Satire In Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn

" Never ever depend on governments or institutions to solve any major problems. All social change comes from the passion of individuals," (Margaret Mead). Huck Finn, the main character of " Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," must decide to follow his idea of what is right or the ideas of those around him. Throughout the novel, Huck decides to put faith in his beliefs rather than social institutions. Mark Twain uses satire to criticize social institutions.

Mark Twain uses satire to criticize religion. "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 ad 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, 12). Mark Twain criticizes
religion by implying that religious people are wasting time on dead people. Another example of satire to criticize religion is the Shepardons and Grangerfords families. The two families are religious, but still participate in killing each other. Another example of this is Widow Douglas, although she says she is a Christian she owns a slave.

Mark Twain also uses satire to criticize racism. " 'Is a Frenchman a man?'
'Yes.'
'Well, den! Dad blame it, why doan' he talk like a man? You answer me dat," (Twain, 90). At the time, Huck did not understand the meaning of this conversation. Jim was explaining that all men are men, so they should be the same. This conversation affects Huck's later decision of whether or not to report Jim as a runaway slave. Satire is present because Jim and Huck compare how cats and cows are not men and that is why they do not talk like men.

Mark Twain uses satire to criticize the "ideal family". Huck Finn's family did not live up to social standards. He had an alcoholic father and was primarily taken care of by Widow Douglas and Miss Watson. They send him to school, feed him, and teach him about religion. They would try to " sivilize" him, which Huck did not like. Huck learned to fend for himself from an early age and had no problem doing so. Another example of Mark Twain satire against the " ideal family" is the Grangerfords and Shepardsons. The two families fight, for a reason they have long forgotten.

Mark Twain uses satire to criticize slavery.
" You take a man dat's got on'y one or two chillen; is dat man gwyne be wasteful o' chillen? No, he ain't ; he can't 'ford it. He knows how to value 'em. But you take a man dat's got 'bout five million chillen runnin' roun' de house, en it's diffunt. He as soon chop a chile in two as a cat. Dey's plenty mo'. A chile er two, mo' er less, warn't no consekens to Sollermun, dad fetch him," (Twain, 89). Jim explains that slave owners do not value the slaves lives because they own so many of them. Just as King Solomon had no problem threatening to cut the child in half, slave owners abuse their slaves by whipping and beating them. Just because something is socially acceptable, does not mean it is right.

Mark Twain uses satire to criticize religion, racism, the "ideal family", and slavery. Throughout "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" Huck continually makes the decision to follow his idea of right rather than social institutions. Mark Twain shows the faults of human nature through his writing. He also shows how people can contradict themselves by saying something is wrong but doing it
anyway.