Two Ways of Viewing the River
When Mark Twain first began his career as a riverboat captain, he was enthralled and captivated by the grandeur of the Mississippi River, though he was acutely aware of hidden dangers lurking beneath the water’s swirling surface. He eventually lost the initial appreciation of the river for its beauty and recognized the river was a dangerous, treacherous body of water with no compassion for the people who traversed its deceptive, smooth appearance. It is possible to compare this change in perception to a love affair. A couple meets, begins to keep close company and then for various reasons, separate into different paths. Relationships, similar to Twain’s eventual understanding that the river was a mistress to be …show more content…
Unfortunately, as a romance develops, one of the two people involved may now begin to view the other in a cautious manner because first impressions have given way to a more relaxed attitude which reveal “a warning” and that it “is not going to last long”(Twain). The comparison of flowing water, with dangerous undercurrents and hidden obstacles is applicable to a romance heading for the rocks. The concerned person may desire to overlook warning signs and concentrate solely on the qualities possessed by the other, but the damage is evident. The beauty that was once perceived with loving eyes is now seen with cold reality. Nevertheless, (transition into next paragraph) the time will come when it is necessary to end a romance or relationship and accept the brutal …show more content…
Moments of sadness are highlighted by memories of laughter, whispered conversations, and fast flowing emotions to soften the bitterness in recognizing that something beautiful has disappeared. Twain understood this contradiction, the loss of innocence through experience was a necessary part of working on the river, but he was able to put into perspective the magnificent beauty of the river and respect the power it could exert
In conclusion, (transition) the mighty Mississippi River flows through the vast continent carrying cargo, people and dreams while traversing the unseen hazards of the riverbed. Likewise, a romance is carried on a river of rollercoaster emotions, traveling over an unseen stream of obstacles and heartaches with only a fragile shell transporting travelers as they attempt to sail towards a blissful port of
When Mark Twain first began his career as a riverboat captain, he was enthralled and captivated by the grandeur of the Mississippi River, though he was acutely aware of hidden dangers lurking beneath the water’s swirling surface. He eventually lost the initial appreciation of the river for its beauty and recognized the river was a dangerous, treacherous body of water with no compassion for the people who traversed its deceptive, smooth appearance. It is possible to compare this change in perception to a love affair. A couple meets, begins to keep close company and then for various reasons, separate into different paths. Relationships, similar to Twain’s eventual understanding that the river was a mistress to be …show more content…
Unfortunately, as a romance develops, one of the two people involved may now begin to view the other in a cautious manner because first impressions have given way to a more relaxed attitude which reveal “a warning” and that it “is not going to last long”(Twain). The comparison of flowing water, with dangerous undercurrents and hidden obstacles is applicable to a romance heading for the rocks. The concerned person may desire to overlook warning signs and concentrate solely on the qualities possessed by the other, but the damage is evident. The beauty that was once perceived with loving eyes is now seen with cold reality. Nevertheless, (transition into next paragraph) the time will come when it is necessary to end a romance or relationship and accept the brutal …show more content…
Moments of sadness are highlighted by memories of laughter, whispered conversations, and fast flowing emotions to soften the bitterness in recognizing that something beautiful has disappeared. Twain understood this contradiction, the loss of innocence through experience was a necessary part of working on the river, but he was able to put into perspective the magnificent beauty of the river and respect the power it could exert
In conclusion, (transition) the mighty Mississippi River flows through the vast continent carrying cargo, people and dreams while traversing the unseen hazards of the riverbed. Likewise, a romance is carried on a river of rollercoaster emotions, traveling over an unseen stream of obstacles and heartaches with only a fragile shell transporting travelers as they attempt to sail towards a blissful port of