In Mark Twain's controversial novel, The Adventures of Huck Finn, Twain tackles many arguable taboos or vices of the time period. He states his views and opinions through the use of satire. One major problem Twain saw in the time period was societies addiction to alcohol and the extreme effects it could have on people. Throughout the book we meet people who's lives are ruined by alcoholism.

In the third chapter Twain introduces Huck's father. The first thing that is said about him is, "Pap he hadn't been seen for more than a year, and that was comfortable for me; I didn't want to see him no more. He used to always whale me when he was sober and could get his hands on me..."(p.13) Here Twain exemplifies how alcohol is the root problem for a young man's severed relationship with his father. This is not the...