Literature and its major themes

¶ … Mark Twain's use of satire in his novel "Huckleberry Finn."

SATIRE IN HUCKLEBERRY FINN

Satire is defined as literature in which vice and folly or certain human weaknesses are held up to ridicule, often with the purpose of instigating reform"

Johnson 223).

Mark Twain's uses satire and humor often in his novels, and "Huckleberry Finn" is no exception. His rich characters use their dialects and intellects to ridicule just about anything that Twain had strong feelings about. Early on, Huck is adamant in "refusing to learn about Moses because he 'don't take no stock in dead people' (Chapter I). Yet in this instance he argues for the usual meaning of the story and will not listen to a more down-to-earth interpretation"

Lewis 115).

That is just the beginning of what promises to be an enjoyable look at the world of the 1800s through Twain's twinkling eye. Indeed, we are warned as soon as we open the book not to take anything inside too seriously. "Notice to Readers' (p. iv): Persons attempting to find a motive in this narrative will be prosecuted; persons attempting to find a moral in it will be banished; persons attempting to find a plot in it will be shot"

Bercovitch 12).

One scene, later on in the story, satirizes how people looked at blacks at the time. "I struck an idea, and fetched it out: "It warn't the grounding -- that didn't keep us back but a little. We blowed out a cylinder head." "Good gracious! anybody hurt?" "No'm. Killed a nigger" (Twain 306). Blacks are "nobody." Jim is an important part of this novel, and Twain, through his satire, is trying to show that the ideas about blacks were wrong, just as wrong as the statement "No'm. Killed a nigger."

Along the same theme, when Huck first meets Jim on the island, he is delighted to see him, because he wants the company. He does not care what color Jim is. Huck just wants human contact. He swears not to tell anyone that Jim has run away. "People would call me a lowdown Abolitionist and despise me for keeping mum-but that don't make no difference. I ain't a-going to tell, and I ain't a-going back there, anyways" (Twain 60).

Lowdown Abolitionist" is funny, but it is also a commentary on the very ideals in some people that make an Abolitionist "lowdown" to begin with. Clearly, Twain's satire is aimed at change and reform. He is showing us our human weaknesses in prejudice against others, and how ridiculous it really is.

There are many critics however; who do not see the satire regarding blacks as amusing at all, and think the book should be banned from schools, especially for its use of the word "nigger." In fact, one writer opens his argument with, "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain, is the most grotesque example of racist trash ever written" (Leonard, Tenney and Davis 16). While there were also many who criticized Twain's book when it was first published, they did not point out the obvious racial satire, their decisions to ban the book said it was "absolutely immoral in its tone," and "it seems to contain but very little humor" (Unknown 6).

The king and the duke also give Twain plenty of opportunity to satirize important happenings during the time the book was written. "When the king and the duke enter the novel, Twain resorts to the most absurd satire, appropriate for such uncouth figures. The king and the duke satirize European royalty, for they have all the characteristics of dishonesty and meanness Twain attributed to real kings and dukes" (Johnson 224). "I am the lineal descendant of that infant -- I am the rightful Duke of Bridgewater; and here am I, forlorn, torn from my high estate, hunted of men, despised by the cold world, ragged, worn, heartbroken, and degraded to the companionship of felons on a raft!' "

Twain 171).

When the king manages to take up a large offering from the revival crowd by pretending to be a reformed pirate who intends to be a missionary, Twain is satirizing the confidence man of his day, who often preyed on the generosity and good will of simple people"

Johnson 224). Huck figures that out quickly, but decides it is better if he does not mention it to the others. "It didn't take me long to make up my mind that these liars warn't no kings nor dukes at all, but just low-down humbugs and frauds. But I never said nothing, never let on; kept it to myself; it's the best way; then you don't have no quarrels, and don't get into no trouble"