This can be noticed throughout the book and in the three scenes talked about before because the white characters in the book often times make irrational comments about slaves that relate to what they are doing themselves. Twain’s use of irony the scene about Huck being upset with the fact that Jim would steal his family back if he had too, shows that Huck did not think Jim should be able to and was not deserving enough to have his own family. This shows the greater truth of slavery because even though Huck likes Jim, he did not agree with Jim’s want to have a free family. The scene where the Duke, the King, and Huck are categorizing slaves as thieves, when they themselves are thieves shows the greater truth of slavery that slaves were categorized into certain types of people, even though it was not true of all slaves. The scene were Tom says that he would hang a slave if they were ungrateful and ranaway shows the greater truth of slavery that if a slave disobeyed, they deserved death.
This situational irony is important because Tom went through a life-threatening journey to retrieve this important paper full of measurements and notes he would need to receive his promotion. He wanted that paper as much as a child wants candy. But Tom realizes at the end that the paper is worthless and his endeavor was all for nothing because it was lost anyway. Thus, the idea that Tom should leave because now he has nothing to worry about because there is no way to retrieve a second time is
The Use of Satire in Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain Mark Twain establishes a plot that intrigues readers as well as teaches them through messages that are necessary to advance their learning. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Twain tells the story of an adolescent and developing boy who travels with a runaway slave down the Mississippi in hopes of finding freedom. The author uses satire in addition to the flaws of society to adequately narrate this adventure. Twain’s satire of human religious hypocrisy and racism is evident through the satirical techniques of irony and parody. Throughout the novel, Mark Twain satirizes the societal flaw of religious hypocrisy through irony by showing that characters in the story own slaves and claim to be religious at the same time.
All throughout the story Tom and his wife seem to argue very much. Tom never wanted to please his wife and would never try or do anything to please her. Also, both Tom and his wife were so miserable in their marriage they cheated on eachother. “... with the loss of his wife, for he was a man of fortitude. He even felt something like gratitude towards the black woodsman, who, he considered had done him a kindness.” This quote explains how cheerful was upon realizing the devil had taken his wife and felt as if the devil did him a favor.
In the book both of these boys are switched to show the sole purpose of Roxy wanting her son to grow up not as a slave. Both of the boys when they grow up are totally the opposite of their actual parents. This bringing up the fact that what you are surrounded by what you tend to transform
Throughout the story, Mrs. Maloney betrays multiple people after being betrayed by her own husband. Her thoughts soon become clouded with animosity which leads her to make rash decisions. Although Forbes says “the way people assess and understand others is compromised”, the reader sees how these stereotypes can be used to a character’s advantage when getting away with wrong doing. The story “Lamb to the Slaughter” by Roald Dahl depicts how betrayal can provoke characters to commit crime in order to emphasize the inaccurate perception of women. The author uses irony and characterization to portray how once betrayed women may not be as innocent or fragile as they seem.
Troy was let down in a lot of ways in life and it is because of how he was treated that he acts the way that he does. Troy uses his anger and bitterness towards the world, to evolve into a hardness towards his own life and the lives of others around him. Kenney states that “ The origins of Troy’s
As is clearly demonstrated, Huckleberry endured much and was put in this very position. Finn, the evidently dynamic character, chooses the opportunity of wisdom and develops tremendously with much effort. The events that Finn encountered helped him evolve from a young teenage boy into a mature and well-informed adolescent. Twain establishes in his profoundly metaphoric novel that life’s events will adapt who we are, for better or for worse; however it is how we approach them that determines the
Next, the most urgent topic he implies, is racism. In the following statement, “It was ‘lection day, and I [Pap] was just about to go and vote myself if I warn’t too drunk to get there’ but when they told me there was a state in this country where they’d let that nigger vote, I drawed out” (Twain 27), the reader questions the decency in an abusive, alcoholic excuse of a man being able to vote over a black man. Comparatively, Twain suggests that someone’s color shouldn’t determine their basic human rights. Whether it be with voting, or even just having freedom from slavery, the corruption of equality leads to a major theme of the novel. In addition, greed is yet another significant factor to Huck and Jim’s struggle throughout the novel.
While Jim’s role in the ending is considerable smaller, giving him the identity of more of a sidekick rather than a key character, and some parts were unnecessary for the central themes of race in society, the novel still sends a powerful message about race. Mark Twain’s message is subtle; he dismisses racism and slavery not always through direct statements, but by highlighting Southern attitude and marking the irrationality and irony of those very beliefs. The use of the n-word may make readers uncomfortable, but the language reflects the societal norms at the time, and the portrayal of Jim contradicts every stereotype of “the Negro,” making readers at that time period question their own beliefs. As the reader learns more about Jim and his courageous actions, while simultaneously reading about the cruelty towards African Americans in society, the reader will inevitably come to reject the racism and discrimination prevalent in 19th century American society. That is what makes this novel so effective, and just for that, it deserves its eminent position in American literature.