Folks:
Select a passage that you think to be partciularly satirical, one we've talked about in class, or one we've not yet explored, and then write a paragraph in which you comment on the passage you chose. Be sure to include a brief piece of the passage at the top, along with the page number, and then write your analysis.
-- PJC
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
12 comments:
Huck Finn Passage Commentary- John Golden
“‘Blame de pint! I reck’n I knows. En mine you, de real pint is down furder- it’s down deeper’” (96)
Jim says this to Huck while they argue about the story of King Solomon. Twain satirizes what Huck believes about black people. During this argument Huck and Jim can’t agree on what the story of King Solomon is all about. Huck believes one thing, and Jim another. Huck tries to teach Jim what the story really means, but Jim is the one who is more accurate. Huck believes he is right, because a black person couldn’t understand the story. Huck thinks that black people, like Jim, are stubborn and won’t unlearn anything once it’s in their head. This is ironic because it his Huck that cannot unlearn bad habits and opinions. It is Huck that thinks he is right while Jim is wrong. Jim tries to explain it to Huck, but Huck won’t listen because he doesn’t think Jim, or black people, are smart enough to understand. Throughout the novel Twain satirizes Huck’s opinions of blacks, and how he really doesn’t understand them. He doesn’t understand they are people just like him, with feelings, opinions, and knowledge. Huck doesn’t see Jim as a normal person like himself. He thinks Jim doesn’t know enough to understand the story, while Huck is the one who has it all wrong.
Huck Fin Passage Commentary—Emmie Taylor
“It was pretty ornery preaching—all about brotherly love and such-like tiresomeness,” (147)
In this passage, Huck is mulling over the Sunday morning sermon at church with the Grangerfords, while underneath that, Mark Twain is satirizing the hypocrisy of people who are pious only in church in contrast to their lack of virtue once out of church. Huck is literally making a commentary on the boring character of the sermon, while every one of the Grangerfords still seemed to enjoy it. However, the irony comes from the family’s approval of the subject matter—that of brotherly love—compared to the fact that as soon as they leave the church they will return to their feud with the Shepherdsons, and the bloodshed between the families will continue. Adding to the satire is Huck’s statement of how “the men took their guns along” to church so as to be prepared for the possibility of an attack afterward, but on the way home they still “had such a powerful lot to say about faith, and good works, and free grace.” And while the two churchgoing families would describe themselves as true, loving Christians, the Commandment stating “Thou Shalt Not Kill” never crosses their mind as soon as their Sunday morning at church is over and their minds refocus on revenge and the continuation of the feud. Yet still, the Grangerfords and the Shepherdsons sit side-by-side on a Sunday morning and listen to a sermon on brotherly love, of all possible topics. And while Huck is oblivious to the irony in his youth, Mark Twain’s satire of reverent, brotherly love in the midst of a feud does not get any more blatant, or any more amusing to his audience.
Huck Finn Passage Commentary—Bridgette McKnight
“The men took their guns along…and kept them between their knees… preaching—all about brotherly love… one of the roughest Sundays I had run across,” (pg 147).
In this passage Huck talks about his experience with the Grangerfords at church. In this passage, Twain satirizes the hypocrisy of the church going protestants. Literally the people carry guns to church to protect themselves from each other and after service converse about the sermon, but on a larger scale this reveal the hypocritical state of the society in which Huck, temporarily, resides. After being spoken to about “brotherly love”, the Grangerfords and Shepherdsons, praise the words of the pastor, and have “ such a powerful lot to say about faith,” but once they return home they begin killing people of the same faith in which they just worshiped with. Twain also distorts the fact that these people are doing this feuding on the holy day or Sabbath, making them sinners and heathens. Although they talk about “good works” and “free grace” they do not practice or take into account the teaches of society, almost like the three men on the ship that do not kill the man completely because it would be “bad morals”. Twain not only creates an atmosphere that makes Huck uncomfortable but also makes him desire to be somewhere like the river. By satirizing this scene, Twain connects “one of the roughest Sundays” with Huck’s desire to be comfortable instead of uneasy.
Huck Finn Passage Commentary—Claire Lang
“Cuss the doctor! What do we k’yer for him? Hain’t we got all the fools in town on our side? and ain’t that a big enough majority in any town?” [228]
The ‘king’ says this to the ‘duke’ when the two men are arguing in private about whether or not to stay and make more money, or to be satisfied with what they have already cheated from the mourning family. In this scene Twain satirizes the ironic and utter foolishness of the conmen, who think themselves to be very clever. This passage not only reveals the conflict beginning to form between Huck and the two men, but also echoes the irrational actions of the ‘duke’ and the ‘king’. Literally, the conmen are commenting on the foolishness of the people because they have just cheated the torn-up family out of their money. But ironically, the two men are thus themselves being fooled by Huck who knows not only of the conmen’s wicked plan, but also of their true identities, and is willing to go to great lengths to reverse the actions of the stealing. The imprudent ‘king’ and ‘duke’ fail to take into account the presence of the town doctor, who keenly suspects the devilish plan. Figuratively, Twain is focusing on the dramatic irony coming to play in this scene. The quote foreshadows a brewing conflict between the conmen who have no idea that Huck is conning them, and the witty doctor who has suspected the two men of trickery since their arrival in town. Though the ‘king’ and the ‘doctor’ believe that they have “all the fools in town on [their] side” (228), in reality, they are in for a shock when they realize that the plan is not a flawless as they might think.
Huck Finn Passage Commentary – Zack Kaiser
“I was born and raised in the south, and I’ve lived in the north; so I know the average all around. The average man’s a coward…” (190)
Sherburn says this to the mob when they some to his house to lynch him. In this scene Twain not only satirizes the cowardly nature of a mob but also pin-points the characteristics of the common man in American society. Literally the narrator explains his emotions he is getting from listening to Sherburn; “…kind of makes you feel like when you are eating bread.” (190) Sherburn also describes the crowd in an array of ways On a larger level however, the author reveals the satire of the mob personality. He reveals through Sherburn that Americans are cowardly because they follow the popularity of others; “Your newspapers call you a brave people so much that you think you are braver than any other people”. Twain compares an army to a mob; “The pitifulest thing out is a mob; that’s ehat an army is – a mob; they don’t fight with courage”. Twain not only compares just a mob to an army but is figuratively comparing Americans to a mob. Twain believes that Americans not only follow popularity but are consumed by what the masses do. Through this passage he explains that nobody will do something unless many others have started to do this same thing. In this case of this passage Twains reveals through Sherburn that Americans will not lynch unless they are told to. Twain not only reveals this through the satirical passage but also says, “If any lyching is to be done, it will be done in the dark southern fashion”. Twain not only reveals that people will do it protected by the dark but also shows that these people throughout the American follow the popularity within their own region. In this case the south.
Huck Finn Passage Commentary – Jeff Hennessy
“…but a hog is different.” (Adventures of Huckleberry Finn 147)
Huck says this to the reader after observing the Grangerfords and the Shepherdsons at Sunday Mass. In this passage, Twain satirizes the hypocrisy of church going Christians by contrasting the “Holy” Christians with virtuous hogs. Literally, Twain explains that people only go to Church because they have to, while hogs go to Church because they want to and because they seek an escape from the summer’s heat. Figuratively, however, Twain explains the hypocrisy of individuals who attend Church only because they must. These people are in no way “righteous” and are constantly looking for the easiest and most convenient way to heaven. The disgraceful, filthy hogs, or the sinners and “scum” of society are actually the holy ones, in that they go to Church not just because they have to but because they seek salvation. This theme of the righteous sinner and the hypocritical holy man is connected to the New Testament of the Catholic Bible. Twain intertwines Huck’s subconscious observations with a much deeper and much more meaningful observation. Through Huck, Twain satirizes the hypocrisy of those who think themselves to be holy, only because they do what they must, and only that.
Huck Finn Passage Commentary – Elizabeth Kelly
“…it was just as I said; you couldn’t tell them from the real kind.” (Adventures of Huckleberry Finn 201)
In this passage Huck is speaking to the audience after he and Jim have been talking about the king and the duke, and how they “sold” all those men in the town in Arkansas. Huck and Jim agree that the “aristocrats” are rapscallions and both would prefer if they didn’t run into anymore royalty. In this passage Twain satirizes the dishonest and corrupt nature of kings when he compares them to two unsophisticated thieves. Literally Huck talks about how kings, especially Henry VIII (who is apparently responsible for the “ Domesday Book” (199), the Boston Tea Party, and the Declaration of Independence, as well as drowning his father) all “raise Cain” (199). All kings steal and trick people; they all make war and stir up trouble. Huck is trying to explain to Jim that it is not just their king and their duke that cause trouble. It is all of them, because that is the way that they were raised. However, Huck already knows that the “duke” and the “king” are nothing more than petty thieves. So, on a larger level, Twain reveals a distrust that is deeply rooted in American society; the distrust of kings. Huck says to Jim on page 199 “… all kings is mostly rapscallions, as fur as I can make out.” Twain exposes the disdain of hierarchies that can be traced back to before the Revolutionary War. In this scene Twain satirizes the dishonest and corrupt nature of kings, maybe in hopes of changing that corruption that was so prevalent at the time.
In this passage Huck is describing the scene when both Grangerfords and Shepherdons go to church on a Sunday morning and to hear the sermon. This passage not only reveals the irony that people bring their guns with them while going to church, but also satirizes the hypocrisy of the civilized church people. Literally, Huck explains the situation when the families of feud stay together in the church peacefully but having the guns with them. On a larger level, however, Mark Twain reveals the satire that seemingly well-behaved and civilized church people indeed do not possess the virtuous characteristics or behaviors outside the church. By mentioning “guns” and “church” simultaneously, the two terms that never exist harmoniously, Twain utilizes the irony to suggest that church people can enjoy the moral sermon while prepare to shoot people as soon as they step out of the church, concurrently. Furthermore, the coexisting of feud between the families and preaching about “brotherly love” again enhance the irony of this piece of satire, as the church people, represented by Grangerfords and Shepherdons, who incessantly attack and kill the members of each other, demonstrate only the revenge, cruelty, and misery, but free of the principle of love they learn in the church. Therefore, even though Huck does not indeed understand the irony behind the “good sermon”, “faith, and good works, and free grace”, he does illustrate a sense of uncomfortableness, while Twain strongly satirizes hypocrisy of these church people through the plain description of Huck.
Huck Finn Passage Commentary - Alison Hung
“What’s a feud?” (146)
Huck says this to Buck Grangerford when they go hunting in the woods and see Harney Shepherdson riding by. In this scene Twain satirizes the stupidity of feuding groups. Literally, Buck is explaining the conflict between the Grangerford and Shepherdson families, and he confesses to Huck that he does not know exactly “…what the row was about in the first place” (146). On a larger level, however, Twain uses this passage to illustrate the silliness of feuding groups. By revealing that the two families have no idea what they are actually fighting about, Twain makes the ongoing feud between the two families seem rather pointless. It would make some sense if they were fighting to defend a cause, but that is not the case here; in fact, most of the members of both families do not remember what they are fighting about, but they still hurt each other, believing that they are being noble when, in reality, they are just being stupid. By targeting the aimlessness of the families’ feud, Twain is also mocking people who fight blindly, kill other people, and even sacrifice their own lives without ever thinking about why they need to do so. While the Grangerfords and the Shepherdsons are ready to die for the honor of their families, they do not know what caused the conflict in the first place, and Twain, through his satire of this family feud, emphasizes the meaninglessness of feuds in general.
Huck Finn Passage Commentary – Dillon Torno 10/27/08
“all about brotherly love and such-like truesomeness, but everybody said it was a good sermon.” (147)
Huck says this after he goes to Sunday morning mass with the Grangerford family. In this passage, Twain satirizes the hypocrisy of religious Americans. Literally, Huck is describing the sermon for that Sunday and saying how tiresome and boring it was. Figuratively, however, the meaning is that people of religion, or any set of morals, are hypocrites because they go to Church, hear a sermon about brotherly love, that start to feud. If the Grangerfords and the Sherperdsons actually listened to the sermon and sought to do right, they would end the feud, and, on a larger scale, people would stop fighting all together. However, people are and always will be human, so everyone in the world at peace is very unlikely. What Twain is getting at, though, is that people should practice what they preach more often, instead of shirking their religious duties or moral obligations. They should stray from the 100 year old argument or petty quarrel and abide to their own views, as they expect others to do.
Huck Finn Commentary- Stephy Wong
“It was pretty ornery preaching- all about brotherly love and such-like tiresomeness…” [Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, 147]
This passage, narrated by Huck Finn, described “one of the roughest Sunday” Huck Finn had run across when Huck Finn accompanied the Grangerfords to church for a sermon. In this scene, Twain satirizes the hypocritical nature of the Grangerfords. Literally, Huck Finn attended a sermon with the Grangerfords about “brotherly love”, “faith”, “good works” and “free grace” which many considered an educating sermon when discussed on the way home. On a larger level, the author satirizes the contradicting character of the Grangerfords after writing about the conversation between Huck and Buck about the long last and aimless fighting among the feuding groups of the Grangerfords and Shepherdsons. Listening to preaches and lectures at the sermon, the Grangerfords men even brought their guns along to the church. The praises and discussion to the sermon by the Grangerfords can be considered Twain’s satirization of the violent and senselessness nature and the phony characteristics of the Grangerfords. Attending sermons on Sundays and praising the preachers on horsebacks, the Grangerfords then became one of the “faithful” and “brotherly-loving” soldiers.
Huck Finn Passage Commentary - Laura Loughran
“It ain’t natural for a girl to be in such a sweat about a Testament; so I give it a shake, and out drops a little piece of paper with ‘Half-past two’ wrote on it with a pencil…I couldn’t make anything out of that, so I put the paper in the book again…”(148-9).
Huck says this when Miss Sophia has asked him to go and fetch her Testament in the church. He thinks that it’s a little strange that she should need it so badly, so he looks through it and finds a piece of paper with “Half-past two” written on it, but doesn’t think it means anything. In this passage Twain satirizes the naïve and innocent nature of children, implying that through all of his adventures, Huck is still a child. Literally, Huck does not understand that the paper means a time for Miss Sophia to meet Harney Grangerford, so they can run off together and get married. They are unable to do this unless they run away because their two families are in a feud together. Through Huck, Twain is showing us what the paper means, without Huck even knowing. Twain is satirizing Huck’s childish mind, and even though Huck is a smart 12 year old and has gotten himself and Jim out of a few dangerous situations, he is still just a boy. Figuratively, Twain is reinstating Huck’s youngness, and making him seem human again. Also in this passage, Twain is satirizing the foolishness of the feud between the Grangerfords and the Shepherdsons, because “they don’t know, now, what the row was about in the first place” (146). Neither of the two families knows what the feud is about, yet they still continue to shoot at each other. Literally, Buck is saying that no one knows how the feud started. Figuratively, this feud alludes back to Romeo and Juliet, where both Romeo and Juliet were from opposite feuding families, and were not allowed to marry. So, through Huck, Twain satirizes the imprudence of feuds, and how they can tear families apart.
Post a Comment