Twain Vs Whitman

Mark Twain and Walt Whitman represent two of America’s strongest literary figures of the 19th century. Even though, their styles were different, Mark Twain and Walt Whitman showed many characteristics of the American culture. Twain and Whitman both focus on and celebrate the common man. They are very critical of America, though sometimes for different reasons. Mark Twain makes it clear through his work that he loves the thought of America. He brings up the South into his works a lot, shown in “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”, along with his book called “Life on the Mississippi”. Twain makes it seem like the America Huck lives in is like a grand story, as Huck strives go gain freedom and independence in his world. Huck is used to characterize

Huck is used to show both the essentially nonexistent romantic side of America and the harder life of it’s citizens. Huck’s abusive dad shows the difficult side of life that is often not talked about. Twain displays the hypocrisies of America through the actions of these characters, like the Widow. She personally uses snuff, but will get onto Huck for smoking and tells him he is not allowed to do those things. This represents the pressures of society to not smoke, but at the same time other things are allowed, such as slavery or Huck’s abusive father. Twain contrasts Huck and Jim, a white boy and a black man, to let the reader see into the world of slavery, so that the the reader may be able to understand it better. While Huck was not a slave, he felt that he could not escape the Widow. Later in the novel, Huck is literally confined by his father. This captivity and his urge to gain freedom is very similar to Jim. Jim obviously wants to be free from his owners. Through this relationship, Twain displays how hypocritical America is for condoning slavery. It is strange that a country that is founded and based off freedom and personal rights can allow such a thing. Twain uses the characters in Huckleberry Finn to mock America, and to critique the societal values it

He laments the Civil War and the deaths that followed. He also condemns the practice of slavery, declaring himself a Free-Soiler. He questions the ideas that society thrusts upon the individual. In “Song of Myself”, he says, “I wear my hat as I please indoors or out. Why should I pray? Why should I venerate and be ceremonious?” (Norton page 37 lines 398-399). Here Whitman opposes small social norms like when it’s acceptable to wear a hat inside, as well as larger, broader societal concerns, like religion. Whitman, like Twain, appreciates the America’s lands, shown in “Song for Myself.” He wonders about how far the land goes, and what resides in it. His thoughts on the American wilderness are mystique and spiritual. Whitman discusses America’s urban atmospheres much more than Twain. He stylizes cities as hubs of culture and business, but also laments the violence and dirtiness that comes with them. Whitman views America as great because of the individuals that make up the