Mark Twain’s essay “The Damned Human Race” argues that instead of humans being the “highest animals” in comparison to the other animals of the world they are actually the “lowest animals”. Humans do many things that animals do not, and have many traits that animals do not have. But, all of the traits that set humans apart from animals are not all good. Humans are greedy, humans act as slaves and enslave, and humans have the territorial urge to conquer. These traits may set them apart from other animals in the world, but it does not make humans the “highest animals”. Greed is a trait that has plagued human beings for centuries. Humans always want more than what they need to survive. Other animals, the “higher animals”, do not seem to have this
…show more content…
Twain brings to light the issue of humans “robbing his helpless fellow of his country” and that it is done with the intent to drive the natives out or destroy them (Twain 528). The United States itself was the home to many Native American groups that are now extinct. Because of the humans need for conquering and territorial possession, they came in and robbed the Native Americans of their land so that they could have it for themselves. Even before this happened in the United States, the world was in the Age of Imperialism where each country was racing to claim as much territory as possible. In the Age of Exploration countries sent out explorers in search for gold. One of the more notable groups was the Spanish conquistadors who were known for conquering land and wiping out entire native populations at the same time. The higher animals have no concept of territory; they live in harmony with one another. They don’t feel the need to try and gain as much land as possible because they are content with what little they have. As Twain simply states “there is not an acre of ground on the globe that is in possession of its rightful owner, or that has not been taken away from owner after owner, cycle after cycle, by force and bloodshed” (Twain 528). To contradict, one might say that animals have land that they call their own, but that is untrue. A lot of animals are migratory and constantly move to find food. Also when you look at a place like the jungle, each species doesn’t have its own separate section of land, all of the animals live together. Unlike the higher animals, humans are living on stolen land that they often had to kill people
Twain brings to light the issue of humans “robbing his helpless fellow of his country” and that it is done with the intent to drive the natives out or destroy them (Twain 528). The United States itself was the home to many Native American groups that are now extinct. Because of the humans need for conquering and territorial possession, they came in and robbed the Native Americans of their land so that they could have it for themselves. Even before this happened in the United States, the world was in the Age of Imperialism where each country was racing to claim as much territory as possible. In the Age of Exploration countries sent out explorers in search for gold. One of the more notable groups was the Spanish conquistadors who were known for conquering land and wiping out entire native populations at the same time. The higher animals have no concept of territory; they live in harmony with one another. They don’t feel the need to try and gain as much land as possible because they are content with what little they have. As Twain simply states “there is not an acre of ground on the globe that is in possession of its rightful owner, or that has not been taken away from owner after owner, cycle after cycle, by force and bloodshed” (Twain 528). To contradict, one might say that animals have land that they call their own, but that is untrue. A lot of animals are migratory and constantly move to find food. Also when you look at a place like the jungle, each species doesn’t have its own separate section of land, all of the animals live together. Unlike the higher animals, humans are living on stolen land that they often had to kill people