Throughout his lifetime, or at least since 1884 and the publication of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain received a copious amount of criticism and denunciation over the rather controversial ideas portrayed in the previously mentioned book. It was looked towards as being one of two things: a racist's reiterated ideas, or an abolitionist's epiphany. Twain was viewed by some as being racist or as being anti-slavery by others; two very contradictory ideas. The book touches on many themes, and may or mightn't have touched many people's hearts. Taking the theme of society's unfairness and analyzing it, it can be seen that through The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain shows the cruelty and injustice of society by the way of a young boy, Huck Finn.
The people in Huck's life, whether previously known or new acquaintances, ultimately shape the way he sees things. They help him understand cruelty. Huckleberry Finn's life is not exactly what would be described as "fairytale perfect." The relationship between Huck and his father, Pap, could be described as troubled, and that is putting it nicely. To continue in that fashion, it should be mentioned that Huck's father enjoyed consuming alcohol in copious amounts to the point of intoxication. Whether from the booze or a malformed heart, Pap is constantly barbaric towards Huck, either beating him or taking his spare change as a 'drinking bribe.' He eventually kidnaps Huck and locks him away as a way to keep Huck from going to school and gets Huck's money that is "rightfully his." It could be said that Huck received the "short end of the stick" and that he should be pitied, but it really comes down to what Mark Twain could have been trying to portray; that life is the "short end of the stick." By the end of the book Huck makes due with what little prospects that were handed down to him from society and eventually understands cruelty.