This family, known as the Grangerfords, is one of two wealthy families in the town, engaged with a feud with the other wealthy family, the Shepherdsons. For a reason which is unknown to most, these two families engage in civil war amongst each other, and will not rest until all of the male members of one side are killed. Eventually, a massive battle is fought amongst the two factions and all of the men in Grangerford family are killed. Mark Twain included these chapters in the novel to show the stupidity and violence of life in the Southern United states. In effect, he makes a mockery of the South, pointing out that they are destroying their own brothers and neighbors, for absolutely no reason. Twain points out the barbaric ways of these people, as men hunt young boys, violently murdering them in battle that does not involve them in any other manner than by right of birth. The fact that any man of a civilized nature would not sentence his kin to death over a matter as childish as a feud, for not even our beloved pap would do such a thing. Within these chapters, Huck has virtually no effect on the proceedings, he is merely an observer, leading the reader to believe that the reason Twain wrote these words was more of a personal message about the South, rather than to build upon or involve any of his main characters.
Towards the end of the novel, Huck is speaking with Aunt Sally in regards to his late arrival. Huckleberry explains that the reason he is late, is because his ferry had blown a cylinder head. Realizing the danger of this type of situation, Aunt Sally ask if anyone had been hurt, to which Huck replies "No"m. Killed a nigger" (213). For this, she is very thankful. This one quote shows the reader how African Americans were viewed and treated in the South. Mark Twain placed this quote in the text to point out how cruel normal Southerners were, regarding the life of a black person as worthless, and the African Americans were not actually people at all.