased his theme of morality over legality perfectly. Huck's innocence is a dramatic irony in a way that only the reader knows that what he does is actually right when he is told and thinks otherwise. The reader is also able to infer that personal beliefs can trump herd mentality any day, and that insight can only come through first-hand experience. Twain's impact of theme affects the reader just as heavily as it does Huckleberry Finn, crossing the barrier of fact and fiction. He is able to enlighten readers that a better world is among them, although they may need to sift through the cesspool of a poorly influenced society, just like Huck

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1229 Words | 5 Pages

Few of the literary devices that are used in the novel are imagery, irony, foreshadowing, and allusion. How does George Orwell utilize literary devices

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