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Sarcasm In Huckleberry Finn

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Throughout the novel, Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain challenges the post-civil war society in many ways. Twain does this almost entirely in an indirect manner, by using sarcasm, the vulnerability of a child, and standing against racism. Sarcasm plays a major role in the novel, and it’s a reflection of Twain’s attitude towards society. An example of this sarcasm is when Huck explains Ben Rogers’s thoughts. He states, “Ben Rogers said he couldn't get out much, only Sundays, and so he wanted to begin next Sunday; but all the boys said it would be wicked to do it on Sunday, and that settled the thing.” (Twain 18) The boys are in a gang, and plan on being a murderous gang is something that’s quite astounding. They’re planning on committing sins, but won’t do anything on Sunday’s because they think it’s wicked. It’s relatable …show more content…

He is vulnerable to manipulation, and many people try to force their morals upon him. Huck has a hard time doing what’s right, because his morals typically lead him astray from the “rights” of the time. It’s a Huck vs. the World type thing. Huck says, “…People would call me a low-down abolitionist and despise me for keeping mum- but that don’t make no difference.” (Twain 53) Meeting Jim thrusts Huck into the conflict with the ethical system he’s used to, and Huck stands up for what’s truly right, although he has a hard time seeing things as such. Huck also runs into trouble trying to decide who’s standards he should live by. This is evidenced by, “Pap always said it warn't no harm to borrow things if you was meaning to pay them back some time; but the widow said it warn't anything but a soft name for stealing, and no decent body would do it.” (Twain 76) Huck respects both his Pap and Miss Douglass, and is trapped once again trying to decide which is right. Huck’s morals usually lead him in the right direction, and are very much a reflection of

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In the book "The Adventures if Huckleberry Finn", Mark Twain's writing mirrors the society and problems it had in that time. This book promotes seeing African-Americans as people, which is absolutely groundbreaking and unheard-of in the time it was written, right after the Civil War. Throughout the book,, Huck has a complete change in his feelings towards Jim, starting with his highly influenced young mind, only able to view Jim as a slave, all the way to seeing Jim as a father-figure who can protect and provide for him. Although Huck tries to see Jim as a friend and fatherly-figure, society's beliefs don't allow him to see Jim as anything but a slave.

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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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This shows how people view Jim and the severity of his escaping. The views of slavery are so set in stone that the black boy escaping is more heinous a crime than that of a white man killing his son. Twain uses figurative language throughout The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. One example would be when he is describing a summer storm in chapter 9. Twain talks about the trees looking “dim and spider-webby,” and how when the wind blows through, it “set the branches to tossing their arms as if they was just wild.”

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Huck has a moral crisis when he thinks, “Well, I can tell you it made me all over trembly and feverish, too, to hear him, because I begun to get it through my head that he WAS most free—and who was to blame for it?” and because of the effect Jim has on his and the lessons he’s taught, Huck realizes that helping him

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Suddenly, Huck’s eyes are opened to the shortcomings of people he was previously blind to. Huck reaches the pinnacle of his moral development when he decides that Jim is worth going to hell for, no matter what society may think about a slave’s worth. After much internal turmoil, he decides, “All right, then, I’ll go to hell” (Twain 215). This is a significant point in his changing perception of what is “sivilized”, as he finally decides that the ideals he has been taught are truly not worth it.

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Throughout the book, Twain incorporates irony every time he informs us about Huck’s conscience. For example, Huck helps Jim from men looking for runaway slaves by spinning lies about his “pap” having smallpox which drives them away successfully. While Huck is unsettled because he perceives his actions as wrong, but we are aware that he took the morally right approach. Twain uses irony again when Huck decides to steal Jim from the Phelps’ but perceives his actions as that of a sinner, but again we are aware he is doing the correct thing even if he isn’t. Twain’s setting is an essential element to the story.

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Huck does not conform to the ways of the people he is around. If he is around someone who believes something and they try to get him to believe in it to he will not believe in it unless he sees that it is right. For example, when Mrs. Watson was teaching Huck about religion and God Huck did not want to believe it because Mrs. Watson believed in it and he

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Huck decides to act on his morals rather than be held captive by society; Huck believes that he has to act in the best interest of Jim and does not consider what society believes is acceptable behavior. By stating that he will “go to hell,” Huck reiterates what he promises Jim in the beginning- that he rather be a “low down abolitionist”; these statements combined supports his feelings to protect Jim from society. When Huck and Tom get back to the house, Huck states, “...it don’t make no difference whether you do right or wrong, a person’s conscience ain’t got no

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In Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Twain used satire to ridicule different aspects of American society during that time. This satire allowed for a humorous take on major events through the eyes of the author. To start off, the family feud between the Shepherdsons and the Grangerfords represented the foolish behavior of the North and South during the Civil War. Next, Mark Twain mocked slavery and anyone who condones it, such as Miss Watson. Lastly, the fact that the towns people would rather blame a black man for the supposive death of Huckleberry then a white man.

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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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Huck and Jim’s adventures down the Mississippi make the theme of conflict between society and individual more apparent. During their journey Huck mentions, “Nothing could be better”(Twain 115). Huck is very content with Jim and Huck’s new life on the river, at least at the start. Being a runaway slave like Jim and Huck helping him, Huck questions at many points in the book whether he should continue to help Jim or turn him in and follow society’s rules about slaves. This could possibly be Huck’s most important individual conflict throughout the book, considering he questions his choice many times.

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939 Words | 4 Pages

Mark Twain's Use of Satire in Huckleberry Finn Throughout his pieces of literature, the famous American author Mark Twain portrays his personal views of society using satire and irony in his stories. He makes fun of broken parts in the American society relentlessly and makes sure the readers understand how outrageous some acts were during the early-to-mid 1800s. Twain seems to target specific aspects in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn such as how young people could be conflicted between morality and legality, the loss of self-respect for money, and the effects of herd mentality. He has an interesting approach at giving the reader insight, but his main ideas for the theme shine through and are clearly depicted.

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Although there are numerous instances where Huck’s moral growth can be seen, the individuals around such as Jim, will influence his moral growth greatly. Jim, a runaway slave, is the most influential individual when it comes to Huck’s moral development. During the beginning of the novel, Huck’s morals are primarily based on what he has learned from Miss Watson. Huck begins to become wary of such ideals that Miss Watson has imposed on him, and decided all he wanted “…was a change” (Twain 10).

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