Mark Twain's Essay, Two Views Of The River

The scene of Mark Twain’s essay, Two Views of the River, takes place on the Mississippi River where Twain navigated the waters. Throughout the essay, Twain describes the river and the different experiences that affect his views of it. In describing his overall attitude, he provides imagery of the river, shifts his perspective, and uses figurative language to appeal to all audiences. Throughout the essay, Twain describes the river in immense detail, appealing to all senses. He uses colors such as “blood” to describe the river’s color and the word “radiating” to describe its movement. These details prove his attitude towards the river during his first innocent encounter. As the essay continues, Twain begins to describe the river as only being

In the first two paragraphs, Twain gives human qualities to the river to describe its actions. For example, he mentions that the river has a “ruddy flush” to describe its color. By giving the river human qualities, readers can see how Twain views the river. Towards the end of the essay, Twain presents a metaphor that encompasses his entire belief of the river. Mark mentions that he and the river resemble a doctor with their patient. 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. These techniques revealed Twain’s attitude by showing his overall feeling of how knowledge affects one’s view of nature. In Two Views of the River, Mark Twain uses a combination of imagery, a shift in perspective, and figurative language techniques to reveal his attitude towards the river. Together, they reveal that Twain believes the