A Large Aspect of Mark Twains Satire - Essay Example

? Mark Twain’s Use of Satire in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Introduction From Jonathan Swift to the Jon Stewart satire has long been an important part of Western culture and literature. In the contemporary world television programs such as the Daily Show and the Colbert Report have assumed a place of popularity through their social and political satire. Still, it’s clear that American literature and culture has a long-standing history of satirists. In this area of understanding perhaps the most seminal satirists in American history is Mark Twain. Through his great body of writing, including Tom Sawyer and the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Twain explored major themes and hypocrisies in America. This essay analyzes and explains satirical elements in Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Analysis A large aspect of Mark Twain’s satire in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is through the satirizing of religion. Such types of satire take place in a large variety of ways throughout the book. The first instance occurs during the opening chapter when Widow Douglas reads to Huckleberry Finn from the Bible. Huck states, “After supper she got out her book and learned me about Moses and the Bulrushers, and I was in a sweat to find out all about him; but by and by she let it out that Moses had been dead a considerable long time; so then I didn't care no more about him, because I don't take no stock in dead people” (Twain, p. 3). Here Huck is showing that while he was at first interested in Moses, after discovering that Moses is dead he lost interest. Here Twain is using quiet irony as a means of satirizing religion. For Huck Moses is not appreciated for his religious significance for freeing the Jews from Egypt or receiving the Ten Commandments, but instead is only interested in Moses for the real life adventure story. In a sense this is Twain’s way of demonstrating that he holds no real interest in religion. For Huck the rejection of religion assumes a variety of ways. Huck also rejects having to pray before meals and calls it grumbling. When Huck hears about Hell he responds that he would like to go there, as he doesn’t understand what the point in going to good places is. While Huck’s understanding of religion is presented as ignorance, it’s clear that Twain implements this as a humorous critique of religion. Another prominent example where Twain satirizes religion occurs when Jim and Huck escape and spend time on an island. In large part the island is a dystopian version of the Garden of Eden. Twain is indirectly mocking the nature of such a mystical land, as well as criticizing the nature of slavery, as Jim has to retreat to this island as a means of achieving freedom. One clearly witnesses the religious imagery when the rattlesnake bites Jim. In a sense this is Twain’s way of indicating that the nature of the social situation is ultimately tainted by backward policies and immorality. In addition to Huck’s interactions with Widow Douglas religion is satirized in many ways throughout the book. One such example occurs as Huck talks to Miss Watson. During his discussions with Miss Watson she presents a version of God as mean and angry. This version of God is in direct contrast to Widow Doulgas’ version of God as loving and accepting. This leads Huck to claim that there are two Gods and that he wants to follow Window Douglas’ God. Through such comparisons and irony, Twain is demonstrating the oftentimes nonsense ways of religion. Huck also talks about prayer. He states, “Miss Watson she took me in the closet and prayed, but nothing come of it. She told me to pray every day, and whatever I asked for I would get it. But it warn't so. I tried it. Once I got a fish-line, but no hooks” (Twain, p. 15). Here Twain is satirizing the nature of prayer, as many people pray as they expect God to help them or change something in their lives. Rather than praying for something important, Huck prays for fishing material; this is a way for Twain to use subtlety to mock the institution of prayer. Another prominent aspect of Twain’s satire in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is through of his criticism of slavery. Indeed, the nature of slavery takes on many examples throughout the text. One of the most large understandings is the way that Twain presents slavery. In these regards, rather than showing slavery occurring in the plantation environment, the books shows slavery occurring with slaves in the home. A prominent example in this area of understanding occurs as Widow Douglas has a slave. Widow Douglas becomes a sort of foil for Huck Finn who rejects her religious approach to life. Despite her outwardly Christian nature and values and Huck’s rejection of them, it’s notable that Huck, not Widow Douglas, is the one that ultimately rejects slavery. While some theorists have criticized Mark Twain for not showing the gritty reality of slavery, it’s clear that the book’s depiction of slavery in the home equally demonstrates the backwards nature of slavery. For Twain in situating the slave in the home he is able to satirize the nature of slavery in its core nature, as it demonstrates that even when slavery is not on a plantation it still involves the dehumanization and tearing away of the individual from their family environment. Twain’s technique in this approach is subtle in keeping with his satirical tone throughout the book. Another consideration of slavery occurs in Pap’s relation with Huck. When Pap visits Judge Thatcher simply grants him custody over Huck with no consideration of Huck’s well-being or current situation. Pap even attempts to lock Huck inside a cabin. In large part this is Twain’s way of satirizing similar practices of slavery where individuals are freely sold with no regards for their humanity or well-being. Twain also satirizes the poor considerations society makes to the humanity of people. This is a prominent theme throughout the novel and emerges in a variety of contexts. One of the prominent examples occurs when examining Jim’s relationship with the Phelpses. While the Phelpses are outwardly embrace Christian values and morality society has taught them that slavery is an all right concept. As such they come to believe that they can treat slaves in inhumane ways, as this is an embraced concept in the world. King sells Jim back into slavery and at a different time lock him in a shed. While this is a satire on the horrendous nature of slavery it is also pointed about human ignorance and inhumanity. While the Phelpses believe that in following a Christian path they have already adhered to moral conduct Twain shows that it is abundantly clear that this is not true. In this situation Twain demonstrates the need for individuals to think independently of social trends and consider people as fellow humans. Human ignorance in mistreating others is satirized as a prominent theme throughout the entire novel. This comes full circle as the novels progresses and eventually king and duke are tar and feathered. Twain uses this situation to demonstrate the underlining cruelty of humanity. A seminal statement in these regards is made by Huck when he states, “Human beings can be awful cruel to one another” (Twain, p. 222). While this is a very simple statement, it is perhaps the most central theme in the book. Another aspect of satire in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is Twain’s satirizing of Romanticism. Romanticism was a prominent literary and cultural movement throughout the 18th and 19th centuries that place great emphasis on raw emotional and romantic ideals. Romanticism is contrasted with Twain’s pragmatic approach to life. There are a number of ways that Twain satirizes romanticism in the book. One of the first such instances occurs when Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn form a gang of robbers. The gang meets and agrees that they will kidnap and ransom people and kill any family members that tell about the gang’s secrets. Still, they note that, “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, p. 7). This statement indicates that while they will rob and kill, the gang cannot meet on Sunday because such an act would be blasphemous. The nature of Tom and Huck’s gang is a satire on such romantic literature as Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe where sensational adventures occur in a greatly idealistic way. In Twain’s version the boy’s dream about such sensational adventures yet refuse to do them on Sunday. This is Twain way of using irony and humor to trivialize such adventures and emphasize a more pragmatic perspective on the world. The satirizing of romantic ideals becomes a prominent theme throughout The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Another prominent example of the satirizing of Romanticism occurs when Huck and Jim begin their adventure on the Mississippi River. During their journey they encounter a steamboat with the name Walter Scott. Walter Scott was a popular romantic author much in the same style as Daniel Defoe, writing such popular adventure novels as Ivanhoe. Upon encountering the ship they note that it is wrecked. In large part referring to the ship as wrecked is Twain’s way of demonstrating that the romantic ideals embraced by the author Walter Scott are also wrecked. Another prominent area that Mark Twain satirizes is the social and cultural situations that were occurring when he wrote the book. A prominent of example of such use of satire occurs when Huck’s Pap arrives in town. In these regards, Judge Thatcher becomes a prominent example of satire. Recognizing that Pap has been a horrible and abusive father, Huck and widow Douglas visit Judge Thatcher and attempt to have Widow Douglas gain custody; Judge Thatcher refuses to separate a father and a son. In this situation Twain uses a hyperbolic presentation of Pap’s treatment of Huck to satirize the backwards nature of the town’s policy on custody. While Judge Thatcher believes he is doing the right thing, Twain demonstrates that his rampant moralizing is truly ridiculous. In one scene Judge Thatcher considers Pap’s alcoholism. The book states “after supper he talked to him about temperance and such things till the old man cried, and said he'd been a fool, and fooled away his life; but now he was a-going to turn over a new leaf” (Twain, p. 26). Here the absurd situation where Pap cries and promises to turn over a new leaf shows how out of touch the judge is from the reality of the situation. This scene allows Twain to use satire on a number of levels. For instance, it demonstrates the absurdity of moralizing, as while the Judge believes he is in-touch with ethical conduct, in reality in supporting Pap he demonstrates how removed he is from the correct decision. Twain prominently uses satire in Huck’s encounter with the Grangerfords. Through this encounter satire is implemented in a variety of ways. One example of satire in this episode is through Twain’s mockery of American tastes and values. This takes the humorous example of the Grangerford’s home, which Huck greatly appreciates despite its tacky nature. Another example of mocking American tastes is through the deceased daughter Emmeline’s art. Emmeline’s poetry is an example of overly emotional and melodramatic work. The book states, “Every time a man died, or a woman died, or a child died, she would be on hand with her "tribute" before he was cold” (Twain, p. 138). Here Twain is referring to Emmeline’s poetry that is overly macabre. While the satire on American tastes constitutes a humorous example of satire, Twain also uses the serious feud between the Grangersons and the Shepherdsons in a satirical way. While there is a bitter feud between the families, Buck notes that, “Oh, yes, pa knows, I reckon, and some of the other old people; but they don't know now what the row was about in the first place” (Twain, p. 144). In this instance, Twain is satirizing the triviality of many conflicts that begin over nothing and extend into large-scale conflicts. While this is indicative of 19th century cultural values, one also witnesses the incarnation of such values in the contemporary world environment. Oftentimes wars or conflicts between regions emerge and carry on over many years over small things that many years later have lost the original understanding of the reason of the conflict. As the conflict between the Grangersons and Shepherdsons is further developed it takes on even more serious proportions. In these regards a gunfight emerges between the two groups and the Grangersons are murdered. In this situation Twain is further mocking values of the romantic era where it was necessary for individuals to defend their honor in such hyperbolic feuds. For Twain the death is unnecessary and indicate of old-world values. Superstition is also a major focus of satire throughout the novel. Throughout the book there are a number of prominent areas where society is demonstrated to have too heavy a reliance on superstition. The nature of this emerges early in the novel between an interaction with Tom, Huck, and Jim. They play a trick on Jim by placing his hat on a tree over his head. They also light candles that surround him. The next day Jim goes around and elaborates a sensational story about witches who flew around and placed his hat upon his head. Jim goes on to extend the story, “so favorably...that he enlarged the territory covered until the witches 'rode him all over the world" (Twain, p. 6). All the people around are captivated by Jim’s story and this leads Jim to gain a high opinion of himself. In this situation Twain is satirizing a society that would believe such a sensational tale. In addition to this situation there are a wide variety of examples where superstition emerges in the novel. In part religious hypocrisy and superstition become linked in the novel as demonstrating a society that is naive and overly accepting of antiquated belief patterns. Conclusion In conclusion, this essay has examined and analyzed Mark Twain’s use of satire in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. In this context of understanding a variety of elements and techniques have been considered. The essay demonstrates that one of the most prominent things satirized in the novel is religion. Another prominent thing Twain satirizes is 18th and 19th century Romanticism. Twain goes on to criticize slavery and the cruel ways that humans treat other humans. In addition to these serious concerns, Twain uses satire in a number of humorous contexts, satirizing tacky American tastes and an over-reliance on superstition. It’s clear that while The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn presents a stellar and interesting plot, it is one of the greatest uses of satire in the canon of American literature. References Twain, Mark. "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn." etext. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Nov 2011. . Read More