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What Is The Satire In Huckleberry Finn

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Satire In Huck Finn Satire is defined as the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues. This literary device is extremely popular in literature and entertainment, and is evident in everyday life. One modern example of satire is The Onion, which, in its home page today has satirized American politics as well as day to day American living. In one specific article, The website satirizes the current American Presidency when it says, “From building a brand new nation, to safeguarding the ideals of liberty and democracy around the world, to moving on her like a bitch, The Onion takes a closer look at each of America’s …show more content…

This rant occurs shortly after Pap’s kidnapping of his own son and the subsequent journey to town for his daily debauchery. Upon entering the dilapidated cabin, Pap quickly begins to voice his unsavory and uneducated opinions. “There was a free nigger from Ohio- a mulatter, most as white as a white man... They said he could vote where he comes from. Well that let me out. Thinks I, what is the country a-coming to? It was ‘lection day, and I was just about to go out 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’d they let this nigger vote, I drawed out.”(27 Huck Finn) Pap soon topped off his tirade with another gem of wisdom, “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...They call that a govment that can't sell a free nigger till he's been in the state six months.”(27 Huck) It is not easy to determine the exact target of Twain's satire in the rant, but it is clear that the broad scope of poor, white-southern racism is being poked fun at. Pap becomes a metaphor for all the poor, uneducated southerners who have grown resentment towards Blacks-both free and slave- based solely on preconceived cultural

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