An Examination of Religion in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Neil Khare

A hackneyed expression states that one should never discuss religion or politics in certain social settings. Religion has been, is, and always will be a topic of debate and disagreement. Literature is a major media in which religious sentiments are discussed. The description of one boy and his adventures allows Mark Twain the opportunity to impart his views on religion to his readers. In his novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain uses such literary devices as satire, humor, and irony throughout his work to convey his aversion for religion and religious practices. In various scenes in the novel, Twain's distaste for religion is quite obvious, as traditionally serious practices are portrayed as comical. Huckleberry Finn, the main character, is either directly involved in these scenarios or otherwise a viewer and subsequent narrator of these humorous events.

By writing his novel through the eyes of Huckleberry Finn, a young runaway who has had a very limited education, Mark Twain creates a character with quintessential juvenile innocence. This innocence allows Twain to satirize religious sentimentality and superficiality with abandon. Miss Watson and Widow Douglas, Huck's unofficial guardians who try to...