Satire in the “The Adventures of Huckleberry”

Satire in the “The Adventures of Huckleberry”

Satire is defined as a technique used by writers in literature to criticize or expose foolishness. It uses elements such as irony, humor, exaggeration, sarcasm as well as ridicule. Satire is used for the purpose of entertainment and a lot to bring a certain matter to attention that requires change. It is used to advocate against certain evil things in society, such as corruption, abuses, and vices, as well as giving leads to solutions. Mark Twain is one of the most popular satirists in the world, as this is evident in his book The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. There are numerous illustrations of satire in his novel. In this novel, he uses satire as a mechanism to express his opinion, ideas, and disappointments on nature, racism, slavery society, and many other challenges facing America during that time (Edley, 2017). Satire is, therefore, an appropriate technique to figuratively address society as a way of bringing political, social, and economic change in society.

In Mark Twain`s novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, there are many instances where he uses satire. “We are sold-mighty bad sold. But we don’t want to be the laughing stock of this whole town, I reckon, and never hear the last of this thing as long as we live. No. What we want is to go out here quiet, and talk this show up, and sell the rest of the town! then we’ll all be in the same boat. Ain’t that sensible?……go along home and advise everybody to come and see the tragedy“ page 155 (Twain, 1985).

From the quote above, Twain is trying to reveal the depressing trait of human nature. This was the reaction of the audience after watching the performance of The Royal Nonesuch. The citizens do not want to accept the fact that they are taken in by the Duke and the prince. Instead, they support the Duke and the Prince to trick other ignorant people as they were. They would prefer to let others get tricked than admit that they were also taken in. For this reason, Mark Twain uses satire in this text to expose evil and selfish nature of the duke and the prince who exploit the people for their own benefit.

Another example of satire from the novel is; “The Widow Douglas she took me for her son, and allowed she would civilize me; but it was rough living in the house all the time, considering how dismal regular and decent the widow was in all her ways; and so when I couldn’t stand it no longer I lit out. I got into my old rags and my sugar-hogshead again and was free and satisfied. But Tom Sawyer, he hunted me up and said he was going to start a band of robbers, and I might join if I would go back to the widow and be respectable. So, I went back” (Twain, 1985).  In this context, Huck talks about the events that happened at the end of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, the novel where he appeared first. Hucks demands “sivilizing,” which is common to a thirteen-year-old boy to rebel against his parents and other authorities by demanding freedom. Huck’s persistent compulsions are a result of his observations of the civilization of society and its worth.  Huck associates civilization and respectability with a childish game -the band of robbers, in which the performers are criminals (Rubio, 1975).  Although, his friend convinces him to go back to the widow’s house where his hate for society increases and affects his decisions. Thus, Mark Twain satirizes Hucks’s behavior of demanding freedom but again giving up on his dream just to join a band.

The third example of satire is; “I hadn’t had a bite to eat since yesterday, so Jim he got out some corn-dodgers and buttermilk, and pork and cabbage and greens—there ain’t nothing in the world so good when it’s cooked right—and whilst I eat my supper we talked and had a good time. . . .We said there weren’t no home like a raft, after all. Other places do seem so cramped up and smothery, but a raft don’t. You feel mighty free and easy and comfortable on a raft” chapter 18 (Twain, 1985). In this context, Huck had just run away from Grangerford- Shepherdson and was so disappointed by society. A raft serves a retreat for him and from the universe where he is free. Jim offers him a little food, which he finds delicious in this state of freedom. But as they enjoy their separation from society and its evil, the raft goes southward, unsavory influences from the shore, and invades their perfect world (Rubio, 1975). As expressed in this satire, Mark Twain tries to show the reality and problems of the world are inescapable.

In general, writers use satire to address political, social, and economic issues. They satirize issues that have gained attention and popularity in society. Authors should have a stand and a strong opinion about the matter to satirize. Mark Twain uses satire of racism, religion, slavery, and the southern society to show how evil the South is. It is evident that Mark twain did not agree with their beliefs, and he considered them ignorant. Their foolishness is a result of ignorance and hate. Explicitly, he exposes them though his novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.