Mob Mentality in the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Essay

Mob Mentality in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn The critic Kenny Williams states that the Colonel Sherburn scene inThe Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark twain, â€Å"allow[s] a brief platform for Twain to express his own contempt for mobs in an era known for such activities and lawlessness.† This draws the attention to other scenes Twain uses to show his contempt for activities in society. In his novel Mark Twain uses characters and scenes to show his disdain for zealot faith, corrupt human nature, and blind adherence to law. In the beginning of the novel, Mark Twain shows his disdain for the blind faith of religion through Huck’s confusion. For example, when Huck states; â€Å"I says to myself, if a body can get anything they pray for,†¦show more content†¦The people in this church are easily able to give money to pirates, who are known for being crooks and liars, inviting them to stay in their homes as an honor. Thus, Twain shows his disdain for re ligious beliefs by satirizing their blind faith and gullibility. Throughout the novel, Twain shows his contempt for corrupt human nature. Although these instances are often satirized and exaggerated, the message is still the same. For instance, when the King and the Duke first start to lie about being the dead Peter Wilks’ brothers to obtain his money, Huck says, â€Å"It was enough to make a body ashamed of the human race,† (191). In this instance Twain is utilizing Huck to show his aversion to the way people lie and cheat, and how a couple of people can make a bad name for all of us. Another example is when Jim sells the King and Duke out to the townspeople and they are carried on a pole, tarred and feathered. Although Huck, has tried to escape the King and Dukes several occasions and has witnessed the cruelties put on others and lies they tell, he does not think that they deserve similar treatment. In fact, he says, â€Å"Human beings can be awful cruel to one ano ther,† (269). Through Huck, Twain is voicing his opposition to how people treat one another, whether they deserve it or not. Thus Twain is using his novel to voice his enmity for the cruelty in human nature. Twain also shows his aversion toShow MoreRelatedRacism : Discrimination Or Antagonism Directed Against Someone Of A Different Race1636 Words   |  7 PagesRacism: discrimination or antagonism directed against someone of a different race. Even though The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a novel about a young boy the story has an underlying message of the truth of racism. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a novel set in the late eighteen hundreds hundreds and is considered by many the quintessential American novel. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a highly controversial book with many supporters and many hecklers. 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