Religion, Education, Slavery

essaywriter · 04-05-2009, 11:17 AM

Im writing an essay on how Twain satirizes the institutions of religion, education and slavery...I have a lot of examples for religion, but really need help with finding examples for education and slavery...thanks for the help

Wilde woman · 04-05-2009, 04:51 PM

Here's a nice list of quotes about race and slavery in Huckleberry Finn. There are also short thoughts about these quotes; you might find it helpful to go through and see if any are satirical:

http://www.shmoop.com/quote/literatu...finn/race.html

As for education, just look at the character of Miss Watson in the first few chapters. The way she goes on about getting Huck a good education is ridiculous.

Also, look at Tom Sawyer. Huck looks up to Tom as one who has more experience (or is, in a sense, more educated) than him. But look at all the hoops Tom makes Huck jump through to free Jim. It's obvious all his learning hasn't taught him much about the horrors of slavery because he doesn't take Jim's plight seriously. It's all a game to him. I think that's one of the dangers of education, especially education in literature; it opens up this world of fantasy and romance and some people (like Tom and Don Quixote also jumps to mind) can't distinguish fantasy from reality, which has terrible consequences in the real world. Here's a short character analysis on Tom in Huck Finn:

http://www.shmoop.com/character/lite...om-sawyer.html

Hope that helps!

04-05-2009, 11:17 AM	#1
essaywriter Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 1	Religion, Education, Slavery Im writing an essay on how Twain satirizes the institutions of religion, education and slavery...I have a lot of examples for religion, but really need help with finding examples for education and slavery...thanks for the help

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Jean-Jacques Rousseau on education	Tariq Hayat Las	Rousseau, Jean Jacques	1	11-11-2008 11:25 AM
Does Modern Slavery Exist?	Mr Hyde	Philosophical Literature	23	10-15-2008 12:20 PM
A Truly Atheist Society	Sitaram	Religious Texts	20	10-02-2008 05:26 PM
Evolution of religion	AimusSage	Religious Texts	8	11-01-2005 11:17 PM

04-05-2009, 04:51 PM	#2
Wilde woman Annoying alliterator Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Berkeley, CA Posts: 310	Here's a nice list of quotes about race and slavery in Huckleberry Finn. There are also short thoughts about these quotes; you might find it helpful to go through and see if any are satirical: http://www.shmoop.com/quote/literatu...finn/race.html As for education, just look at the character of Miss Watson in the first few chapters. The way she goes on about getting Huck a good education is ridiculous. Also, look at Tom Sawyer. Huck looks up to Tom as one who has more experience (or is, in a sense, more educated) than him. But look at all the hoops Tom makes Huck jump through to free Jim. It's obvious all his learning hasn't taught him much about the horrors of slavery because he doesn't take Jim's plight seriously. It's all a game to him. I think that's one of the dangers of education, especially education in literature; it opens up this world of fantasy and romance and some people (like Tom and Don Quixote also jumps to mind) can't distinguish fantasy from reality, which has terrible consequences in the real world. Here's a short character analysis on Tom in Huck Finn: http://www.shmoop.com/character/lite...om-sawyer.html Hope that helps!