"Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is to pause and reflect". This is the idea that Mark Twain, famous American author, expresses in his novel through the voice of a young boy named Huckleberry Finn. In the novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain uses his satirical style of writing to ridicule many aspects of American society. He does this by identifying the flaws of mob mentality, greed and racism. Twain uses his humorous style of writing and satirizes these three traits of American society throughout the novel. .
Mob mentality or herd behaviour is a prominent issue of American society portrayed in the novel. It describes how individuals in a group can be influenced by others to act a certain way. Failure to use ones' own sense and follow someone else's instinct is a valid example in life and fits well in the story line. Throughout the novel, Twain depicts the idea of Americans being sheep and following someone else numerous times. "Take up a collection for him,"(132) someone from the crowd sings after the King convinces them he is a pirate and bursts out into fake tears, making them pity him. Instinctively, everyone joins in, collecting money for the King without taking time to question the absurdity. Due to the statement made by one person and the crowd profusely agreeing, the King gets away with stealing money from many innocent people. Similarly, a mob reaches Colonel Sherburn's house after somebody says, "Sherburn ought to be lynched"(145). Without paying any heed to their own minds, the crowd starting chanting the phrase, swarming up towards Sherburn's house. However, Huck's reaction to this trait of American society is quite different compared to most people of his time. He gives his best effort to avoid being brainwashed by the crowd and the trap of mob mentality; surviving on his instincts, which are later understood to be more logical.