Huckleberry Finn Essay 9

Submitted By Samantha-Bonsignore
Words: 593
Pages: 3
Open Document
Samantha Bonsignore
9/24/09
American Literature
Miss. Waterman

“THEN THE COUSINS CHIP IN--
AND BY-AND-BY EVERYBODY’S KILLED OFF”

Mark Twain uses satire to lessen the seriousness of the issues presented in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. While the title makes the reader believe the story to be the “adventures of Huck Finn”, Mark Twain, by using satire to lighten and lampoon, brings attention to “civilized society” and issues of racism.

When one thinks of “civilized society”, a picture of cultured and educated people sitting in a parlor with white gloves, drinking Earl Gray Tea comes to mind. Throughout the beginning half of the book, Huck realizes how truly un-civilized the society of that time was. In the following quote Mark Twain makes a deadly family feud something that one finds funny to read. When Huck is caught in the middle of a family feud he asks Buck (the young boy in the family he is staying with) what a feud is.
“‘Why, where was you raised? Don’t you know what a feud is?’
‘Never heard of it before-tell me about it’
‘Well’ says Buck, ‘a feud is this way. A man has a quarrel with another man, and kills him; then that other man’s brother kills him; then the other brothers, on both sides, goes for one another, then the cousins chip in-and by-and-by everybody’s killed off, and there ain’t no more feud. But it’s kind of slow, and takes a long time.’
‘Has this one been going on long, Buck?’
‘Well I should reckon! It started thiry year ago, or som’ers along there. There was troubles ‘bout something and then a lawsuit to settle it; and the suit went agin one of the men, and so he up and shot the man that won the suit-which he would naturally do, of course. Anybody would.’
‘What was the trouble about, Buck?–Land?’ ‘I recon maybe-I don’t know’
‘Well, who done the shooting?-Was it a Grangerford or a Shepherdson?’
‘Laws, how do I know? It was a long time ago.’“ (127-128)

Within the first few pages of the book, racism is easily detected as one of the major issues. When Huck hurts poor Jim’s feelings, Mark Twain lightens up the issue again by using humor.
“It was fifteen minutes before I could work myself up ... to go and
Show More

Related Documents: Huckleberry Finn Essay 9

Huckleberry Finn and the use of Satire Essay

Huck Finn and the use of Satire Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has been controversial ever since its release in 1884. It has been called everything from the root of modern American literature to a piece of racist trash. Many scholars have argued about Huck Finn being prejudiced. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain uses satire to mock many different aspects of the modern world. Despite the fact that many critics have accused Mark Twain’s novel of promoting racism…

Words 1102 - Pages 5

LIT Response Journal Essay

Journal #1: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The Awakening Mark Twain, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, 1884, Ch. I, p. 9 “You don't know about me, without you have read a book by the name of “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,” but that ain't no matter. That book was made by Mr. Mark Twain, and he told the truth, mainly. There was things which he stretched, but mainly he told the truth. That is nothing. I never seen anybody but lied, one time or another, without it was Aunt Polly, or…

Words 2194 - Pages 9

Turds: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Huck Finn Essay

Connor Muckerman 9 October 2012 Huckleberry Finn Essay People change, or so one may think. Whether it is for better or worse is the real question, and in the case of Huck Finn, opinions may go strongly in many directions. From the moment we meet Huck, we see an obviously unenthused, immature, and erratic child going to any bounds for a kick. Leaving home to go on an adventure, facing near death many times, his metaphorical death occurring multiple times throughout. Starting with his decision…

Words 1449 - Pages 6

Black Genocide Essay

Learning Objective • Students will be able to write a well-organized, well-written analytical 3-5 page comparison and contrast essay using two of their fall texts . Learning Goal • To practice methods of a writing process and to help students become strong critical thinkers and writers. Bloom’s Knowledge • Describe the use of and main components of a comparison and contrast essay ( Bloom’s Comprehension) • Take quiz on Grammar ( Bloom’sComprehension) • Review own work using proofreading guide ( Bloom…

Words 1678 - Pages 7

Apush Chapter 26 Term Sheet

is most noted for his novel, Adventures of Tom sawyer. He grew up in Missouri, which would later provide the setting for Huckleberry Finn and Tom sawyer. He apprenticed with a printer. He also worked as a typesetter and contributed articals to his older brother Orion's newspaper. After doing this in various cities, he became a master riverboat polot on the Mississippi River. 9. Emily Dickinson - She was an American poet. She was born in Massachusetts, to a successful family with strong community…

Words 4437 - Pages 18

103 American Literature Final Exam Essay example

Final Exam I. Multiple choice: 1% x 30 = 30% 1865-1914 1. The novels and short stories of Henry James and Edith Wharton tended to focus on (A) the tragic outcomes of impoverished characters living in industrialized urban wastelands. (B) the ordeals of isolated characters living as survivalists in the sparsely populated hinterlands of the United States. (C) the inner psychological lives of privileged upper-class characters. (D) the exploits of characters with startling accomplishments and impressive…

Words 5468 - Pages 22

Silent Spring - Rachel Carson Essay

offprint from Gale's For Students Series: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Works: Introduction, Author Biography, Plot Summary, Characters, Themes, Style, Historical Context, Critical Overview, Criticism and Critical Essays, Media Adaptations, Topics for Further Study, Compare & Contrast, What Do I Read Next?, For Further Study, and Sources. ©1998-2002;…

Words 30115 - Pages 121

The Importance Of Belonging

HSC Subject Guide Belonging 2009 HSC: Area of Study – English - related material English HSC 2009 - 2012 is Belonging. What does belonging mean? From the Oxford Dictionary and Thesaurus: belong, verb, 1) to be rightly put into a particular position or class; 2) fit or be acceptable in a particular place or environment; 3) belong to be a member of; 4) belong to be the property or possession of. Belonging, noun, affiliation, acceptance, association, attachment, integration, closeness, rapport,…

Words 4133 - Pages 17