Huck Finn Laughter Analysis

A common goal for many works of literature is to achieve “thoughtful laughter,” in which the first response to a situation is laughter, but it makes the reader later think about its meaning and application in real life. One such work is The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, a brilliant work of American literature that is noted for its commentary on Southern Antebellum society. Twain’s humor in Huckleberry Finn is satirical in order to convey his thoughts on how cruel, self-absorbed, and hypocritical people in Southern society were. Tom Sawyer, the privileged and imaginative friend of Huck Finn, serves as a primary example of Twain’s “thoughtful laughter.” Tom’s mischievous yet subtly cruel personality and frequent escapades allow

However his teasing and care-free nature shows how he has little care for those around him, rather only focusing on how he will benefit from the experience. This can be seen when Huck proposes an easier way to get Jim out of Uncle Silas and Aunt Sally’s shed. Tom chastises Huck by saying, ‘Oh, shucks, Huck Finn, if I was as ignorant as you, I’d keep still – that’s what I’d do. Who ever heard of a state prisoner escaping by a hickry – bark ladder? Why, it’s perfectly ridiculous’ (pg 254). This shows both Tom’s tendency to complicate simple things in order to follow the “rules” of adventure, as well as how careless he is of other people and his dominating nature. Tom is so self-absorbed in his own world that he does not realize how cruel he is being to Huck and everybody

Tom’s plan is ridiculously lengthy and detailed, making it funny that someone would make a plan so elaborate. Previous to Tom explaining his full-fledged plan, it becomes evident to Huck that Tom has no intention of straying from his plan. Moreover Tom’s rigid adherence to rules and society’s conventions aligns him with the “sivilizing” forces that Huck learns to see through. While Tom’s role in the plot of the novel is small, his contribution to the overall message is integral. His nonsensical antics and wild imagination provide for amusing scenes and moments, however they share a deeper meaning that Twain means to convey to his audience. Representing the juxtaposition of a privileged man in Southern Antebellum society in the character of a young boy contributes to the satiric nature of the novel by providing a certain hilarity to the seriousness of Tom’s cruel