Reading Be-Twain the Lines- a Discussion of Social Criticism in Huckleberry Finn
In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, author Mark Twain capitalizes upon the importance of making one’s own decisions rather than following societal and cultural expectations. To express this, he attacks the very concepts of religion, slavery, and relying only on others’ ideas rather than original ones. First, Twain addresses the issue of religious dogma in the person of Huck Finn, writing his most popular character as an independent thinker who rejects religion and does what he personally believes is right. Huck’s character also criticizes slavery with the recognition of the slaves’ humanity, and therefore the inherent evil of enslaving his brothers. Through Tom Sawyer and multiple mobs, Twain lastly comments on the danger of not making one’s own decisions by juxtaposing the independent Huck with ridiculous, sometimes simply idiotic characters. Mark Twain criticizes both social institutions such as slavery and dogmas such as Christianity in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by portraying the likable protagonist, Huck Finn, as independent and nonconforming to the rules of these creations, while writing less likable characters as only …show more content…
By placing the likable Huck in situations where he rejects religious canon and chooses personal morality instead, Twain places a heavy stigma on blindly following dogma. He brings his social commentary to a new plane when he uses Mary Jane’s and Huck’s recognition of the slaves’, especially Jim’s, humanity to show the inherent evil of slavery. Finally, he denounces the mentality of following the group when he continually writes ridiculous, childish characters as refusing to think for themselves. Mark Twain provides important social criticism through the way he writes his characters and their
In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, author Mark Twain capitalizes upon the importance of making one’s own decisions rather than following societal and cultural expectations. To express this, he attacks the very concepts of religion, slavery, and relying only on others’ ideas rather than original ones. First, Twain addresses the issue of religious dogma in the person of Huck Finn, writing his most popular character as an independent thinker who rejects religion and does what he personally believes is right. Huck’s character also criticizes slavery with the recognition of the slaves’ humanity, and therefore the inherent evil of enslaving his brothers. Through Tom Sawyer and multiple mobs, Twain lastly comments on the danger of not making one’s own decisions by juxtaposing the independent Huck with ridiculous, sometimes simply idiotic characters. Mark Twain criticizes both social institutions such as slavery and dogmas such as Christianity in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by portraying the likable protagonist, Huck Finn, as independent and nonconforming to the rules of these creations, while writing less likable characters as only …show more content…
By placing the likable Huck in situations where he rejects religious canon and chooses personal morality instead, Twain places a heavy stigma on blindly following dogma. He brings his social commentary to a new plane when he uses Mary Jane’s and Huck’s recognition of the slaves’, especially Jim’s, humanity to show the inherent evil of slavery. Finally, he denounces the mentality of following the group when he continually writes ridiculous, childish characters as refusing to think for themselves. Mark Twain provides important social criticism through the way he writes his characters and their