Mark Twain of Huck Finn - Satire :: essays research papers

Mark Twain, a famous American writer-satirist wrote many books highly acclaimed throughout the world. For his masterpiece, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the literary establishment recognized him as one of the greatest writers America would ever produce. This novel is about a teenage boy by the name of Huck Finn whose father is an alcoholic. Because of his violence, Huck runs away and finds a runaway slave Jim. Instead of turning Jim in, Huck goes against society and makes a decision to help Jim break free from slavery. As they travel together, Huck learns more and more about Jim and starts to understand that the common stereotype of black people is wrong. Huck sees there is no difference between Jim and any white man he knows except for skin color. Risking his life and overcoming many difficulties on the way, Huck succeeds in freeing Jim. Focusing on racism, alcoholism and mob mentality, Mark Twain uses his enthusiastic style of writing and satirizes the three traits throughou t the novel. Many words the book contains are full of vivid disgust towards black slaves. Every single line talks about how white people despise and refuse to accept the black race. Answering Aunt Sally's question about whether or not anyone is hurt Huck answers, "no mum, just killed a nigger."(Twain 213) This is the one and only acceptable way to talk about black people in the "white" society. In addition to this, not only is the black people treated differently from the white, they are also considered to be one's property. "He is the only property I have," (Twain 122) Huck is perforce to say in order to save Jim. This is the only way to get through without the essence of suspicions. Though Huck shows racism in public as society teaches him, deep inside he understands that Jim is a great person. Through the eyes of Huck Finn, Mark Twain shows that there is more to people then looks and race, showing the importance of beliefs and character. Alcoholism is another human weakness. Twain satirizes in his novel, constantly accentuating the drunk and violent father of Huck in a very negative manner. "I was just about to go and vote myself if I warn't too drunk to get there,"(Twain 27) said Pap with a racist remark, implying the fact that he will never vote anyway just because the government let one very intelligent black professor vote.

Comparison of the Italian Prison System to Ours Essay

university of phoenix| A World Apart| A Comparison of the Italian Prison System to Ours| | Matthew Kramer| 4/23/2011| | The Italian correctional system although much older than the American system are very comparable to each other. Both have come from fledgling institutions in the past that have both evolved because of officials in higher positions as well as concerned citizens that have voiced their opinions on how inmates are treated and how they are housed during their sentences. They have both experimented with the Pennsylvania and Auburn style types of correctional institutions. While America has primarily gone with just one of the models Italian prisons have taken a mix of both throughout their country. Their types of institutions are also pretty much the same as we have here with problems with overcrowding and underfunding. Italy has designated three separate penal housing authorities that are divided into three preventative detention institutions these are as follows: The preventive detention centers, the institutions for the execution of sentences and the institution of security measures. However the building of these institutions has been a problem due to funding and has also placed many inmates in cells that are built for one inmate. America also has the same problem with overcrowding and underfunding causing our country to place more inmates in spaces that were not designed for that many people. We will not place more than two inmates to a cell as where in Italy you may see more than two in a cell for a period of time because there is nowhere else to put them. The institutions for the execution of sentencing are divided into sub groups of arrest centers and detention centers. The institutions of security measures are also broken up into prison farms, work homes, treatment and custody centres and judicial psychiatric hospitals. American correctional institutions also have something similar to this although most of these are accompanied under the same umbrella. Inmates that enter the American system initially go to prison and from there unless sentenced differently they will be placed in a half way house or probation and parole house. Mental health inmates tend to stay at the prison while some will be moved to state mental hospitals for further treatment. The population of the two different correctional systems is very different here in America our inmate population is at almost 2. 5 million as of a survey done in 2008 while in Italy their total inmate population as of 1997 forward was at 55,136 and counting but the comparison of numbers to each other is very different. Many argue that this is due largely to our freedom and laws that govern our land and the allowance for the right to bear arms in the United States. Italy is a country of great reform and is always changing their laws this might also have an effect of how many inmates also make it in to prison. While American prisons are overrun much more then Italy’s are this forces us to privatize our correctional institutions to save space and maybe some money but mainly space. Since Italy’s inmate population is relatively low compared to ours but they do face overcrowding due to the limit of prisons they have built they do not tend to privatize the inmates out. Italy’s security levels are also similar to ours in they will segregate inmates that are more violent and volatile than others. The first level which is their high security is designed to hold inmates that have been convicted of a crime involving the Mafia, kidnapping, extortion or drug trafficking. First level prisoners will be assigned to prisons out of their areas that they live they are also not allowed out of their living areas which means anything that they do as far as programming, school, talking, walking etc. The second level which is their medium security and makes up most of their inmate population have all the schooling and programming that is available. The third level or minimum security is the lowest level and are allowed to have little supervision and placed in the least restrictive areas there are. American prisons are generally the same as we have the same levels our inmates are categorized with other levels within these levels that will determine what type of perks they are allowed while locked up. Prison life in both countries probably only differs little due to the prison that you are locked up in to the people that make the laws. For everything else how you have to watch your back and the groups that inmates will place themselves with for protection this does not change just from country to country you will see remains the same. Italy has three types of release that is comparable to America’s parole they are conditional release, amnesty and pardon. Conditional release is the most widely used in the country and is more like American parole then the other two. Inmates can be granted this if they have served at least 30 months or at least half of their sentence. They must have been good inmates while they were incarcerated and also they must believe that the inmate will be successful if released. They still must report to someone and get a job and have a place to live which is the same for American inmates on parole. Amnesty can be granted before or after the sentence and it basically commutes the sentence this was very unpopular and not used very much and since 1992 no amnesties have been granted. Pardons are the same in Italy as they are in America and can be granted by a governor or president. Article 111 of the Italian Constitution which was amended in 1999 will allow the defendant the right to question the accused and all parties to be cross examined. As where before a person could be convicted based on statements made during the preliminary phase of a trial. This allows inmates before sentenced or found guilty of a crime the right to face their accuser and question them as to why they are accusing them of committing a crime. The comparison of the two correctional systems you can see a lot of similarities and then there are vague differences. In my opinion I would take the American correctional system over the Italian one. This is due to the reading I have done and the way the Italian courts and correctional system are set up.

Monarchy Vs. Constitutional Monarchy - 3315 Words

Absolute Monarchy vs Constitutional Monarchy The difference between absolute monarchy and constitutional monarchy is that in the absolute monarchy, the monarch holds the supreme or absolute powers, whereas in the constitutional monarchy, the head of state is a hereditary or elected monarch. The law within a constitutional monarchy might be different from the law within an absolute monarchy. Differences between absolute and constitutional monarchies emerged during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries when many European countries experimented with absolutism and constitutional monarchies. Absolute monarchy is also called undemocratic monarchy and constitutional monarchy is also called a liberal monarchy. In the absolute monarchy, the king†¦show more content†¦United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Sweden, Malaysia, Luxemburg and Jordan are among the nations that have constitutional or limited monarchy system whereas Brunei, Saudi Arabia, Vatican City, Swaziland, Oman and Qatar are some of the few nations that still have absolute monarchs. Summary: 1. Absolute monarchy or undemocratic monarchy transmits absolute powers to the monarch who acts as a dictator or head of the state. 2. Constitutional monarchy or liberal monarchy gives limited powers to the monarch as in the monarchy of England. 3. In the constitutional monarchy, the prime minister of the state holds the maximum powers and political effectiveness. 4. Absolute monarchs were initiated due to holy wars and the decline of the church. 5. Constitutional monarchy was initiated when the monarchs emerged as irresponsible and careless leaders. Absolute Monarchy in France: Louis XIV An Absolute Monarch Rises Soon after Louis XIV became king, disorder again swept France. In an uprising called the Fronde, nobles, merchants, peasants, and the urban poor each rebelled in order to protest royal power or preserve their own. On one occasion, rioters drove the boy king from his palace. It was an experience Louis would never forget. When Mazarin died in 1661, the 23-year-old Louis resolved to take complete control over the government himself. â€Å"I have been pleased to entrust the government of my affairs to theShow MoreRelatedAbsolutism vs Constitutional Monarchy709 Words   |  3 Pagestheories and practice of absolutism and constitutional monarchy during the 17th century. The seventeenth century saw the evolution of two new types of government mainly because of the instability that was caused by religious wars. One type of government was a constitutional monarchy in which rulers were confined to the laws of the state, giving the people some liberties, best exemplified by William and Mary during the Stuart monarchial rule. Constitutional monarchy was successful in mainly in EnglandRead MoreEssay about Absolutism vs. Constitutional Monarchy1360 Words   |  6 Pagessurvived, faulted, or have been altered. Many of these governments came from early European countries. Two of the most popular types of governments to come from Europe are Constitutional Monarchy and Absolutism. Traces of Constitutional Monarchy and Absolutism are still seen today in different parts of the world. Constitutional Monarchy and Absolutism have its roots set in England and France respectively. Much of original regulations that have been put in place by these governments ha ve occurred becauseRead MoreMonarchy Vs. Democracy By Thomas Hobbes And John Locke1655 Words   |  7 Pages Monarchy vs Democracy Through assessing both monarchy and democracy from both perspectives of Thomas Hobbes and John Locke, one can see that democracy creates the most beneficial outcome. Hobbes had a pessimistic view of people. He believed humans were selfish, doing anything to further their own position in life. Hobbes believed in an absolute monarchy, a government that gave all the power to a king or queen. Even though he distrusted democracy, he believed that a diverse group of representativesRead MoreNorway As A Country Of Norway2349 Words   |  10 Pagesacross northwest Europe beginning from the 8th century all the way to the 11th century as this was the first definitive ruling of Norway during this time the government was considered to be a absolute monarchy all the way until 1814. Which a constitution was created in which a constitutional monarchy was created. During this time they had ties with Sweden in which later on their relationship became uneasy around the time 1905 and Norway decided to detach from them under peaceful negotiations. FollowingRead MoreCritical Reflection on the Hidden Influence of the British Monarchy on Politics1336 Words   |  6 Pagesvisible end of the real power that the British –constitutional- monarchy holds over public employees. Since the limitation of powers of the Crown in the XVII century the royals have been using their forceful influence in an unofficial way for their own benefit (Adams, 2010; Booth 2010 and 2011; Wilson, 1989). Taking into account that the United Kingdom has a democratic and constitutional political system, some serious questions arise from this: how the monarchy has been using –and abusing of- its powersRead MoreChap 15: Europe Transformed- Reform and State Building1520 Words   |  7 Pagescentury- severe economic reversals and social upheavals 3. 15th century- Renaissance: a revival of arts and letters 4. 16th century- Reformation: religious renaissance 5. Absolutism (absolute monarchy)- most evident during the reign of Louis XVI 6. 17th century - absolute and limited monarchy were the poles of state building 7. What were the main tenets of Lutheranism and Calvinism? How did they differ from each other and from Catholicism? 8. Protestant Reformation- religious movementRead MoreEssay on Unitary and Federal Goverment Systems588 Words   |  3 Pagestax handling abilities. The weakness of using a unitary government is that there is no balance of power, bureaucracy, there are too many decisions to make, making the process slow and the area to govern is too big. In England there is a Constitutional Monarchy and a Parliamentary Democracy. There is a Queen, House of Commons and House of Lords. Supreme Legislation is control by the Parliament and power to make laws. Having a Queen as head of the state and the prime minister is head of the governmentRead MoreMajor Differences Between the Articles of Confederation vs Constitution616 Words   |  3 PagesARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION vs. THE CONSTITUTION There are major differences between the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution. The Articles of Confederation had been in effect sine 1781. They established what could be referred to as a league of friendship and a quasi-constitution for the states that were sovereign and independent subsequent to the American Revolution. Those articles appeared to be woefully inadequate to James Madison. Madison believed that the central governmentRead MoreConfederation and Constitution1416 Words   |  6 PagesArticles of Confederation vs. Constitution   http://www.123helpme.com/search.asp?text=American+History http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_history.html â€Æ'   There were many differences between the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution. At the end of the American Revolution the free states needed some sort of control that would generate to a unified country. Issues arose such as: How should power be divided between local and national governments? How should laws be madeRead MoreArticles Of Confederation Vs. The Constitution Essay1448 Words   |  6 PagesJake Roseman AP GOV and Politics February 1 Articles of Confederation Vs. The Constitution There were plenty of differences between the Constitution and the Articles of Confederation. When the American Revolution ended the free states needed some sort of control that would create a unified country. There were problems such as how power between local and national governments would be divided, how laws should be made and by whom, who will govern the laws, and how will the government be created