Satire in Huckleberry Finn
A key literary element of Huckleberry Finn is satire. Huck is among one of the most satiric characters ever created. Much of the novel deals with social commentary of the people and places along the Mississippi river in the south.
There are three separate escapades in which social commentary is offered by the novel. The first concerns the two slave hunters who approach the raft. After Huck makes them believe that his father is aboard with small pox. Twain is showing the fear with which people treat other sick people. Rather than offer help, the two men try to buy the family and send them away.
The second scene concerns the Gangerford family and its feud with the Sheperdson's.
Huck tells the reader how civilized, wealthy and respected the family is, but then completely shatters this image by detailing how they go about shooting everyone in the feud.
The cover of the first edition of Adventures of Hu...
Illustration of Jim and Huckleberry Finn, by EW Ke...
Drawing of Huckleberry finn with a rabbit and a gu..."A man has a quarrel with another man, and kills him; then that other man's brother kills him; them the other brother'sâ¦"(Twain 127).
The last escapade in which social commentary is offered is in the scene when Huck tells his story about being a pirate and wishing to convert his brethren. This is laughable but everyone is so overcome by their love of God and their fellow man that they believe him and donate to his cause.
These are a few examples to show how social commentary and satire entwine with each other to create a wonderful masterpiece Huckleberry Finn.