Criticism: Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn

From the literal work a big question that could be asked is “‘ what is to be Ransomed? It actually means that we keep them till they are dead'” (10). This dialogue depicts Twain’s witty personality. Mark Twain, one of the great American novelist, exploits the richness of his humor, the aspect of realism, and use of satire in his outstanding way of writing style in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Mark Twain was born in 1835, wrote many books throughout his artistic work.They are made up of some deep cynicism and a sense of satire on the society.He exemplifies his unique aspects of depicting humor,creating realism, and expressing satire throughout the various characters and different situations in his great American novel.He applies the sense of humor in the various episodes in his book which makes sure the reader is lacghing all the way through the interesting stories. There is the first instance of humor in the episode which occurs when Huck Finn surprises Jim with the stories of kings. Jim who had only heard of King Solomon who from the first instance hadf regarded himmas a king for attempting to slice the kid into two and in responses says, “‘Yit dey say Sollermun de wises’ man dat ever live’. I doan’ take no stock in dat'” (75).

Then , the author brings into play the Grangerfords ,who is introduced as Huck ,moves to the ashore and unconciously meets this family. When Huck enquires from Buck concerning the feud ,then Buck replies, “‘… 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'” (105).One day a duel breaks out between the families and Huck leaves the town where he leaves for the river where he rejoins Jim,from there they proceed down to Mississippi. There is another instance of a humorous episode which appears in the novel along the the Phelps plantation.Huck comes to learns that the king had already sold Jim to the Phelps family who are close relatives of Tom Sawyer. Unfortunately Phelps family mistakes Huck for Tom Sawyer. When Tom meets with Aunt Sally, he “… [reaches] over and [kisses] Aunt Sally on the mouth” (219) This occurs as a surprises to her and Tom explains that he “[thinks] [she] [likes] it” (219).Afterwards , Huck comes across Tom on his way to town and the two make up another story about their real identities. The two then comes up with a scheme on how to rescue Jim. They make Jim appear as a prisoner and then by making him go through jail hence escaping the clichs. As he goes through this rituals he comments that “‘I never knowed b’ fo’ ’twas so much bother and trouble to be a prisoner'” (252). At the final end , Tom reveals that Jim owns himself. Twain makes use of humor as a way to add the aspect of realism in multiple situations. (Jonathan)

Mark Twain employs the use of realism in the kind he uses realism in his book . Twain explores the gullibility and the exploitability of the society .This is most evident when the duke together with the king visits the camp meeting where they collect huge amounts of money from those poor people. The king devises a story concerning his profession claiming he is a pirate who had lost al his crew at the sea.People responds back and says , “‘Take up a collection for him, take up a collection!'” (128). Twain makes use of deceit, lying, and alot of hypocrisy throughout his work in the novel.This is much revealed in most areas in the book (Arac). Twain as well reveals some examples of realism through the dialect the characters use in the novel. In his work ,he makes rich use of real dialect and this in itself demonstrates his realist qualities that he possesses. Throughout the book, Twain includes many different dialects including “the Missouri Negro dialect; the extremest form of the backwoods Southwestern dialect; the ordinary ‘Pike County’ dialect, and four modified varieties of the last” (2). Other good examples of realism occur in the setting are also profound. The story takes stage in St. Petersburg and on the Mississippi, this is close to his place of birth.To be precise , Mark Twain makes use of the various episodes which reveal realism as god way of satirizing the society. (Twain)

Satire,being another literal style which Twain uses in the novel becomes predominant throughout the work. One very convincing example where satire occurs is in the opening chapter when Huck says, “[b]y and by they fetched the niggers in and had prayers, and then everybody was off to bed” (5). This makes it funny the fact that Miss Watson tries to be a better Christian and as well as a good person though she still has slaves at home whom she considers as her property. Another good example which shows the use of satire is when Pap becomes raged with anger by the thought of of a black man would have an opportunity to vote.This is in contrast with the fact that the samee black man had acyually more education than Pap (27). Twain makes use the Boggs-Sherburn occurence to ensure the style of satire is evident. When Boggs comes into the play,his role is to kill Colonel Sherburn.But Sherburn goes ahead and shoots Boogs and the people of the town prepares to lynch him. Sherburn creates some homour by laughing in their faces and goes ahead to tell them, “‘you are – cowards'” (142).The crowwds finally breaks up andd decides to move on (142). Huck meditates on this occurence and says “… the pitifulest thing out is a mob” (142). Another greaat example of satire occurs when Huck goes to the Phelps plantation and observes the two frauds, the king and the duke, who were tarred and feathered. He points out that “[h]uman beings can be awful cruel to one another” (222).

Twain applies the minstrel tradition in the creation of the character of Jim’s . However, throughout the novel, he also provided his audience with a clear view of Jim’s humanity behind the minstrel mask. Twain’s juxtaposition of Jim the minstrel and Jim the human being is reflective of the ambiguity of black humanity in the late 1800s. Perhaps this image was also reflective of Twain’s own personal search to identify black humanity. Ralph Ellison writes: “it is from behind this stereotype mask that we see Jim’s dignity and human complexity–or Twain’s complexity–emerge” (422).