Mark Twain wanted to criticize 19th-century society, and he found no better way than to use the fictional character of Huckleberry Finn. Twain used the literary tool of satire to efficiently deliver the fictional criticism of society in his day. Twain perhaps thought that by making his criticism more acceptable coming from an ignorant boy along the Mississippi. What is satire? Satire is a way of addressing criticism towards a person or group of persons with the effect of correcting or improving them, but done thru stories, anecdotes and fable addressed thru a fictional character. (NY, 2000). Twain was so forceful in his insults and criticisms of society in Huckleberry Finn that his novel was taken from circulation in the libraries.
Thru the eyes of Huckleberry Finn, Twain was able to show the weaknesses of the society in which he lived. Mark Twain chose to criticize society thru the simplicity, foolishness and honesty of Huckleberry Finn. Mark Twain demonstrated the conflict between wanting to plan everything, like a scientist and the natural preparedness that comes from trust and honesty in a higher power. Also, Twain showed how Huckleberry Finn was willing to go against the established laws of religion and to go with his heart, rather than to give up his own self in order to fit into religious dogmatism: “I went right along, to fixing any particular plan, but just trusting in Providence to put the right words in my mouth when the time come.” (Twain, 1996)
At one point when choosing whether Huckleberry Finn would try to save Jim or not; that is, go to hell is he attempted to keep Jim or let Jim go to hell and just save himself, Huckleberry Finn chose to join Jim in hell. (NY, 7) This seems to be a criticism of society that was too busy to get involved with another person’s real life and lower themselves to the outcast. In the process, they were separating themselves from God. Huckleberry Finn realized it was better to be honest towards yourself rather than identify with the concept of happiness that was shallow and fake inside. (Twain, 1996)
Thru the eyes of Huckleberry Finn, Twain was able to show the weaknesses of the society in which he lived. Mark Twain chose to criticize society thru the simplicity, foolishness and honesty of Huckleberry Finn. Mark Twain demonstrated the conflict between wanting to plan everything, like a scientist and the natural preparedness that comes from trust and honesty in a higher power. Also, Twain showed how Huckleberry Finn was willing to go against the established laws of religion and to go with his heart, rather than to give up his own self in order to fit into religious dogmatism: “I went right along, to fixing any particular plan, but just trusting in Providence to put the right words in my mouth when the time come.” (Twain, 1996)
At one point when choosing whether Huckleberry Finn would try to save Jim or not; that is, go to hell is he attempted to keep Jim or let Jim go to hell and just save himself, Huckleberry Finn chose to join Jim in hell. (NY, 7) This seems to be a criticism of society that was too busy to get involved with another person’s real life and lower themselves to the outcast. In the process, they were separating themselves from God. Huckleberry Finn realized it was better to be honest towards yourself rather than identify with the concept of happiness that was shallow and fake inside. (Twain, 1996)
