ipl-logo

Human Differences In Mark Twain's Writings

1308 Words6 Pages

No one is similar to one –another. We were born to be who we are, different and distinct among each-other. Comparing humans is like entering in a hole, where everything you “see” is nothing and trying to find a difference is really hard. We, humans are both similar and dissimilar to each-other so it is a simple thing to say that the human beings have a complex nature, which make them difficult to be “studied”. Wide known writers have treated in their writings, objective and subjective facts in order to try and understand human being. One of these thoughtful writers is Mark Twain, who satirizes human characteristics by showing and emphasizing that humans are the Lowest Animals and as so, alone in their distinction. Even thought Twain …show more content…

This means that we can distinguish, we can protect, we can learn and evolve.
In page 3, last paragraph mentioning historical facts in which humans have been part of shows that we are not stuck in ourselves. The history demonstrates this, we have been developing since many years ago, when we were thought to have generated from some far ancestors as
Twain states in page 4 paragraph 6.Twain claims that humans come from many years ago, but he skips the fact that our ability to change during the years is a development. If we choose to be evil that makes as different but not alone. We know what we are doing and we do what we choose to do, so this is a development on its own. The ability to perceive and learn is not the only thing that distinct us from animals, we own the Moral Sense, which is thought to lead us toward wrongness when in fact it enables us consciousness.
One of Twains weakest points is generalization as I said also before, because he fails to see both sides of the medal. In page four, paragraph five Twain claims that Moral Sense enables us to …show more content…

We are intelligent enough to do what we think is best for us, intelligent enough to know when to blush even thought Twain defined bluishness as a bad thing. We are intelligent enough to know in what to believe and how to protect our beliefs.
“No heaven has been offered him wherein his one sole superiority was provided with a chance to enjoy itself “states Twain. If ‘heaven’ as Twain stated has not valued as for the intelligence we possess, we, humans, are the ones who have and should value and use this intelligence.
”Man is alone in his distinction” recalls many times Twain and indeed that is true. We are alone because it is humans' mind that has developed everything to what it is today.
In the last paragraph is also stated that even though we are intellectually superior we are not as important as we think we are, when in fact it is not about how important we think we are, it is about being able to develop and change, to distinguish good or bad. At least this is what we have done all this years and Twain fails to mention this fact. We are distinct and the one in our kind, but this does not make it easy to encounter us in

Show More
Related
761 Words | 4 Pages

Samuel Langhorne Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, suggest anacondas, cats and squirrels have a mutual trait. That mankind has descended from these animals, contrary to the popular Darwinian Theory that humans are the most evolved animal species. Twain opposes Darwinism with effective pathos and logos, while comparing human and animal nature, and classifying mankind as the lowest creature of all. Twain claims; indecency, vulgarity and obscenity are qualities associated with the useless moral sense existing sole in mankind. Therefore, human’s cruel qualities and erratic behavior are inferior to animal species, which is exactly what Mark Twain defends in the sarcastic evaluation of humanity named, “The Damned Human Race.”

Read More
798 Words | 4 Pages

He was very effective in making his audience feel the emotions he felt. Mark Twain wrote this essay in a pessimistic and biased manner, which forced his readers’ to reflect upon a deeper meaning. His writing style was biased by not including any favorable qualities that people possess. He spoke of man's moral sense being worse than the disease of rabies, yet didn't offer any solutions. He disproved his own thesis by basing his stated theory on satire, which leads one to believe his stated thesis was not his motivation in writing this

Read More
536 Words | 3 Pages

Money and fine clothes could not mend the defects or cover them up; they only made hem more glaring and more pathetic.” (136)Even though he was a “white man”, he still acted as a slave. Twain is proving that the nurture, or family that someone is raised by shapes their true

Read More
1064 Words | 5 Pages

As one race in one kingdom sharing one phylum, it is easy to think that everyone is the same. That people have no difference and it would be better if every human was all the same. From head to toe, there are differences, different clothing styles, different hair, and yes, even different skin color. Looking even deeper there are different likes, dislikes, passions, and humor. As humans we think individually, making us unique.

Read More
429 Words | 2 Pages

This device is the strongest component in this essay because Twain has clearly expressed to the readers his side when analyzing the work. Without the sarcasm the essay would just be a list of everything Twain believes is wrong, but the author was able to make his argument enjoyable and engaging to the reader.

Read More
659 Words | 3 Pages

For instance, “That slanting mark on the water refers to a bluff reef which is going to kill somebody’s steamboat one of these nights, if it keeps on stretching out like that; those tumbling ‘boils’ show a dissolving bar and a changing channel there…that tall dead tree, with a single living branch, is not going to last long, and then how is a body ever going to get through this blind place at night without the friendly old landmark?” (44-51). Here, the reader is able to comprehend that by contemplating about the negative aspects of the river and how it would result in certain obstacles for a pilot of a steamboat, Twains initial view of the Mississippi River was ultimately diminished. Therefore, the author contemplates whether possessing knowledge about the beauty of an aspect and its true connotation truly belittles it compared to only seeing its beauty without thinking. Likewise, Twain contemplates the position of doctors relating their possible viewpoints towards a patient with his circumstances.

Read More
1031 Words | 5 Pages

In the essay, Twain begins with an anecdote that is, unbeknownst to the reader, actually a metaphor for how we are a “Slave” to common beliefs, and explains to the audience that “we only imitate” the feelings and actions of others. This results in the “outside influences… pouring in upon us”, something that the author clearly feels is an insult to the progression of humanity as a whole. The connotation of all the above words make you feel as if public opinion is not necessarily a helpful part of our lives, but indeed an overwhelming burden that is giving to us. In addition, saying “we only imitate” others as makes it seem as if Twain is trying to be insulting to the audience because he is basically saying everything is fake if we can do nothing ourselves. Although it seems as if Twain is going to be praising public opinion in the beginning when he says how the slaves words were “deeply impressed upon me”, it is clear as he continues he is under the opinion that being under the influence of popular trends is not necessarily always a good thing.

Read More
413 Words | 2 Pages

The Lowest Animal by Mark Twain shatters the illusion that the human species is superior in every way to animals. The essay satirizes that animals are superior to the human species through the use of made up experiments. Twain utilizes these experiments to demonstrate the parallels between the behaviors of animals and man. These experiments showcase how animals are the “higher animals”. Even more, the experiments are attempting to prove how we, as man, have descended from these higher animals only to lose a few of their favorable traits.

Read More
421 Words | 2 Pages

Though, some people think humankind is good, but I just have to disagree... Mark Twain views humans as awful people. In this story he used “satire” to prove his point to his readers. His “proof of study” humiliates him because it allows men to be seen as “the lowest animal” (decentive men). He used satire and chose his words carefully while addressing problems in his society by using humor.

Read More
615 Words | 3 Pages

The doctor’s knowledge causes them to not be able to see the beauty or romance in the patient. Twain extends this to his profession. Mark continues using figurative language by using rhetorical questions. He presents the question, “And doesn’t he sometimes wonder whether he has gained most or lost most by learning his trade?” to show, in a literal sense, the doctor’s struggle in how knowledge has affected his love and admiration for the field. In a figurative sense, Twain is referring to himself and his experience when knowledge hindered his ability to see the beauty in nature.

Read More
890 Words | 4 Pages

Human nature includes characteristics such as thinking, feeling and acting that are shared by all people. While human nature can lead us to be kind and loving, it can also cause us to be competitive, selfish and aggressive. “The Lowest Animal” by Mark Twain and “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July” by Frederick Douglas both display the destructive side of human nature. In Mark Twain’s essay, animals are compared to humans in a number of experiments. He describes humans as cruel, greedy and foolish.

Read More
973 Words | 4 Pages

This quote shows what Twain later describes as a 'great law of human action.' This is Twain commenting on the fact that in order to make a man want something, you must simply make it difficult to obtain. Altogether, this evidence shows how social commentary is a large part of Twain's unique writing style. It is, in fact, one of the main reasons he started writing: to instill lessons of morality and astuteness into his readers. O. Henry has a very unique writing style.

Read More
290 Words | 2 Pages

In “The Lowest Animal”, Mark Twain explains man’s morals and ethics as they compare to the “higher” animals, while in the poem “Ethics” by Linda Pastan, a simple situation is given to show what a person believes is right and wrong; both works reveal the theme hope. Mark Twain takes an interesting approach to explain human nature in his work, “The Lowest Animal”. For example,“[h]e is the only one that inflicts pain for the pleasure of doing it” (Twain 538). People understand that hurting another human being is wrong, whether that be physical or mental abuse. However they sometimes do it anyways for the satisfaction that the action provides.

Read More
1276 Words | 6 Pages

1. Twain’s main purpose in “Corn-Pone Opinions” is to explain how human nature determines what is favored in the society. In paragraph 9, Twain states, “It is our nature to conform; it is a force which not many can successfully resist” (718). Since the birth, each individual are instilled with this conformity that cannot be ignored. Twain wants his readers to realize that the reason behind conformity is to obtain other people’s approval, even if the individual pretends to be someone else.

Read More
768 Words | 4 Pages

The “greatest American humorist of his age”, Mark Twain once said, “Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of Congress; but I repeat myself.” From Missouri to Nevada, apprentice to father of American literature, short stories to novels—Twain became the well-known author he is today because of the impact his life adventures and trial had on him (5). Author of the excerpt from A Presidential Candidate, Twain often used humor and wit to illustrate his stories and make his point known. Through his use of satire, irony, and rhetorical questions, Twain exposes the perceived truths of the Presidential campaigns and candidacies. In his excerpt, Twain uses satire to illustrate how anyone can run for President regardless of experience (14).

Read More

More about Human Differences In Mark Twain's Writings

Related Topics

Open Document