Category: Mark Twain

Some of the best authors are those who use experiences to write their stories. Mark Twain is one of those authors. He traveled to the different regions of the world and used those travels to grow as a person. Mark Twain lived an adventurous life, defending his faith, and using his humor to make his writings unique from others. His love for adventure, God, and his unique sense of humor makes Mark Twain a great author.

Like most writers, Mark Twain came from humble beginnings. He grew up in Florida, Missouri under his birth name, Samuel Clemens (Messent 1). Lived a simple life with six other siblings, at the time was an average number of children. According to PBS, he did live an amazing early life, graduating from Oxford and earned his honorary Doctorate of Letters (PBS). As time continued, he got his first job as an apprentice printer to Joseph Ament in Missouri (Messent 2). An unlikely job for a person who became a famous writer. ‘Twain’s own travels abroad started as a newspaper correspondent in the Sandwich Islands in 1866’ (Messent 39). According to America’s Library, He loved to travel to different parts of the United States. He even ventured out towards the Wild West, where he visited mining areas and defended citizens of injustice (AL 3). PBS informs, he did not partake in writing his books, but he became a reporter. (PBS). On top of all these, he forcefully left Nevada on account of braking dueling laws. Seems like an action Aaron Burr or Alexander Hamilton would commit. America’s Library informs that eventually he ended up in the Mississippi River and began work on steamboats (AL 2). Some of his works came from his adventures in Mississippi and his travels on the river. According to PBS, at some point, he had traveled up and down the river so many times he even memorized the trail of the Mississippi River (PBS). Along with his travels, he also created his pen name, Mark Twain, and began his works under that alias. America’s Library suggests, he got the name from what they yell on the steamboats (AL 2). They use it to communicate the depth of the water they are on. During his time as a steamboat worker, his brother dies in a steamboat accident. Eventually, he settled down in his hometown.

After his wild adventures, Twain’s life became more meaningful. At the age of twenty-seven Twain began to write about his travels under the alias of Mark Twain, like most writers he didn’t use his real name. According to America’s library, he started writing because of the Civil War, since it stopped production crossing of the Mississippi (AL 2). Even having to serve in the Civil War as it happened. Luckily, he left for home, during his travels home, he became a Christian. Leaving his work up to more criticism than necessary (Bush 2). Twain preached under the light of a devoted Christian, even so, many did not believe in his faith. ‘Critics rejected Twain’s confession and rumored that he needed to act the part of a humble Christian’ (Bush 2). That did not stop him from professing his faith. When he did return home, he didn’t stay to greet his family. He began to preach a sermon to the people there about Jesus and how he had become a Christian (Bush 6). Hence, where they, the critics, got the idea to say he just acted the part of a Christian. On the bright side, he met the love of his life during that time.

During, his travels, around the United States, Twain met a young woman and fell in love with her. Her name, Olivia Langdon and Twain wanted to court her (Bush 2). He devoted many hours to Olivia, and he would not see any other woman. Sadly, Olivia’s parents had other plans. ‘The Longdon’s were very put off by Twain’s appearance and manners’ (Bush 2). To them, he gave the impression of a man who could not provide for their daughter. They did witness Twain’s commitment to Olivia and eventually allowed them to marry. He also met his hero in Oliva’s hometown.

When Twain went to go stay with his in-laws, he also met and became friends with John Lewis, an African America who farmed for the Longdon family (Bush 4). Lewis had a part in the forthcoming of Twain’s Christianity (Bush 4). This became an important moment for Twain because he did not see African American’s in the same light as the rest of the world at the time. During, Twain’s stay with his family, he witnessed Lewis save his sister-in-law, Ida Longdon, from running off a cliff with a horse (Bush 4). To stop a horse as it continued running towards a cliff left a heroic impression in the eyes of everyone. Including the eyes of Mark Twain himself. After that day Twain and Lewis became friends, and later Lewis became a folk hero to Twain. He met John Lewis after he wrote Tom Sawyer, one of his more well-renowned stories. ‘John Lewis continued to be recognized as a hero in Twain’s eyes’ (Bush 4). Twain thought of Lewis as an addition to his growing family.

Twain became a big family man and loved being with his family. A couple of years after his marriage, his first child came into the world. Longdon Clemens lived as Mark and Oliva’s first child and only son. Sadly, he died at the age of two to diphtheria and Twain blamed himself for his son’s death (Messent). That same year Oliva and Mark’s first daughter Olivia Susan Clemens, better known as Susy arrived. Then, arrived the next daughter Clara then, their youngest child, Jean (Messent). Nevertheless, while his children were growing up that did not stop him from traveling. When he did have time for his children, he would always play instruments with them or tell them of his adventures. Problems always seemed to follow, Twain through is life. PBS informs that after some odd years after, the youngest, Jean, came into the world, and Susy grew ill (PBS). Everything at home seemed as well as it could be. PBS states, after his children were born he went on a world tour in 1895 (PBS). In retrospect, at the time it seemed like a good idea. According to PBS, regrettably, Twain started traveling the world when his daughter died (PBS). Susy dies five months after her twenty-fourth birthday making her the second death to Twain’s children. Later, followed his wife after years of health problems. PBS informs that following his wife’s death, his daughter Jean grows ill and dies (PBS). During, Twain’s life he witnessed or lived to hear about, the death of his brother, wife, and three children before he dies six years after his wife’s death. According to PBS Twain ‘dies at Stormfield, buried in Elmira, and Halley’s comet visible from earth’ (PBS). His life started spectacularly, and he ends it in spectacularly. According to PBS, after his children were born, he went on a world tour in 1895 (PBS). He traveled all around Europe before his death. He gained most of his ideas for his stories through these travels. His stories and writing still live up to the legacy they had years ago.

He loved to write, and he continued to write for years. America’s Library informs that he started his first story when he turned twenty-seven working on the Mississippi River (AL 2). Twain started writing later in his life compared to another writer. Normally writers begin writing at the age of twenty, that did not stop him from pursuing his dream. One of his first books, The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, became one of many of Twain’s works. This being his first successful story, and what made him know through America. Critics were not too thrilled about Twain’s stories because of his confession of faith (Bush 2). This happened during the time when church and state separated completely, so reviewers were narrow-minded about Christian writers, one of his book that accumulated the most criticism during that time Huckleberry Finn, arguably Twain’s most world-renowned book. ‘When Huckleberry Finn first came out, reviewers did not see it as a novel about race but rather focused on its representation of juvenile ‘delinquency’ (Messent 12). He wrote more than just young stories that work with his era.

On top of writing stories, he wrote folk songs in his life. One of his better-known songs tells the story of Sandy, a slave in Missouri. Sandy, a young slave, served Twain’s family at the time (Bush 4). He became friends with the young slave, and he became a part of Twain’s family, metaphorically. His other works involved his adventures around the world or of imaginary characters that lived in such places (Messent 39). These stories became great additions to his long list of works. The works and their realism sparked his recognition around the world. Of course, his beliefs began to make their way into his writings. He had one story in particular called Eve’s Diary. This story involved the journey of Adam and Eve. Twain wrote this short story almost like diary entries (Bush 6). This just left him up for more criticism than necessary. His works also did not go unnoticed by the public eye.

The reviews were not what Twain struggled with the most. He became his worst enemy. Twain never trusted his comic sense of writing (Camfield 92). He never found satisfaction with what he wrote, always in a constant struggle of self-doubt. He always believed his works should have a single answer, not different answers that could manifest from the mind (Camfield 92). Ironically, these characteristics in his writings make him stand out from others. Even with that, he hated the paradoxes hidden in his stories (Camfield 92). Again, the aspects of his writings that Twain hated are what attracts readers to his works. He, of course, gained recognition for his works.

After Mark Twain’s death, Twain’s honoring and awareness of his works continue today. Twain, unlike other painters and writers, became famous during his life, not after. Extraordinary opportunities became frequent during his life. According to PBS, he was a guest of President Theodore Roosevelt at the White House (PBS). Many writers are unable to have opportunities like such in their lifetime. One of his biggest achievements happened after he died. His book Huckleberry Finn became a movie. Sadly, he did not take part in witnessing the movie or its creation process. Still, to this day his works are world-renowned for use in the educational system. Twain would’ve been thrilled to hear about the outcomes his stories have on others.

His life rich with adventure, his love for God, and his interesting sense of humor remains key factors that made Mark Twain an amazing person. He lived an interesting life compared to the one we assume from his writing. His writings continue to inspire others, even after death.

Mark Twain began life in Florida, Missouri, where he was born on November 30, 1835. (“Major Works.”) Twain was originally named Samuel Langhorne Clemens, but later began using the pen name, Mark Twain. (“Major Works.”) He modeled his new name after terms that were used while he was on the river boat, mark meaning measure, and twain meaning two. (“Frequently Asked Questions”) Mark Twain wrote possibly one of his most famous books, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, in 1884. (“Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.”) The novel was set in a time period before the Civil War. (“Major Works.”) Twain wrote this novel in a way that is telling a section of the main character Huck Finn’s life story, as a chain of unlikely events as he and Jim – a runaway slave – take a small wooden raft down the Mississippi River. (“Major Works.”)

Mark Twain was an American writer who first began writing articles for different newspapers in Philadelphia and New York City at the age of eighteen. (“Major Works.”) When Samuel was just four years old, he and his family moved to a small town on the banks of the Mississippi River in Hannibal, Missouri. (“Major Works.”) Clemens spent most of his childhood living aside the river. (“Major Works.”) Both Samuel’s father and his uncle were slave owners when he was young. (“Major Works.”) In a way, he grew up with the slaves, listening to any of their stories they would tell him. (“Major Works.”) His father passed away when Samuel was only eleven years old. (“Major Works.”) The novel gives a type of representation of what life was like along the Mississippi River during the time period this novel was set in. Because he spent most of his childhood living alongside the Mississippi River and working on the steamboat once he was older, Twain was able to give us a thorough story of what it was like being on or near the river in that time.

“Sometimes you gwyne to git hurt, en sometimes you gwyne to git sick; but every time you’s gwyne to git well agin.” (Twain, 1884.) The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has a very different writing style than most novels. Twain uses a very casual style in his writings. He also wrote this novel using an extensive amount of slang. I believe he intentionally did this to have a more accurate representation of the various types of language that were being used in the south during that time period. Twain seems to have his own style of writing in which he doesn’t conform to the typical ways of writing a story or novel. The time in which Mark Twain lived also had a great effect on how he wrote his stories. He often wrote about slavery and how people were treated considerably different, because unequal treatment was a major part of everyday life during his time. In that time, it was a normal circumstance for someone to own a few or several slaves that would work on their farms, in their houses, or in other places. Because of this, it was fitting that Twain would include so much detail and description about slavery and slave owners in his story without it being out of the ordinary, considering that it was an average situation during that time period.

“Human beings can be awful cruel to one another.” (Twain, 1884.) Most critics go into a certain amount of detail about how Twain used a more relaxed writing style than other authors and writers in many of his stories and the numerous dialects used to more accurately depict the different types of language being used at the setting time of the story. Some critics used more positive criticism, by describing both Twain and his book as “genius” in the ways he incorporated the many dialects into the story. (“The 1885 Reviews,” 2017) Other critics were a little more negative with their criticism, by considering the story to be “cheap,” and that Twain is not worthy of being listed among other recognizable humorists. (“The 1885 Reviews,” 2017) There are many positive and negative views and opinions on Mark Twain’s novel, but overall, the book was written for humor and entertainment. Some critics could have possibly taken the book too seriously, and in turn, found the entirety of the story to be too unrealistic and extravagant for them to consider it a good novel to spend time reading. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is unlike most novels that typical authors would write, and trying to read it the same way, like an average novel may make the story seem somewhat random at times. (“The 1885 Reviews,” 2017)

“Jim said that bees won’t sting idiots, but I didn’t believe that, because I tried them lots of times myself and they wouldn’t sting me.” (Twain, 1884.) Mark Twain made a tremendous impact on American Literature during his lifetime. He wrote many short stories, articles, and novels throughout his writing career, with the main intent of bringing a vast sense of joy, laughter, and entertainment to all of the readers of his works. His book does not follow the typical format of a novel; he made the story his own and went through all the events with great detail and description, whether it was a more ordinary moment or one of the high points of the story. Twain wrote The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn as if Huckleberry Finn were telling you part of his life story himself; a story filled with life experiences, containing plenty of obstacles, difficulties, and complications throughout the journey, but also having some very loyal friends that were willing to stay with him until the end. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn can show you that although you will often go through many issues and struggles throughout your life, having just a few irreprehensible, dependable friends that will do anything for you to go through it with you makes everything a lot easier than going through it alone.

Works Cited

1. Twain, Mark. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Chatto & Windus / Charles L. Webster And Company, 0AD.
2. “Major Works.” Mark Twain House, marktwainhouse.org/about/mark-twain/major-works/.
3. “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain (1885).” ZSR Library, 2 Aug. 2016, zsr.wfu.edu/2013/adventures-of-huckleberry-finn-by-mark-twain-1885/.
4. Dan Sheehan. “The 1885 Reviews of Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” Book Marks, Riverhead Books, 7 Nov. 2017, bookmarks.reviews/the-1885-reviews-of-mark-twains-adventures-of-huckleberry-finn/.
5. Greenblatt, Alan. “Why Mark Twain Still Matters.” NPR, NPR, 21 Apr. 2010, www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126135081.
6. “Frequently Asked Questions.” The Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum, www.marktwainmuseum.org/frequently-asked-questions/.

Referred to as the “Father of Modern Satire” Mark Twain’s comedic works are appreciated universally and timelessly. Twain utilises a unique range of literary techniques to not only critique certain areas of society but also reveal his own sympathies and reflection of the time period he lived. For instance Twain’s ‘The Mysterious Stranger,’ perfectly advocated his agnostic commentary critiquing God and organized religion as well as man’s susceptibility to the church. Moreover “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,’ displays racial attitudes of the time as well as his sympathies for the African American slave community. Furthermore ‘King Leopold’s Soliloquy” satirically criticizes King Leopold’s totalitarian rule over the Congo Free State during the 19th century. Likewise Twain’s ‘Letters from the Earth’ ridicules man’s ironic devastation of his fellow man and of the earth. Only upon analysing some of Twain’s most celebrated works we can assess his prevalence in today’s society and make parallels to modern comedians and political satirists.

It has been over a century since Mark Twain’s last work, The Mysterious Stranger, was published posthumously. Comprised of three short stories being The Chronicle of Young Satan, Schoolhouse Hill, and No. 44 The Mysterious Stranger, the most notable target of Twain’s satire is Christianity and what Twain saw as its imprisoning philosophy (Travis, p. 1). Twain’s assessment of God, Satan and the church resulting in barbaric consequences such as witch trials looks to convey religions control on humanity and humanities susceptibility to this power (Twain, 1916). Twain (1916 p. 36) writes “…Beyond these matters we were not required to know much; and in fact, not allowed to. The priests said that knowledge was not good for the common people, and could make them discontented with the lot which God had appointed for them, and God would not endure discontentment with His plans…” thus conveying the central position of the church and drawing parallels to 19th century America whereby often uneducated towns people lived out their lives in total trust in God and the Church (Travis, p. 11). Thus it is fitting of Twain to insert ‘Satan’ as the moralistic questioner rather than God (Travis, p. 11). Twain begins each of the stories by introducing a young male character that, in all the mystery shrouding him, shares powerful insights into modern ethics, religion, morality, and social justice (Travis, p. 11). Calling himself Satan, in all but Schoolhouse Hill, this often-unwelcome visitor serves as Twain’s microphone to voice the injustices that he thought threatened mankind. The story begins with Satan, creating living beings out of the dirt of the earth in front of the three boys, set specific tasks and then destroyed as “Satan reached out his hand and crushed the life out of them with his fingers, threw them away, wiped the red from his fingers on his handkerchief and went on talking where he had left off…” (Twain 1916, p. 49). Twain cleverly creates this metaphor to advocate the ignorant and fickle nature of our relationship with a higher power or the church who Twain suggests must hate what he has created. Contrastingly in Schoolhouse Hill, instead the mysterious French stranger goes by the name of Forty-four and astonishes the school he has only arrived at by learning English in a matter of minutes (Travis, p. 14). The mysterious stranger goes onto recount the Genesis story of Adam and Eve highlighting the hypocrisy of having the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. Twain (1916, p. 216) writes “His error was in supposing that a knowledge of the difference between good and evil was all that the fruit could confer.. .The fruit’s office was not confined to conferring the mere knowledge of good and evil, it conferred also the passionate and eager and hungry disposition to DO evil” to force his audience to question Satan’s guilt and shift this onus onto God who tempted his creations. With this Twain hopes challenge his largely orthodox Christian audience to ponder the doctrine of their church when the light at which Satan and God are viewed is reversed. Twain’s last manuscript, entitled No. 44, The Mysterious Stranger, starts out dissimilarly to the previous two, as the stranger appears searching for human help (Travis, p. 16). Despite all the printers discarding the stranger the printing apprentice central to the story, August Feldner, reaches out to him so Twain may use his ‘Devil’ to challenge his audience again about religion and the human condition. As he states “Your race cannot even conceive of something being made out of nothing—I am aware of it, your learned men and philosophers are always confessing it. They say there had to be something to start with—meaning a solid, a substance—to build the world out of. Man, it is perfectly simple—it was built out of thought. Can’t you comprehend that?” (Twain 1916, p. 332) thus suggesting that man is not a spiritual being at all but a logical one who creates his own reality (Travis, p. 18). This acts to disband all the notions of heaven and creation acting as Twain’s definitive rejection of the existence of God (Travis, p. 18). Hence through all three manuscripts Twain perfectly advocates his mistrust and suspicion of the Christian message and critiques humans susceptibility to it.

Moreover Twain’s classic “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,’ satirizes the unjust treatment of African American slaves in America through light-hearted comedy. Through the relationship between Huck and Jim (an African American slave), Twain effortlessly critiques unfair treatment of slaves prior to abolition allowing Huck and challenging the audience to develop a conscience for humanity (Twain 1884). Twain utilises colloquial language and various characters to represent key players and the political climate of the pre-civil war southern states. One main instance where Twain looks to convey this gross inequality is when Pap, Hucks Dad, while holding Huck captive goes onto rant “here was a free nigger there from Ohio… most as white as a white man. He had the whitest shirt on you ever see, too, and the shiniest hat; and there ain’t a man in that town that’s got as fine clothes as what he had; and he had a gold watch and chain, and a silver-headed cane—the awful- est old gray-headed nabob in the State. And what do you think? They said he was a p’fessor in a college, and could talk all kinds of languages, and knowed everything. And that ain’t the wust. They said he could VOTE when he was at home. Well, that let me out” (Twain 1884, p. 27). The fact that this individual can be both rich and successful, two things Pap is not, but be undeserving because of his race highlights the gross animosity and unjustified treatment that created the double standard that was ripe in the south for so long. In addition Twain communicates his sympathy through the simple and innocent character of Jim. Jim’s reaction that people speak different languages, “Well, it’s a blame ridicklous way, en I doan’ want to hear no mo’ ’bout it. Dey ain’ no sense in it” (Twain 1884, p. 80) is ironic because he cannot understand how we can speak different languages if we are all the same and yet accept his enslavement even though we are all the same. While Twain creates this reaction to be humorous and light-hearted he intends the underlying message of hypocrisy to be noticed and considered. Finally through the loved protagonist of Huck, Twain challenges us with his racial reservations. Huck’s recollection of his apology, “It was fifteen minutes before I could work myself up to go and humble myself to a nigger; but I done it, and I warn’t ever sorry for it afterwards, neither. I didn’t do him no more mean tricks, and I wouldn’t done that one if I’d a knowed it would make him feel that way” (Twain 1884, p. 88) forces us to consider if should praise Huck for his still racist but progressive behaviour or question our own loyalties to Huck. Either way it is in this way that Twain not only critiques society but challenges them to consider their own beliefs.

Furthermore ‘King Leopold’s Soliloquy” satirically criticizes King Leopold’s totalitarian rule over the Congo Free State through a fictional monologue where Leopold speaks in his own defence about all the “good” he intended for the poor people of the Congo (Twain, 1905). The text begins with a sardonic note “The publishers desire to state that Mr. Clemens declines to accept any pecuniary return from this booklet, as it is his wish that that all proceeds of sales above the cost of publication shall be used in furthering effort for relief of the people the Congo” (Twain 1905, p. 1) to ridicule King Leopold and crown himself the hero of this story before it has even begun. Similarly Twain puts text supporting Leopold II at times in the shape of a cross, highlighting the irony and hypocrisy of the words with religious imagery (Dwight 2007). Even Twain’s punctuation and over the top rhetoric looks to ridicule King Leopold as a mad bumbling leader who is offended by the publics lack of praise for him. Twain writes “Oh, well, let them blackguard me if they like; it is a deep satisfaction to me to remember that I was a shade too smart for that nation that thinks itself so smart. Yes, I certainly did bunco a Yankee—as those people phrase it. Pirate flag? Let them call it soo—perhaps it is. All the same, they were the first to salute it” (Twain 1905, p. 7) which not only mocks King Leopold’s regime but also his own, goading the American public to notice their obligation to help by pointing out that the International Association of the Congo was first recognized by the US (Dwight 2007). King Leopold’s Soliloquy acts as another example of Twain’s wit and bravery to highlight injustice, and criticise particular powerful bodies of society through irony and exaggeration, which is a testament to his legacy.

Finally Twain’s ‘Letters from the Earth’ satirizes man’s ironic devastation of his fellow man due to the hypocrisy of our creation. Similar to his political critique, Twain’s eleven letters written by Satan to the archangels Gabriel and Michael remains pertinent today highlighting the irony of humanities hypocritical and self destructive nature (Twain 1962). As a testament to their content, when the ‘Letters’ were to be published in 1939, Twain’s daughter objected to their posthumous publication on the grounds they did not truly reflect her father’s religious views (Walden 2013, p. 3). In 1960 she finally lifted her objections in hopes that the world was a more tolerant place Walden 2013, p. 3). Firstly Twain looks to highlight the insincerity of humanity as a creation of god as “All nations look down upon all other nations. All nations dislike all other nations. All white nations despise all colored nations, of whatever hue, and oppress them when they can. White men will not associate with ‘niggers,’ nor marry them. They will not allow them in their schools and churches. All the world hates the Jew, and will not endure him except when he is rich…” (Twain 1962, p. 3). Twain’s repition of ‘All’ and use of ‘nigger’ and Jew emphasize that even himself is not a reflection of a holy intention but are genetically built to belittle each other. Moreover Twain points out humanities bizarre beliefs about themselves, denoting “that the human being, like the immortals, naturally places sexual intercourse far and away above all other joys — yet he has left it out of his heaven!” (Twain 1962, p. 4) pointing out that the notion of a heaven leaves out everything humans find most enjoyable. Furthermore Twain’s observation “…that the human being is a curiosity. In times past he has had (and worn out and flung away) hundreds and hundreds of religions; today he has hundreds and hundreds of religions, and launches not fewer than three new ones every year. I could enlarge that number and still be within the facts” (Twain 1962, p. 5) thus highlighting another duplicitous phenomenon of the Christian story. Twain considers the question that if we are made of one creator why are we obsessed with finding alternatives and therefore either humanity or God or both are broken. Twain’s style and rhetoric are typified in “Letters from the Earth” as he continued to make accurate critiques on the human condition against and without fear of the heavily Christian country he lived.

Upon analysing some of Twain’s most prolific works, his prevalence and legacy remain strong today as a lead for our current political satirists and comedians to follow. Political satirists such as Stephen Colbert and John Stewart’s clever critique of their government, particularly the Trump Phenomenon, is intently similar to Twain’s critique of his own and foreign governments of his time. Moreover the raw brand of humour used by Amy Schumer and Sarah Silverman was pioneered by first by Twain’s courage to tackle delicate issues such as sex and racism in a time when society was less tolerant. Essences of Twain’s work can be found in the majority of modern political and societal critique and has either directly or indirectly influenced some of the most popular comedy of our time.

In conclusion Mark Twain’s comedic works are appreciated universally and timelessly. ‘The Mysterious Stranger’, “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn’, ‘King Leopold’s Soliloquy” and ‘Letters from the Earth’ all utilise a unique range of literary techniques to not only critique certain areas of society but also reveal his own sympathies and reflection of the time period he lived. Only upon analysing some of Twain’s most celebrated works we can confirm his prevalence in today’s society and make parallels to modern comedians and political satirists alike. Twain’s legacy will continue as a blueprint for comedians and commentators as well as an enjoyment for those who simply enjoy his funny stories.

Mark Twain, originally Samuel Clemens, was a very interesting and influential writer who changed modern literature in many ways. He wrote several books relating back to his own childhood and experiences. An extremely popular book written by him was The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn which is about a boy learning difficult life lessons and battling many different challenges which ultimately teaches about the issues of racism and the lack of education in Twain’s day.

Mark Twain had a very fascinating childhood that gave him a different look on life and all it has to offer. Mark Twain was born on November 30, 1835 in a village located in Florida, Missouri. His parents were John and Jane Clemens were both good people who made steady income but never reached the point of great wealth (biography.com/editors). His father was a judge and lawyer among other small jobs that were mostly meant to keep busy. His mother was a stay at home mom who was very nice and caring towards her children. Twain’s household was an extremely packed one with him having five other siblings. When Twain was four, his family moved to Hannibal where he started to experience society’s unfairness and indifference to others. Hannibal was right next to the Mississippi River, and Twain took great advantage of this by spending a majority of his time there, while wasting away the days. Living in Hannibal made Twain a very mature and hard person. When he was a boy he witnessed a cattle rancher and slave being murdered by a normal man and a slave owner (biography.com/editors).

Mark Twain did not have a very high degree of education mainly because he had to drop out of school at the age of twelve and start working to support his low income family. Mark began an apprenticeship at the Hannibal Courier as a printer. Next when Twain was fifteen he decided to be a printer and a writer for his brothers News Paper, “The Hannibal Western Union.” When Mark became a man, he got a job as a Mississippi River steamboat pilot, which was his idea of the perfect job. When Twain was still young, the civil war started and flipped his whole life upside down. Marks comfortable River life turned into him joining the confederate army for a few weeks before his group was discharged. When Twain wanted to start anew he decided to move to California to look for gold and silver. After his misfortune in looking for gold he went broke and had to find a way to make more money.

Twain’s career, as a writer, took a good amount of time to take off and actually catch grip in the literary world. When Twain started getting serious about writing he decided to work at a newspaper bureau as a sketcher, writer, and a comic. Most of his first stories had elements of humor, satire, and originality (biography.com/editors). Mark wasn’t very well known or admired until he wrote an article called, “Jim Smiley and His Jumping Frog,” which was sent to different bureaus around the United States. The Innocents Abroad was a book written by Twain, when he went on voyage over the ocean, that gave Americans a view of the entire outside world through his eyes. Through this book he was officially a well known author and literature enthusiasts were all waiting for his next piece to be published. His next piece, written in 1876, of literary gold was a book called The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. After this work Twain’s literary style was developed and he knew his true passion of writing was on the right track to success. Then books from the infamous Mark Twain were being written left and write leading to one of his most popular books, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

Mark lived a simple life. He married a 24 year old wife, Olivia Langdon, at he age of 34. He had his financial ups and his downs but he always persevered through tough times and kept his passions close at heart. Twain has a very sad life that was haunted by all of the people in his family who had died. Not very long after Twain and Olivia has gotten married their first son Langdon, named after Olivia’s lineage, died of diphtheria. Later down the road his daughter Susy, died of spinal meningitis and the fact that this was his favorite daughter didn’t do anything but add more weight to his heart. When Twain’s wife died so did his want for writing: leaving unfinished pieces of literature, unaimed spouts of anger and rage, and depression covered in gambling and smoking.

Mark died a very lonely death with most of his family already gone and the distant ones out of his life. He died April 21, 1910, in Elmira New York.

Do you think our world has become worse or better in the past decades, here are a few reasons as to why it’s gotten worse. In Mark Twain’s essay “The Damned Human Race” he in his own words and by his views and the way he’s seen the world, says that humans are acting like animals and are becoming more and more selfish he says the human race is becoming “both flawed and corrupt,” which is very true. Many humans, you could say think of themselves as the “Top Dog” or something close to that. He also says that it is only humans that keep hatred alive in his heart and keeps his mind cold. Man is the only one who can impose himself on other fellow members and bind them for his own benefit. Insults are man’s own invention too. The writer gives examples from history all over the world to prove the wrong use of power by the man himself. The way in which he talks about all the incidents is very compelling and is well maintained. Twain says he conducted experiments such as arguing on how an earl killed seventy-two buffaloes just for his pleasure, in contrast to which anacondas did not attack calves in excess of their requirements. He then uses deductive reasoning to determine that not anaconda but man himself has descended from these animals which is an irony in its nature and is straightly in contradiction to Darwinian Theory. There he shows that man is not thankful for what he is given or what he’s earned but that animals are thankful and they use what they have until it’s gone. All over the world man has been terrible like with slavery or with kings and pharaohs and many types of things like that, humans have never been what you could call perfect or top dog or better than other things, we have always been selfish and a problem to the world, Twain says “The writer shows cynicism while calling man foolish for not being able to learn tolerance which animals would do when tamed. He compares the two groups as control groups of a scientific experiment and logically proves how his results show that men cannot learn acceptance like animals.” (Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9369027)

In conclusion, the only reasonable reason behind this behavior of humans is their morality. If man had never renowned evil from good, he would never have fought against it. Twain makes many good points on why man is good or why they are bad and he is pointed more toward bad because of what he’s seen in his life of humans and how they act with certain things. I think that Twain is right about the human race he isn’t wrong about our behavior and how we act with certain things. People could learn from his story and might become better people and act differently not taking things for granted. That is why this world has gotten worse because we can not be pleased with what we have and once we have what we want we forget about everything else.

Mark Twain, one of America’s most celebrated writers, delves into the theme of survival in his short story, “The Cost of Survival.” Set against the backdrop of the American frontier, Twain explores the moral complexities individuals face when confronted with life-or-death situations. Through his vivid storytelling and keen observations of human nature, Twain offers a thought-provoking critique of the cost of survival and the impact it has on the human psyche.

In “The Cost of Survival,” Twain presents a cast of characters who find themselves in dire circumstances, struggling to navigate the harsh realities of the frontier. The story revolves around a group of pioneers who are trapped in a cave due to a sudden snowstorm. As their supplies dwindle, they are faced with a difficult decision: whether to resort to cannibalism to sustain themselves. Twain skillfully explores the moral dilemmas and psychological turmoil experienced by these individuals as they grapple with the cost of survival.

Twain’s characterization plays a pivotal role in conveying the internal conflicts faced by the pioneers. He presents them as ordinary individuals driven to extreme measures by the unforgiving conditions of their environment. Through their conversations and actions, Twain exposes the desperation and rationalizations that arise when faced with the possibility of death. He illustrates the gradual erosion of their moral compasses as they justify the unthinkable, shedding light on the psychological toll survival can exact on individuals.

Furthermore, Twain employs vivid imagery and symbolism to highlight the grim reality of the cost of survival. The snowstorm becomes a metaphorical representation of the relentless and unforgiving nature of life itself. The cave serves as a confined space that mirrors the characters’ dwindling options and growing desperation. As the characters descend into darkness both literally and figuratively, Twain emphasizes the moral degradation that accompanies the quest for survival.

“The Cost of Survival” also showcases Twain’s biting social commentary. Through the characters’ discussions and justifications, he exposes the hypocrisies and contradictions that emerge in desperate situations. Twain questions the values and norms that society upholds when faced with the primal instinct of self-preservation. He challenges the conventional notions of morality and raises important ethical questions about the limits individuals are willing to push to ensure their own survival.

Moreover, Twain’s writing style in this story is marked by his trademark wit and satire. Despite the grim subject matter, he injects moments of dark humor, providing a satirical lens through which to examine the characters’ actions and society’s response to their predicament. Twain’s ability to balance the weightiness of the theme with elements of irony and satire adds depth and complexity to the narrative, making it both thought-provoking and engaging for readers.

In conclusion, Mark Twain’s “The Cost of Survival” offers a literary exploration of the moral dilemmas individuals face when confronted with life-or-death situations. Through his vivid storytelling, characterization, and social commentary, Twain delves into the psychological and ethical complexities that arise when survival is at stake. His ability to illuminate the darkest corners of human nature and expose the frailty of societal norms contributes to the enduring relevance of this poignant and thought-provoking tale. “The Cost of Survival” stands as a testament to Twain’s literary genius and his ability to shed light on the profound human condition.