How Does Mark Twain Use Satire In Huckleberry Finn

Twain's Relationship with Satire in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Authors use satire as a way to ridicule society and things they disagree with. In Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn makes use of satire throughout the story to criticize the racism of the pre-civil war South. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn take place in the slave state of Missouri in the 1800s. Huck grew up with an alcoholic father; to break free he escapes on a raft where he eventually meets Jim, a runaway slave. Together they go on adventures where Huck begins to glimpse the cruel and unique natures of southern society. Mark Twain utilizes satire in the book to mock southern society's religion, hypocrisy, and ignorance.

. Among the things that Twain

Next, Huck asks Widow Douglas to let him smoke, but she refuses. “Pretty soon I wanted to smoke, and asked the widow to let me. But she wouldn’t … She took snuff, too; of course that was all right, because she done it herself” (Twain 12). Mrs. Douglass herself has smoked before but for some reason restricts Huck's usage of it. That she lacks double standards, as it is normal to limit someone other than herself. Therefore she is a hypocrite. In addition, the Duke and the King have their money stolen by Huck. They don’t know who took it to the Duke and automatically assume a slave took it. “Because Mary Jane ‘ll be in mourning from this out; and first you know the nigger that does up the rooms will get an order to box these duds up and put ‘em away; and do you reckon a nigger can run across money and not borrow some of it?” (Twain 162). When the duke mentions the n-word he is referring to a slave because that is the definition of the n-word. His assumption involves the idea that all black men are slaves. The amusing part of this quote is that the Duke and King themselves are common scam artists who put up short plays. How hypocritical of the duke to complain about what his whole occupation is. Hypocrisy is quite a common theme in Twain’s novel which he pokes fun

Huck’s father, Pap, goes on a rant about the government while in the cabin with Huck. He complains about black people voting. “When they told me there was a State in this country where they’d let that nigger vote, I drawed out. I says I’ll never vote again…I says to the people, why ain’t this nigger put up at auction and sold” (Twain 29). Pap demonstrates his racial ignorance towards black people by going toward the expense of never voting again. Southern society refuses to acknowledge black people to any extent. Considering the factor that The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn took place in about the 1840s slavery in the south was at an all-time high. With this, they would grow more prejudiced against black people. The tantrum Pap has is half-witted, besides this, there is no evidential proof or actual solid argument that can be brought forth as to why black people can not vote. Twain demonstrates Pap’s ignorance in a simple-minded fashion. Furthermore, Pap lectures Huck about his life decisions. “And looky here—you drop that school, you hear? I’ll learn people to bring up a boy to put on airs over his own father and let on to be better’n what he is” (Twain 21). Pap shows ignorance towards the importance of education. Even displaying a slight inferiority complex towards the thought of Huck going to school. Pap believes that he can be a better education system than the school