Mark Twain combines two distinct time periods in his novel, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court. In this, Twain introduces a 19th century born Hank Morgan and plops him into the 6th century. Morgan would quickly take advantage of this situation and gain power by implementing technology in the primeval society. Critics would come to believe that Morgan’s desire for power eventually overcame him and would lead to his corruption. Two notable critics, Arthur Shattuck O’Keefe and Jane Gardiner, bash him and see through his lies and make-believe, asserting how the Yankee ruined his own vision. As a whole, Morgan’s derogative and hypocritical character led to both the growth and eventual collapse of the society and his being. Hank Morgan
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This is addressed by Jane Gardiner, mentioning how his whole system of belief is broken immediately in the story. She proves herself in the work, A More Splendid Necromancy: Mark Twain’s Connecticut Yankee and the Electrical Revolution, saying how Morgan, “who purports to despise ‘magic’ and ‘superstition,’ always defeats Merlin on Merlin's own ground: that of magic” (Gardiner). The Yankee takes advantage of the town’s superstition, using this to win their support early on. For example, as the eclipse occurs in chapter six, Morgan makes it look as if he is controlling it, labeling himself “the master of the situation” (Twain 34). As a result of this, the crowd is in shock and the Yankee grows superior over Merlin, drastically affecting the two. Despite holding an emphasis on practicality, Morgan flips his character to win the people over. Shortly after, he continues this streak by further tarnishing Merlin’s status. He does this by claiming to “call down fire and blow up [his] tower” (Twain 42). The plan is executed without the use of magic, but due to the crowd’s being, they see it to be so, and again are in awe. The man continues to be fake in his character and in turn he is able to gather more
This is addressed by Jane Gardiner, mentioning how his whole system of belief is broken immediately in the story. She proves herself in the work, A More Splendid Necromancy: Mark Twain’s Connecticut Yankee and the Electrical Revolution, saying how Morgan, “who purports to despise ‘magic’ and ‘superstition,’ always defeats Merlin on Merlin's own ground: that of magic” (Gardiner). The Yankee takes advantage of the town’s superstition, using this to win their support early on. For example, as the eclipse occurs in chapter six, Morgan makes it look as if he is controlling it, labeling himself “the master of the situation” (Twain 34). As a result of this, the crowd is in shock and the Yankee grows superior over Merlin, drastically affecting the two. Despite holding an emphasis on practicality, Morgan flips his character to win the people over. Shortly after, he continues this streak by further tarnishing Merlin’s status. He does this by claiming to “call down fire and blow up [his] tower” (Twain 42). The plan is executed without the use of magic, but due to the crowd’s being, they see it to be so, and again are in awe. The man continues to be fake in his character and in turn he is able to gather more