Huck Finn

Our society of today is considerably different than the society that existed, than the society of Mark Twain's day in age. The changes that have taken place since that time have made our culture a better place in which to live. How do writers like Mark Twain help to bring about such changes through their writing? Mark Twain in his novel , The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn acts as a social critic enforcing the evil of his time. This may be seen through the examination of Twain's comments upon general human stupidity, feuding, and slavery.

Let us commence our considerations of how Mark twain acts as a social critic exposing the evil of his time with an examination of the general human stupidity. First off lets look at the attempt to hang Jim who is the Widow's black slave that Huck travels the Mississippi river with.

"The man was very huffy, and some of the them wanted to hang Jim for an example to all the other niger's around there , so they wouldn't be trying to run like jim done [did].

Traditional raft, from 1884 edition of Adventures ...

English: Illustration from Adventures of Huckleber...

Drawing of Huckleberry finn with a rabbit and a gu...

(Huckleberry Finn 42). They cuff and abuse Jim and threaten to hang him, but they cool off a little when they realize they would have to pay Jim's owner. They load him down with chains and throw him in the cabin. But finally the doctor comes back and tells the crowd to treat Jim more kindly because it was Jim who helped save Tom's life, even though he could have gotten away if he had chosen too. Huck is relieved when the farmers agree to stop cussing and cuffing Jim, although they make no move to remove the chains. Hanging people is pure human stupidity no matter the culture, race nor colour, we are all human beings and have the right to live.In this quote the only reason why they are accusing Jim is because he is black , the crowd didn't care about the time facts, they just presumed that Jim was bad and was a killer. But when the crowd finds the facts from the doctor they realized what he was like in the inside but not from the outside. Here Jim really sort of helps out all of the black people by showing the white people he couldn't he couldn't of run away but he didn't, proving that black people can be very trust worthy and friendly, like all other human beings. The second example of general stupidity in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is when Huck's father is yelling and threatening because he goes to school.

You're [Huck] educated, too , they say; can read and write. You think your better than your father, now don't you, because he [Huck's father] can't? I "˜ll take it out of pg.21.......he [Pap] took up a little blue and yaller picture of some cows and a boy , and say's: what's this? Its something they give me for learning my lessons good. He tore it up, and say's- I'll [Pap] give you something better-I'll [Pap's] give you a cow hide pg.22 This quote is a conversation between Huck and his Pap. His Pap is a mean drunk and is punishing Huck for doing well in school and not only that he is punishing him for doing well in school but for going to school period. Huck's father is doing this because he does not want Huck to be better than him or his wife because he is un educated and can't read. He also feels that Huck thinks that he is a better man. This makes Pap very jealous. It is a really really dumb thing to punish your children for wanting to be successful in life. Also when Pap tears up the painting that Huck gets for doing well in school it symbolises all of Huck's hopes and dreams of succeeding in the future being thrown out in the garbage. Our final examination of the general human stupidity in the novel that we will be examining we will be looking at is when Pap's is suing Judge Thatcher. " The law backs that old Judge Thatcher up and helps him [Judge Thatcher] to keep me [Pap's] out o' my property". Pap's, Huck's dad is trying to sue Judge Thatcher because he won't let him have Huck's money. Pap's thinks Judge Thatcher is a scoundrel, and is just trying to be mean to him because he is not well dressed or educated, and he doesn't agree with the government. But the truth is the money is for Huck's education from his mother and Huck knew that Paps was going to try and get at his money. So Huck immediately went to the Judge Thatcher who looks after his money and signed a piece of paper that gives Judge Thatcher the money. Pap's knows that huck has done this and it doesn't make him very happy. Lastly we will look at Pap's fighting against the society. "Next day he [pap's] was drunk , and he [Pap's] went to Judge Thatchers and bullied him [Judge Thatcher] and tried to make him [Judge Thatcher] give up the money; but, he [Judge Thatcher] couldn't, and then he [Pap's] swore then he'd [Pap's] make the law force him [Judge Thatcher]". This shows that Pap's when drunk likes to argue, and also that he likes to feud with people. He is fighting over the most stupid thing. A further proof that Huck's Pap likes to feud with society is when Huck say's "Well pretty soon the old man [paps] was up and around again. The he [paps] went for Judge Thatcher in the courts to make him [Judge Thatcher] give up the money, and he [Pap's] went for me [huck], too , for not stopping school". This shows us that even when he isn't drunk that he likes to feud with people, even his own son, just cause he won't stop going to school. He wants to feel important, have respect, and have power.

Let us begin our next consideration of how Mark Twain acts as a social critic exposing the evil of his time with an examination of feuding. The first thing we will be looking at is when Colonel Sherburn shoots Boggs cold blooded in front of everyone. "Oh lord, don't shoot. Bang! Goes the first shot and he [Boggs] staggers back, clawing at the air-Bang! Goes the second one, and he [Boggs] stumbles to the ground". Into this unrelievedly dreary scene Twain brings the drunken Boggs, who differs from the loafers already described only in his alcoholic aggressive Boggs. However, commits a tactical error by attacking a gentleman by whom Huck describes in the following sentence. "By-and-by a proud-looking man [Colonel Sherburn] about fifty-five and he [Colonel Sherburn] was the best dressed man in that town, too-steps out of the store, and a crowd drops back on each side to let him [Colonel Sherburn] come". Although Colonel gives Boggs ample warning, when the time comes, Sherburn shoots him in cool blood before the eyes of Boggs daughter. Sherburn further demonstrates his contempt for the townspeople by throwing his pistol on the ground and walking away. This is ridiculous that Sherburn shot Boggs because he is the sheriff, and if the sheriff starts shooting people and so will everyone else. Also it isn't right to kill someone that is drunk and making fun of them. It just isn't humane, especially right in front of his own daughter and the town. Instead of shooting Boggs , Colonel my have just put him into jail for the night or even longer, to let him sober up. A lot of people do a lot of stupid things but there is no need to kill them. Further more, to continue the examination of feuding we will look at the Grangerfords versus the Shepherdsons. "Well, then, what did you want to kill him [Shepherdson] for? Why nothing only to account of the feud". Buck Grangerfords boy tells Huck about the feud with the shephersons, which has been going on for thirty or so years. Buck says that they have no idea how the fight started, but accepts without question the proposition that all male Grangerfords and Shepherdsons are inalterably committed to killing one another. This is Twain's satiric comentary on the Montague-Capulet feud in Remeo and Juliet and on the romantic traditions of the old south. Twain respects the frontierman's warmth, hospitality, and independence, but has little regard for the code of chivalry romanticized in so much fiction of the period. Huck see's none of this. To him the Grangerfords a wholly admirable family. Although he does not necessarily accept the validity of the feud, he records Buck's explanation without comment. It is only when he is confronted by the horror of the death of his friends that expresses regret at the loss of human life.

Finally let us begin our final considerations of how Mark Twain acts as a social critic exposing the evil of his time with an examination of slavery. Huck does not consciously think that about Jim's impending freedom until he starts to get excited about the idea. We see Huck's first objection to Jim gaining his freedom when huck says, Well, I [Huck] can tell you it made me [Huck] all over trembly and feverish, too, to hear him [Jim], because I [Huck] begun to get it through my [Huck's] head that he [Jim] was most-free and who was to blame for it. Why me [Huck]? I could get that out of my conscience, no how nor no way.

Huck is hearing the voice of society at this point , not his own. He does not see a normal dilemma with Jim being free; he is opposed to the fact that he is the one helping him. This shows Huck misunderstanding of slavery. Huck does not treat Jim like a slave when they travel together free from the influences of society but once around other people he starts to change his thoughts. Not to the point were he is racist but society is persuading him toward them. Huck also feels guilty, as if he is stealing from Miss Watson by helping Jim escape slavery because he thinks that she owns him. Another example of the extreme's of slavery in the novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is when Jim say's " Yes, you [Huck] know that one niger dat b'long to old Misto Bondish? Well he [niger] sot up a bank en [and] say anybody dat [that] put in a dollar would git fo'dollars mo' at de en' de year". This shows us that back then there was lots of slavery going on because it says that you know that one Niger that belongs to old Mr. Bondish, meaning that they describe black people by there owners names. Also it shows slavery when it says, " Each person had their own niger to wait on them. Buck too. My [Buck's] niger had a monstrous easy time, because I [Buck] warn't [was not] used to having anybody do anything for me [buck], but Buck was on jump most of the time". Again this shows that slavery was very big back in Twain's day. Even the poorest drunken white man owned a black man as a slave. Even a young child has his very own black man to be his slave. The final example of exposing the whore's of racism and slavery in Mark Twain's novel is when Huck's Pap is talking about a black man who was free and the man was aloud to vote. He couldn't believe this. It made Pap soo mad. This man was even aloud to have a job. It also says that there is a law that states that a black man can't be auctioned of to be slaved unless he has been free in the state for six months. This makes Huck's father extremely mad at the government.

There was a free nigger there from Ohio -- a mulatter, most as white as a white man. He had the whitest shirt on you ever see, too, and the shiniest hat; and there ain't a man in that town that's got as fine clothes as what he had; and he had a gold watch and chain, and a silver-headed cane -- the awfulest old gray-headed nabob in the State. And what do you think? They said he was a p'fessor in a college, and could talk all kinds of languages, and and knowed everything........They said he could VOTE when he was at home I [Pap] says to the people, why ain't this nigger put up at auction and sold? -- that's what I [Pap] want to know. And what do you reckon they said? Why, they said he couldn't be sold till he'd been in the State six months, and he hadn't been there that long yet. There, now -- that's a specimen.

Therefore Mark Twain in his novel acts as a social critic exposing the evil of his time.

This was shown through the examination of general human stupidity , feuding, and through slavery. Here , clearly shown that our society of today is considerably different then the society that existed in Mark Twain's day in age. This has made our society a better place in which to live.

Our society of today is considerably different than the society that existed, than the society of Mark Twain's day in age. The changes that have taken place since that time have made our culture a better place in which to live. How do writers like Mark Twain help to bring about such changes through their writing? Mark Twain in his novel , The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn acts as a social critic enforcing the evil of his time. This may be seen through the examination of Twain's comments upon general human stupidity, feuding, and slavery.

Let us commence our considerations of how Mark twain acts as a social critic exposing the evil of his time with an examination of the general human stupidity. First off lets look at the attempt to hang Jim who is the Widow's black slave that Huck travels the Mississippi river with.

"The man was very huffy, and some of the them wanted to hang Jim for an example to all the other niger's around there , so they wouldn't be trying to run like jim done [did].

(Huckleberry Finn 42). They cuff and abuse Jim and threaten to hang him, but they cool off a little when they realize they would have to pay Jim's owner. They load him down with chains and throw him in the cabin. But finally the doctor comes back and tells the crowd to treat Jim more kindly because it was Jim who helped save Tom's life, even though he could have gotten away if he had chosen too. Huck is relieved when the farmers agree to stop cussing and cuffing Jim, although they make no move to remove the chains. Hanging people is pure human stupidity no matter the culture, race nor colour, we are all human beings and have the right to live.In this quote the only reason why they are accusing Jim is because he is black , the crowd didn't care about the time facts, they just presumed that Jim was bad and was a killer. But when the crowd finds the facts from the doctor they realized what he was like in the inside but not from the outside. Here Jim really sort of helps out all of the black people by showing the white people he couldn't he couldn't of run away but he didn't, proving that black people can be very trust worthy and friendly, like all other human beings. The second example of general stupidity in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is when Huck's father is yelling and threatening because he goes to school.

You're [Huck] educated, too , they say; can read and write. You think your better than your father, now don't you, because he [Huck's father] can't? I "˜ll take it out of pg.21.......he [Pap] took up a little blue and yaller picture of some cows and a boy , and say's: what's this? Its something they give me for learning my lessons good. He tore it up, and say's- I'll [Pap] give you something better-I'll [Pap's] give you a cow hide pg.22 This quote is a conversation between Huck and his Pap. His Pap is a mean drunk and is punishing Huck for doing well in school and not only that he is punishing him for doing well in school but for going to school period. Huck's father is doing this because he does not want Huck to be better than him or his wife because he is un educated and can't read. He also feels that Huck thinks that he is a better man. This makes Pap very jealous. It is a really really dumb thing to punish your children for wanting to be successful in life. Also when Pap tears up the painting that Huck gets for doing well in school it symbolises all of Huck's hopes and dreams of succeeding in the future being thrown out in the garbage. Our final examination of the general human stupidity in the novel that we will be examining we will be looking at is when Pap's is suing Judge Thatcher. " The law backs that old Judge Thatcher up and helps him [Judge Thatcher] to keep me [Pap's] out o' my property". Pap's, Huck's dad is trying to sue Judge Thatcher because he won't let him have Huck's money. Pap's thinks Judge Thatcher is a scoundrel, and is just trying to be mean to him because he is not well dressed or educated, and he doesn't agree with the government. But the truth is the money is for Huck's education from his mother and Huck knew that Paps was going to try and get at his money. So Huck immediately went to the Judge Thatcher who looks after his money and signed a piece of paper that gives Judge Thatcher the money. Pap's knows that huck has done this and it doesn't make him very happy. Lastly we will look at Pap's fighting against the society. "Next day he [pap's] was drunk , and he [Pap's] went to Judge Thatchers and bullied him [Judge Thatcher] and tried to make him [Judge Thatcher] give up the money; but, he [Judge Thatcher] couldn't, and then he [Pap's] swore then he'd [Pap's] make the law force him [Judge Thatcher]". This shows that Pap's when drunk likes to argue, and also that he likes to feud with people. He is fighting over the most stupid thing. A further proof that Huck's Pap likes to feud with society is when Huck say's "Well pretty soon the old man [paps] was up and around again. The he [paps] went for Judge Thatcher in the courts to make him [Judge Thatcher] give up the money, and he [Pap's] went for me [huck], too , for not stopping school". This shows us that even when he isn't drunk that he likes to feud with people, even his own son, just cause he won't stop going to school. He wants to feel important, have respect, and have power.

Let us begin our next consideration of how Mark Twain acts as a social critic exposing the evil of his time with an examination of feuding. The first thing we will be looking at is when Colonel Sherburn shoots Boggs cold blooded in front of everyone. "Oh lord, don't shoot. Bang! Goes the first shot and he [Boggs] staggers back, clawing at the air-Bang! Goes the second one, and he [Boggs] stumbles to the ground". Into this unrelievedly dreary scene Twain brings the drunken Boggs, who differs from the loafers already described only in his alcoholic aggressive Boggs. However, commits a tactical error by attacking a gentleman by whom Huck describes in the following sentence. "By-and-by a proud-looking man [Colonel Sherburn] about fifty-five and he [Colonel Sherburn] was the best dressed man in that town, too-steps out of the store, and a crowd drops back on each side to let him [Colonel Sherburn] come". Although Colonel gives Boggs ample warning, when the time comes, Sherburn shoots him in cool blood before the eyes of Boggs daughter. Sherburn further demonstrates his contempt for the townspeople by throwing his pistol on the ground and walking away. This is ridiculous that Sherburn shot Boggs because he is the sheriff, and if the sheriff starts shooting people and so will everyone else. Also it isn't right to kill someone that is drunk and making fun of them. It just isn't humane, especially right in front of his own daughter and the town. Instead of shooting Boggs , Colonel my have just put him into jail for the night or even longer, to let him sober up. A lot of people do a lot of stupid things but there is no need to kill them. Further more, to continue the examination of feuding we will look at the Grangerfords versus the Shepherdsons. "Well, then, what did you want to kill him [Shepherdson] for? Why nothing only to account of the feud". Buck Grangerfords boy tells Huck about the feud with the shephersons, which has been going on for thirty or so years. Buck says that they have no idea how the fight started, but accepts without question the proposition that all male Grangerfords and Shepherdsons are inalterably committed to killing one another. This is Twain's satiric comentary on the Montague-Capulet feud in Remeo and Juliet and on the romantic traditions of the old south. Twain respects the frontierman's warmth, hospitality, and independence, but has little regard for the code of chivalry romanticized in so much fiction of the period. Huck see's none of this. To him the Grangerfords a wholly admirable family. Although he does not necessarily accept the validity of the feud, he records Buck's explanation without comment. It is only when he is confronted by the horror of the death of his friends that expresses regret at the loss of human life.

Finally let us begin our final considerations of how Mark Twain acts as a social critic exposing the evil of his time with an examination of slavery. Huck does not consciously think that about Jim's impending freedom until he starts to get excited about the idea. We see Huck's first objection to Jim gaining his freedom when huck says, Well, I [Huck] can tell you it made me [Huck] all over trembly and feverish, too, to hear him [Jim], because I [Huck] begun to get it through my [Huck's] head that he [Jim] was most-free and who was to blame for it. Why me [Huck]? I could get that out of my conscience, no how nor no way.

Huck is hearing the voice of society at this point , not his own. He does not see a normal dilemma with Jim being free; he is opposed to the fact that he is the one helping him. This shows Huck misunderstanding of slavery. Huck does not treat Jim like a slave when they travel together free from the influences of society but once around other people he starts to change his thoughts. Not to the point were he is racist but society is persuading him toward them. Huck also feels guilty, as if he is stealing from Miss Watson by helping Jim escape slavery because he thinks that she owns him. Another example of the extreme's of slavery in the novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is when Jim say's " Yes, you [Huck] know that one niger dat b'long to old Misto Bondish? Well he [niger] sot up a bank en [and] say anybody dat [that] put in a dollar would git fo'dollars mo' at de en' de year". This shows us that back then there was lots of slavery going on because it says that you know that one Niger that belongs to old Mr. Bondish, meaning that they describe black people by there owners names. Also it shows slavery when it says, " Each person had their own niger to wait on them. Buck too. My [Buck's] niger had a monstrous easy time, because I [Buck] warn't [was not] used to having anybody do anything for me [buck], but Buck was on jump most of the time". Again this shows that slavery was very big back in Twain's day. Even the poorest drunken white man owned a black man as a slave. Even a young child has his very own black man to be his slave. The final example of exposing the whore's of racism and slavery in Mark Twain's novel is when Huck's Pap is talking about a black man who was free and the man was aloud to vote. He couldn't believe this. It made Pap soo mad. This man was even aloud to have a job. It also says that there is a law that states that a black man can't be auctioned of to be slaved unless he has been free in the state for six months. This makes Huck's father extremely mad at the government.

There was a free nigger there from Ohio -- a mulatter, most as white as a white man. He had the whitest shirt on you ever see, too, and the shiniest hat; and there ain't a man in that town that's got as fine clothes as what he had; and he had a gold watch and chain, and a silver-headed cane -- the awfulest old gray-headed nabob in the State. And what do you think? They said he was a p'fessor in a college, and could talk all kinds of languages, and and knowed everything........They said he could VOTE when he was at home I [Pap] says to the people, why ain't this nigger put up at auction and sold? -- that's what I [Pap] want to know. And what do you reckon they said? Why, they said he couldn't be sold till he'd been in the State six months, and he hadn't been there that long yet. There, now -- that's a specimen.

Therefore Mark Twain in his novel acts as a social critic exposing the evil of his time.

This was shown through the examination of general human stupidity , feuding, and through slavery. Here , clearly shown that our society of today is considerably different then the society that existed in Mark Twain's day in age. This has made our society a better place in which to live.

Our society of today is considerably different than the society that existed, than the society of Mark Twain's day in age. The changes that have taken place since that time have made our culture a better place in which to live. How do writers like Mark Twain help to bring about such changes through their writing? Mark Twain in his novel , The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn acts as a social critic enforcing the evil of his time. This may be seen through the examination of Twain's comments upon general human stupidity, feuding, and slavery.

Let us commence our considerations of how Mark twain acts as a social critic exposing the evil of his time with an examination of the general human stupidity. First off lets look at the attempt to hang Jim who is the Widow's black slave that Huck travels the Mississippi river with.

"The man was very huffy, and some of the them wanted to hang Jim for an example to all the other niger's around there , so they wouldn't be trying to run like jim done [did].

(Huckleberry Finn 42). They cuff and abuse Jim and threaten to hang him, but they cool off a little when they realize they would have to pay Jim's owner. They load him down with chains and throw him in the cabin. But finally the doctor comes back and tells the crowd to treat Jim more kindly because it was Jim who helped save Tom's life, even though he could have gotten away if he had chosen too. Huck is relieved when the farmers agree to stop cussing and cuffing Jim, although they make no move to remove the chains. Hanging people is pure human stupidity no matter the culture, race nor colour, we are all human beings and have the right to live.In this quote the only reason why they are accusing Jim is because he is black , the crowd didn't care about the time facts, they just presumed that Jim was bad and was a killer. But when the crowd finds the facts from the doctor they realized what he was like in the inside but not from the outside. Here Jim really sort of helps out all of the black people by showing the white people he couldn't he couldn't of run away but he didn't, proving that black people can be very trust worthy and friendly, like all other human beings. The second example of general stupidity in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is when Huck's father is yelling and threatening because he goes to school.

You're [Huck] educated, too , they say; can read and write. You think your better than your father, now don't you, because he [Huck's father] can't? I "˜ll take it out of pg.21.......he [Pap] took up a little blue and yaller picture of some cows and a boy , and say's: what's this? Its something they give me for learning my lessons good. He tore it up, and say's- I'll [Pap] give you something better-I'll [Pap's] give you a cow hide pg.22 This quote is a conversation between Huck and his Pap. His Pap is a mean drunk and is punishing Huck for doing well in school and not only that he is punishing him for doing well in school but for going to school period. Huck's father is doing this because he does not want Huck to be better than him or his wife because he is un educated and can't read. He also feels that Huck thinks that he is a better man. This makes Pap very jealous. It is a really really dumb thing to punish your children for wanting to be successful in life. Also when Pap tears up the painting that Huck gets for doing well in school it symbolises all of Huck's hopes and dreams of succeeding in the future being thrown out in the garbage. Our final examination of the general human stupidity in the novel that we will be examining we will be looking at is when Pap's is suing Judge Thatcher. " The law backs that old Judge Thatcher up and helps him [Judge Thatcher] to keep me [Pap's] out o' my property". Pap's, Huck's dad is trying to sue Judge Thatcher because he won't let him have Huck's money. Pap's thinks Judge Thatcher is a scoundrel, and is just trying to be mean to him because he is not well dressed or educated, and he doesn't agree with the government. But the truth is the money is for Huck's education from his mother and Huck knew that Paps was going to try and get at his money. So Huck immediately went to the Judge Thatcher who looks after his money and signed a piece of paper that gives Judge Thatcher the money. Pap's knows that huck has done this and it doesn't make him very happy. Lastly we will look at Pap's fighting against the society. "Next day he [pap's] was drunk , and he [Pap's] went to Judge Thatchers and bullied him [Judge Thatcher] and tried to make him [Judge Thatcher] give up the money; but, he [Judge Thatcher] couldn't, and then he [Pap's] swore then he'd [Pap's] make the law force him [Judge Thatcher]". This shows that Pap's when drunk likes to argue, and also that he likes to feud with people. He is fighting over the most stupid thing. A further proof that Huck's Pap likes to feud with society is when Huck say's "Well pretty soon the old man [paps] was up and around again. The he [paps] went for Judge Thatcher in the courts to make him [Judge Thatcher] give up the money, and he [Pap's] went for me [huck], too , for not stopping school". This shows us that even when he isn't drunk that he likes to feud with people, even his own son, just cause he won't stop going to school. He wants to feel important, have respect, and have power.

Let us begin our next consideration of how Mark Twain acts as a social critic exposing the evil of his time with an examination of feuding. The first thing we will be looking at is when Colonel Sherburn shoots Boggs cold blooded in front of everyone. "Oh lord, don't shoot. Bang! Goes the first shot and he [Boggs] staggers back, clawing at the air-Bang! Goes the second one, and he [Boggs] stumbles to the ground". Into this unrelievedly dreary scene Twain brings the drunken Boggs, who differs from the loafers already described only in his alcoholic aggressive Boggs. However, commits a tactical error by attacking a gentleman by whom Huck describes in the following sentence. "By-and-by a proud-looking man [Colonel Sherburn] about fifty-five and he [Colonel Sherburn] was the best dressed man in that town, too-steps out of the store, and a crowd drops back on each side to let him [Colonel Sherburn] come". Although Colonel gives Boggs ample warning, when the time comes, Sherburn shoots him in cool blood before the eyes of Boggs daughter. Sherburn further demonstrates his contempt for the townspeople by throwing his pistol on the ground and walking away. This is ridiculous that Sherburn shot Boggs because he is the sheriff, and if the sheriff starts shooting people and so will everyone else. Also it isn't right to kill someone that is drunk and making fun of them. It just isn't humane, especially right in front of his own daughter and the town. Instead of shooting Boggs , Colonel my have just put him into jail for the night or even longer, to let him sober up. A lot of people do a lot of stupid things but there is no need to kill them. Further more, to continue the examination of feuding we will look at the Grangerfords versus the Shepherdsons. "Well, then, what did you want to kill him [Shepherdson] for? Why nothing only to account of the feud". Buck Grangerfords boy tells Huck about the feud with the shephersons, which has been going on for thirty or so years. Buck says that they have no idea how the fight started, but accepts without question the proposition that all male Grangerfords and Shepherdsons are inalterably committed to killing one another. This is Twain's satiric comentary on the Montague-Capulet feud in Remeo and Juliet and on the romantic traditions of the old south. Twain respects the frontierman's warmth, hospitality, and independence, but has little regard for the code of chivalry romanticized in so much fiction of the period. Huck see's none of this. To him the Grangerfords a wholly admirable family. Although he does not necessarily accept the validity of the feud, he records Buck's explanation without comment. It is only when he is confronted by the horror of the death of his friends that expresses regret at the loss of human life.

Finally let us begin our final considerations of how Mark Twain acts as a social critic exposing the evil of his time with an examination of slavery. Huck does not consciously think that about Jim's impending freedom until he starts to get excited about the idea. We see Huck's first objection to Jim gaining his freedom when huck says, Well, I [Huck] can tell you it made me [Huck] all over trembly and feverish, too, to hear him [Jim], because I [Huck] begun to get it through my [Huck's] head that he [Jim] was most-free and who was to blame for it. Why me [Huck]? I could get that out of my conscience, no how nor no way.

Huck is hearing the voice of society at this point , not his own. He does not see a normal dilemma with Jim being free; he is opposed to the fact that he is the one helping him. This shows Huck misunderstanding of slavery. Huck does not treat Jim like a slave when they travel together free from the influences of society but once around other people he starts to change his thoughts. Not to the point were he is racist but society is persuading him toward them. Huck also feels guilty, as if he is stealing from Miss Watson by helping Jim escape slavery because he thinks that she owns him. Another example of the extreme's of slavery in the novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is when Jim say's " Yes, you [Huck] know that one niger dat b'long to old Misto Bondish? Well he [niger] sot up a bank en [and] say anybody dat [that] put in a dollar would git fo'dollars mo' at de en' de year". This shows us that back then there was lots of slavery going on because it says that you know that one Niger that belongs to old Mr. Bondish, meaning that they describe black people by there owners names. Also it shows slavery when it says, " Each person had their own niger to wait on them. Buck too. My [Buck's] niger had a monstrous easy time, because I [Buck] warn't [was not] used to having anybody do anything for me [buck], but Buck was on jump most of the time". Again this shows that slavery was very big back in Twain's day. Even the poorest drunken white man owned a black man as a slave. Even a young child has his very own black man to be his slave. The final example of exposing the whore's of racism and slavery in Mark Twain's novel is when Huck's Pap is talking about a black man who was free and the man was aloud to vote. He couldn't believe this. It made Pap soo mad. This man was even aloud to have a job. It also says that there is a law that states that a black man can't be auctioned of to be slaved unless he has been free in the state for six months. This makes Huck's father extremely mad at the government.

There was a free nigger there from Ohio -- a mulatter, most as white as a white man. He had the whitest shirt on you ever see, too, and the shiniest hat; and there ain't a man in that town that's got as fine clothes as what he had; and he had a gold watch and chain, and a silver-headed cane -- the awfulest old gray-headed nabob in the State. And what do you think? They said he was a p'fessor in a college, and could talk all kinds of languages, and and knowed everything........They said he could VOTE when he was at home I [Pap] says to the people, why ain't this nigger put up at auction and sold? -- that's what I [Pap] want to know. And what do you reckon they said? Why, they said he couldn't be sold till he'd been in the State six months, and he hadn't been there that long yet. There, now -- that's a specimen.

Therefore Mark Twain in his novel acts as a social critic exposing the evil of his time.

This was shown through the examination of general human stupidity , feuding, and through slavery. Here , clearly shown that our society of today is considerably different then the society that existed in Mark Twain's day in age. This has made our society a better place in which to live.

Our society of today is considerably different than the society that existed, than the society of Mark Twain's day in age. The changes that have taken place since that time have made our culture a better place in which to live. How do writers like Mark Twain help to bring about such changes through their writing? Mark Twain in his novel , The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn acts as a social critic enforcing the evil of his time. This may be seen through the examination of Twain's comments upon general human stupidity, feuding, and slavery.

Let us commence our considerations of how Mark twain acts as a social critic exposing the evil of his time with an examination of the general human stupidity. First off lets look at the attempt to hang Jim who is the Widow's black slave that Huck travels the Mississippi river with.

"The man was very huffy, and some of the them wanted to hang Jim for an example to all the other niger's around there , so they wouldn't be trying to run like jim done [did].

(Huckleberry Finn 42). They cuff and abuse Jim and threaten to hang him, but they cool off a little when they realize they would have to pay Jim's owner. They load him down with chains and throw him in the cabin. But finally the doctor comes back and tells the crowd to treat Jim more kindly because it was Jim who helped save Tom's life, even though he could have gotten away if he had chosen too. Huck is relieved when the farmers agree to stop cussing and cuffing Jim, although they make no move to remove the chains. Hanging people is pure human stupidity no matter the culture, race nor colour, we are all human beings and have the right to live.In this quote the only reason why they are accusing Jim is because he is black , the crowd didn't care about the time facts, they just presumed that Jim was bad and was a killer. But when the crowd finds the facts from the doctor they realized what he was like in the inside but not from the outside. Here Jim really sort of helps out all of the black people by showing the white people he couldn't he couldn't of run away but he didn't, proving that black people can be very trust worthy and friendly, like all other human beings. The second example of general stupidity in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is when Huck's father is yelling and threatening because he goes to school.

You're [Huck] educated, too , they say; can read and write. You think your better than your father, now don't you, because he [Huck's father] can't? I "˜ll take it out of pg.21.......he [Pap] took up a little blue and yaller picture of some cows and a boy , and say's: what's this? Its something they give me for learning my lessons good. He tore it up, and say's- I'll [Pap] give you something better-I'll [Pap's] give you a cow hide pg.22 This quote is a conversation between Huck and his Pap. His Pap is a mean drunk and is punishing Huck for doing well in school and not only that he is punishing him for doing well in school but for going to school period. Huck's father is doing this because he does not want Huck to be better than him or his wife because he is un educated and can't read. He also feels that Huck thinks that he is a better man. This makes Pap very jealous. It is a really really dumb thing to punish your children for wanting to be successful in life. Also when Pap tears up the painting that Huck gets for doing well in school it symbolises all of Huck's hopes and dreams of succeeding in the future being thrown out in the garbage. Our final examination of the general human stupidity in the novel that we will be examining we will be looking at is when Pap's is suing Judge Thatcher. " The law backs that old Judge Thatcher up and helps him [Judge Thatcher] to keep me [Pap's] out o' my property". Pap's, Huck's dad is trying to sue Judge Thatcher because he won't let him have Huck's money. Pap's thinks Judge Thatcher is a scoundrel, and is just trying to be mean to him because he is not well dressed or educated, and he doesn't agree with the government. But the truth is the money is for Huck's education from his mother and Huck knew that Paps was going to try and get at his money. So Huck immediately went to the Judge Thatcher who looks after his money and signed a piece of paper that gives Judge Thatcher the money. Pap's knows that huck has done this and it doesn't make him very happy. Lastly we will look at Pap's fighting against the society. "Next day he [pap's] was drunk , and he [Pap's] went to Judge Thatchers and bullied him [Judge Thatcher] and tried to make him [Judge Thatcher] give up the money; but, he [Judge Thatcher] couldn't, and then he [Pap's] swore then he'd [Pap's] make the law force him [Judge Thatcher]". This shows that Pap's when drunk likes to argue, and also that he likes to feud with people. He is fighting over the most stupid thing. A further proof that Huck's Pap likes to feud with society is when Huck say's "Well pretty soon the old man [paps] was up and around again. The he [paps] went for Judge Thatcher in the courts to make him [Judge Thatcher] give up the money, and he [Pap's] went for me [huck], too , for not stopping school". This shows us that even when he isn't drunk that he likes to feud with people, even his own son, just cause he won't stop going to school. He wants to feel important, have respect, and have power.

Let us begin our next consideration of how Mark Twain acts as a social critic exposing the evil of his time with an examination of feuding. The first thing we will be looking at is when Colonel Sherburn shoots Boggs cold blooded in front of everyone. "Oh lord, don't shoot. Bang! Goes the first shot and he [Boggs] staggers back, clawing at the air-Bang! Goes the second one, and he [Boggs] stumbles to the ground". Into this unrelievedly dreary scene Twain brings the drunken Boggs, who differs from the loafers already described only in his alcoholic aggressive Boggs. However, commits a tactical error by attacking a gentleman by whom Huck describes in the following sentence. "By-and-by a proud-looking man [Colonel Sherburn] about fifty-five and he [Colonel Sherburn] was the best dressed man in that town, too-steps out of the store, and a crowd drops back on each side to let him [Colonel Sherburn] come". Although Colonel gives Boggs ample warning, when the time comes, Sherburn shoots him in cool blood before the eyes of Boggs daughter. Sherburn further demonstrates his contempt for the townspeople by throwing his pistol on the ground and walking away. This is ridiculous that Sherburn shot Boggs because he is the sheriff, and if the sheriff starts shooting people and so will everyone else. Also it isn't right to kill someone that is drunk and making fun of them. It just isn't humane, especially right in front of his own daughter and the town. Instead of shooting Boggs , Colonel my have just put him into jail for the night or even longer, to let him sober up. A lot of people do a lot of stupid things but there is no need to kill them. Further more, to continue the examination of feuding we will look at the Grangerfords versus the Shepherdsons. "Well, then, what did you want to kill him [Shepherdson] for? Why nothing only to account of the feud". Buck Grangerfords boy tells Huck about the feud with the shephersons, which has been going on for thirty or so years. Buck says that they have no idea how the fight started, but accepts without question the proposition that all male Grangerfords and Shepherdsons are inalterably committed to killing one another. This is Twain's satiric comentary on the Montague-Capulet feud in Remeo and Juliet and on the romantic traditions of the old south. Twain respects the frontierman's warmth, hospitality, and independence, but has little regard for the code of chivalry romanticized in so much fiction of the period. Huck see's none of this. To him the Grangerfords a wholly admirable family. Although he does not necessarily accept the validity of the feud, he records Buck's explanation without comment. It is only when he is confronted by the horror of the death of his friends that expresses regret at the loss of human life.

Finally let us begin our final considerations of how Mark Twain acts as a social critic exposing the evil of his time with an examination of slavery. Huck does not consciously think that about Jim's impending freedom until he starts to get excited about the idea. We see Huck's first objection to Jim gaining his freedom when huck says, Well, I [Huck] can tell you it made me [Huck] all over trembly and feverish, too, to hear him [Jim], because I [Huck] begun to get it through my [Huck's] head that he [Jim] was most-free and who was to blame for it. Why me [Huck]? I could get that out of my conscience, no how nor no way.

Huck is hearing the voice of society at this point , not his own. He does not see a normal dilemma with Jim being free; he is opposed to the fact that he is the one helping him. This shows Huck misunderstanding of slavery. Huck does not treat Jim like a slave when they travel together free from the influences of society but once around other people he starts to change his thoughts. Not to the point were he is racist but society is persuading him toward them. Huck also feels guilty, as if he is stealing from Miss Watson by helping Jim escape slavery because he thinks that she owns him. Another example of the extreme's of slavery in the novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is when Jim say's " Yes, you [Huck] know that one niger dat b'long to old Misto Bondish? Well he [niger] sot up a bank en [and] say anybody dat [that] put in a dollar would git fo'dollars mo' at de en' de year". This shows us that back then there was lots of slavery going on because it says that you know that one Niger that belongs to old Mr. Bondish, meaning that they describe black people by there owners names. Also it shows slavery when it says, " Each person had their own niger to wait on them. Buck too. My [Buck's] niger had a monstrous easy time, because I [Buck] warn't [was not] used to having anybody do anything for me [buck], but Buck was on jump most of the time". Again this shows that slavery was very big back in Twain's day. Even the poorest drunken white man owned a black man as a slave. Even a young child has his very own black man to be his slave. The final example of exposing the whore's of racism and slavery in Mark Twain's novel is when Huck's Pap is talking about a black man who was free and the man was aloud to vote. He couldn't believe this. It made Pap soo mad. This man was even aloud to have a job. It also says that there is a law that states that a black man can't be auctioned of to be slaved unless he has been free in the state for six months. This makes Huck's father extremely mad at the government.

There was a free nigger there from Ohio -- a mulatter, most as white as a white man. He had the whitest shirt on you ever see, too, and the shiniest hat; and there ain't a man in that town that's got as fine clothes as what he had; and he had a gold watch and chain, and a silver-headed cane -- the awfulest old gray-headed nabob in the State. And what do you think? They said he was a p'fessor in a college, and could talk all kinds of languages, and and knowed everything........They said he could VOTE when he was at home I [Pap] says to the people, why ain't this nigger put up at auction and sold? -- that's what I [Pap] want to know. And what do you reckon they said? Why, they said he couldn't be sold till he'd been in the State six months, and he hadn't been there that long yet. There, now -- that's a specimen.

Therefore Mark Twain in his novel acts as a social critic exposing the evil of his time.

This was shown through the examination of general human stupidity , feuding, and through slavery. Here , clearly shown that our society of today is considerably different then the society that existed in Mark Twain's day in age. This has made our society a better place in which to live.

mark twain Category:Mark Twain images

Illustration of Jim and Huckleberry Finn, by EW Ke...

The cover of the first edition of Adventures of Hu...