One characteristic is the use of exaggeration. For example, in 'Catch - 22', the military bureaucracy's rules are so absurdly exaggerated that it makes the reader see the ridiculousness clearly. Another is the use of irony. In 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn', the so - called civilized society that claims to be moral is ironically shown to be full of hypocrisy through Huck's eyes. Also, many American satirical novels often have a social or political target, like 'Animal Farm' which targets totalitarian regimes.
Satirical American novels contribute by exposing the flaws. For example, 'The Grapes of Wrath' by Steinbeck satirizes the economic inequality during the Great Depression. It shows the harsh reality of the poor migrant workers, which makes readers aware of the social injustice. They also highlight the contradictions in values. 'Catcher in the Rye' satirizes the phoniness in adult society, helping readers understand the disillusionment of youth. In general, they offer a different perspective on the American Dream and how it often fails for many.
One well - known satirical American novel is 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn' by Mark Twain. It satirizes the society of the South, especially the institution of slavery and the hypocrisy of the so - called civilized people. Another is 'Catch - 22' by Joseph Heller. This novel satirizes the military bureaucracy and the absurdity of war. 'Animal Farm' by George Orwell (although he was British, it has strong relevance to American and global politics) is also a great satirical work. It uses animals on a farm to represent different political classes and shows how power can corrupt.
One of the well - known American satirical novels is 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn' by Mark Twain. It satirizes the society of that time, especially the issues related to slavery and the so - called civilized society. Another is 'Catch - 22' by Joseph Heller. This novel mocks the absurdity of military bureaucracy and war. Also, 'Animal Farm' by George Orwell (although he was British, it has a strong influence in the American literary scene as well) satirizes totalitarianism through the story of farm animals.
Mark Twain's short story, The Adventures of Tom sawyer, depicted the adventures of a young man named Tom sawyer in the 19th century in America. In this story, Tom sawyer and his friend Huckleberry Finn had an adventure of escaping capture, exploring new places, and solving various problems.
In some parts of the story, Mark Twain satirized some of the characteristics of American society at that time, such as:
1. Unfairness and inequity in society. Through their adventures, Huckleberry and Tom sawyer saw all kinds of injustice and inequity in society, such as the gap between the rich and the poor, racial discrimination and so on.
The corruption and injustice of the government. The government was also portrayed as corrupt and unjust in the story, such as the corruption of government officials, unfair policies, etc.
3. Personal freedom and independence. In the story, Tom sawyer and Huckleberry showed their personal freedom and independence. For example, they refused to accept the government's rules and orders and bravely faced all kinds of difficulties and challenges.
Through this story, Mark Twain expressed his dissatisfaction with the American society and his pursuit of individual freedom and independence. This story was also widely used in literature, film, music, and other fields to become a classic cultural work.
The styles of the four satirical novels included:
Journey to the West: The story of Xuanzang, a monk of the Tang Dynasty, who traveled westward to obtain scriptures, is used as the background to describe the obstruction of various demons, ghosts, and immortals, as well as the story of Tang Sanzang and his disciples who went through untold hardships and overcome many difficulties on the way to obtain scriptures. The novel was featured by humor, irony, exaggeration and other techniques to show the dark side of human nature and the absurd world.
2. Water Margins: It was set against the background of the peasant uprising in the Song Dynasty, depicting the righteous acts and failures of various heroes, as well as the sufferings and helplessness of the people at the bottom of society. The novel was featured by describing the fullness of the character's personality, the vivid creation of the scene, and the twists and turns of the plot to show the injustice of society and the distortion of human nature.
" Dream of the Red Chamber ": With the noble family of the Qing Dynasty as the background, it described the emotional entanglements and family conflicts of Jia Baoyu, Lin Daiyu and other characters, as well as various problems such as social hierarchy and women's status. The novel was featured by meticulous, profound, and realistic descriptions, showing the dark side of feudal society and the distortion of human nature.
4. The Scholars: It was based on the Confucian elites of the Ming Dynasty. It described the contradictions and conflicts of various characters and their various means and conspiracies in political struggles. The novel was featured by irony, humor, exaggeration and other techniques to show the ugliness of human nature and the corruption of the bureaucracy.
Let me recommend you a few humorous and satirical novels with a Beijing flavor!
1. "The Road to Style": It described the life of a university teacher, full of Beijing flavor and humorous elements.
2. <<Lan Xin Hui Zhi>>: A story between a family that thought they were very "black" and a female protagonist who brought her own modern medical skills. Not only was it interesting, but it was also full of irony.
3. "The Ex-Husband Crying After Divorce": In addition to humor and Beijing flavor, this novel also incorporated the plot of a wealthy family, making people burst into laughter.
I hope my recommendation will help you find a book you like. Muah ~