THE ANATOMY OF SOCIAL CRITICISM IN MARK TWAIN'S FICTION: SATIRE, REALISM, AND HISTORICAL CONTEXTS

Abstract. Social and historical contexts play a fundamental role in shaping the thematic and narrative structure of Mark Twain’s fiction. As one of the most prominent figures in American realism, Twain meticulously captured the shifting socio-political landscape of nineteenth-century America. This article analyzes how Twain’s masterpieces reflect the profound contradictions of his era, specifically focusing on the institutions of slavery, racial inequality, class stratification, and the rapid transition from an agrarian society to industrial capitalism. The study examines the literary techniques-such as regional dialects, satire, and subverted picaresque narratives-used by Twain to critique the moral failures of the American South and the hypocrisy of the Gilded Age. Special attention is given to the interaction between individual morality and collective social norms in novels like The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The Gilded Age, A Tale of Today. The article demonstrates that Twain’s fiction serves not merely as historical documentation, but as a critical psychological and sociological investigation into the enduring flaws of American democratic ideals.