Mark Twain Influences

Mark Twain, or Samuel Clemens, is famously acclaimed as one of the best writers in American Literature. A writer who rose from the means of poverty to a national figure. Renowned for his novels, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, he lived a very difficult childhood which eventually led to his critical view of life. He had to deal with grief and everyday crisis, and this adds to a halfhearted approach to life. Twain and his works were part of the 1800s literary period in Realism. He endured hardships early on in life, killing the child spirit within him. Twain grew out of an early romanticism instilled within him, and began to see the world realistically with only one goal, to help his family. It then becomes evident that Mark Twain’s misfortunes as a child led to his critical view on life that is illustrated through his satirical writing and connecting to the Realism Era.
Samuel Clemens was born on November 30, 1835 to parents John Marshall and Jane Moffitt Clemens. In History.com’s biography of Mark Twain, we learn that his father, John Marshall was a serious man who rarely showed emotion. His family lived in poverty …show more content…
John felt it would be a better place for his family to live in. Hannibal actually did seem like a very splendid place to live in, with its steamboats, circuses, library, minstrel shows, etc. However it was not lacking on violence, poverty, loneliness and boredom. Such characteristics of the town brings to light some of the reasons why Mark Twain ended up with such a twisted humour. Mark Twain witnessed many murders, a more notable one being a slave being struck with a piece of iron when Mark was only ten. Such events leave an impression on children and affect them for years to come. His critical view on life came with these gruesome events, as well as early realizations of how difficult life can be (Biograpy.com Editors: Mark Twain