An Analysis Of The Critical Realism In The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn

Mark Twain is one of the most important American writers.Influenced by the critical realism from Europe,his works show many descriptions and deep thoughts about the dark sides of the society.The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is one of them.A panoramic and critical view of America in the 19th century is painted in the novel.This thesis,based on the features of critical realism,analyzes the connotation of this novel.Firstly,the thesis compares the residents living along the Mississippi River in the novel,from the angle of typical characters in typical circumstances.Through Twain's realistic portrayal of characters,the real features of democracy and freedom in America at that time are revealed.Despite of great advancement of American democracy in the 19th century,there are still some defectiveness with this system.The Americans' dream of freedom and equality has not come true totally.Secondly,the thesis focuses on religion and superstition in the novel and discusses the different attitudes of the characters,such as the Widow Douglas,Grangerford Family from the upper society and Huck,Jim from the lower class.The descriptions about religion and superstition reflect Mark Twain's attitudes towards them.Religion has become the tool used by the ruling class to control the lower class and that the the lower class seek for psychological comforts from religion and superstition in turn.Thirdly,the thesis analyzes the bourgeois humanitarianism reflected in this novel from the the angle of the symbolic Mississippi River and the growth of Huck.It further discusses and reveals the confusion and problems that the author meets when seeking the social improvement and the methods he chooses to deal with.This thesis reveals the social problems reflected in the novel,such as religious deception,racial prejudice and gap between rich and poor,etc.,and points out Twain's critical attitude towards his time.Through analyzing the critical realism in this novel,it is helpful for us to have a better idea of Mark Twain's works.