Twain’s Literature and Its Criticisms of Society
Mark Twain, born Samuel Clemens, authored numerous books in the 19th century, many of which contained scathing criticisms and satires. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, one of Twain’s first bestsellers, was guilty of criticizing organized religion, the education establishment, and the idea of adults being more mature than children. The Gilded Age, which Twain co-wrote, contained criticisms of the corruptness in politics and the justice system in the parts Twain wrote. Following the Equator, Twain's travelogue, mocked western society and brought to light the crimes of imperialism. Twain’s The Adventures of Tom Sawyer was one of his first books containing scathing criticisms. Twain’s first hit novel The Adventures of Tom …show more content…
Twain tells the story of a squatter, who was surrounded by aborigines. The squatter was afraid of the aborigines, as they had a history of conflict. The squatter decided to give pudding to the aborigines for Christmas, and explained to them the concept of Christmas. The pudding was laced with arsenic, and the aborigines all perished. Twain remarks that the whites were shocked by this. Twain then further explains that whites were accustomed to enslavement, massacre, and exploitation, but not poisoning. This comment is a direct attack on the morality of imperialist whites. The whites, who had performed enslavement and the brutal killing of many races, were ridiculous in their contempt of the much faster, merciful killing that the squatter performed. The most horrifying criticism, however, is that Twain is implying that it is the method of killing that the whites care about, rather than the killing itself. Twain summarizes his thoughts on this, writing, “There are many humorous things in the world; among them the white man’s notion that he is less savage than other savages”
Mark Twain, born Samuel Clemens, authored numerous books in the 19th century, many of which contained scathing criticisms and satires. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, one of Twain’s first bestsellers, was guilty of criticizing organized religion, the education establishment, and the idea of adults being more mature than children. The Gilded Age, which Twain co-wrote, contained criticisms of the corruptness in politics and the justice system in the parts Twain wrote. Following the Equator, Twain's travelogue, mocked western society and brought to light the crimes of imperialism. Twain’s The Adventures of Tom Sawyer was one of his first books containing scathing criticisms. Twain’s first hit novel The Adventures of Tom …show more content…
Twain tells the story of a squatter, who was surrounded by aborigines. The squatter was afraid of the aborigines, as they had a history of conflict. The squatter decided to give pudding to the aborigines for Christmas, and explained to them the concept of Christmas. The pudding was laced with arsenic, and the aborigines all perished. Twain remarks that the whites were shocked by this. Twain then further explains that whites were accustomed to enslavement, massacre, and exploitation, but not poisoning. This comment is a direct attack on the morality of imperialist whites. The whites, who had performed enslavement and the brutal killing of many races, were ridiculous in their contempt of the much faster, merciful killing that the squatter performed. The most horrifying criticism, however, is that Twain is implying that it is the method of killing that the whites care about, rather than the killing itself. Twain summarizes his thoughts on this, writing, “There are many humorous things in the world; among them the white man’s notion that he is less savage than other savages”