Satire

satire: a work that targets human vices and follies or social institutions and conventions for reform or ridicule. Regardless of whether the work aims to reform humans or their society, satire is best seen as astyle of writing rather than a purpose of writing. It can be recognized by the many devices used effectively by the satirist, such as irony, wit, parody, caricature, hyperbole, understatement, and sarcasm. Its effects are varied. depending on the writer's goal, but good satire, often humorous, is thought-provoking and insightful about the human condition

"'Well, some of the best authorities has done it. They couldn't get the chain off , so they just cut their hand off, and shoved. And a leg would be better still. But we got to let that go. There ain't necessity enough in this case; and besides, Jim's a nigger and wouldn't understand the reasons for it, and how it's the custom in Europe; so we'll let it go. But there's one thing- he can have a rope-ladder; we can tear up our sheets and make him a rope-ladder easy enough. And we can send it to him in a pie; it's mostly done that way. And I've et worse pies.'"
                                                                       -Adventure's of Huckleberry Finn
                                                                                      by Mark Twain

Mark Twain is considered one of the greatest American writers that ever lived. His work as a satirist contributes to this legacy. Twain was not a fan of the contemporary novels, often including outrageous circumstances and daring escapes, and pokes fun at them in this novel. In the passage above Tom Sawyer is convincing Huckleberry Finn that they must go to silly lengths to free an already freed slave. Twain is making fun of the Sir Walter Scotts, by imitating their antics in his rather romantic and silly character Sawyer. Twain is trying to communicate his opinion, that their writing is overly complicated, and in some cases, rather idiotic.