The Adventures of Huckleberrt Finn

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Recommended: Humour and satire in adventures of huckleberry finn

Beliefs Systems in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Friday the 13th, black cats, knocking on wood, and breaking a mirror. All these things are superstitions that some live by, others have a more practical system of beliefs, also know as religion. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Huck explores these two contrasting types of beliefs and realizes that one is ladened with hypocrisy. The literary technique of satire is used highly throughout the book, and adds to the depiction of the south and their morals idea in a very unique way.The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was written and published in 1844, a time period where racism was still prevailing.Mark Twain uses the Christian religion and superstitions to create a vivid picture of the southern culture. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn portrays the “sivilized” society through Jim’s superstitions, the Christian religion, and Huck's moral decisions.
Jim’s superstitions represent the uneducated and uncivilized people of the south, although they clearly are more correct than many expect. The superstitions seem unrealistic and that would be characterized as ignorant, satanic and foolish. Through the use of satire, it is the exact opposite. These uncivilized superstitions are true, and they are Jim and Huck become to live by, instead of a religion. Jim tells Huck that having a hairy back means that you have wealth in the future.
“Ef you’s got hairy arms en a hairy breas’, it’s a sign dat you’s a-gwyne to be rich. Well, dey’s some use in a sign like dat,’kase it’s so fur ahead. You see, maybe you’s got to be po’a long time fust, en so you might git discourage’en kill yo’sef ‘f you didn’know by sign dat you gwyne to be rich bymeby.” “Have you got hairy arms and a hairy breast, ...

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...and superstitions are the two main denominations in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Throughout Huck’s adventures he establishes his own point of view on the morals and ideas of the southern society. Mark Twain develops the vast separation between the two cultures through the use of satire. All the superstitions in the books become accurate, while the christian ideas are contradicted by the people that follow them. Culture and morality in the south, is made up of the religion and beliefs of the people that live there. Despite peoples judgements about race Jim turns out to be the most moral character in the book. He has little or no hatred against white people, or any of the people that oppressed him. Twain uses satire to focus on the hypocrisy in many civilized people. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn brings to light the misguided morals of people in society.

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