Mark Twain's Essay 'Corn Pone Opinions'

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In the essay, “Corn Pone Opinions”, by Mark Twain, the author examines the concept of public opinion and its relationship with human nature. Twain discusses corn-pone opinions, and how they are an outcome of an absence of uniqueness and autonomy in people. Twain states that tendencies in society occur due to conformity, and lessen by the practices and thoughts of outside influences, rather than the interdependent thinking he believes in. This essay was written at the time where slavery was a social norm, and white men like Twain were presumed to possess superiority over black men. This was the corn-pone opinion that everyone seemed to follow. Although, when Twain mentions his friend, he describes him as “a gay and impudent and satirical and

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