Who Is Hank Morgan A Hero

After reading the story "A Connecticut Yankee and King Arthur's Court"(CYKAC), written by Mark Twain, one can see that Twain uses satire throughout the story to shed light on his opinion of social and political reforms. Twain takes Hank’s human nature and his higher political status and makes him the hero of the story, but Hank faces challenges throughout the story that change him and change the world around him in a negative manner. Even though Twain presents Hank Morgan as a hero, he feels that political and social reform may be hopeless. First, although Twain makes Hank the hero of the story, he is still just an ordinary human. Hank, just like any ordinary person, has his flaws and traits that allow him to be relatable to and also find unbearable.

This is stated by Mark Twain when he said, “Even though Hank Morgan is an advocate of progress, a man whose views, attitudes, and intentions are to be admired, his personal flaws — prudery, lack of insight, and desire for self-glory — cause him to become the 'evil invader' of the innocent and idyllic land of Camelot”(Twain). Keebaugh backs this argument with the statement, “ignorant of his own flaws”(Keebaugh). Everyone has their own set of traits that makes them different from others, but most people do not recognize their own flaws because that is basic human nature; to only notice the good aspects about themselves and not the bad ones. This shows that social and political reforms are hopeless because people cannot see their own flaws and accept them, they only want to accept their good characteristics. If they are unwilling to accept their wrongs and change them, they are not going to be able to change their society and aristocracy. Next, personal benefit and power ruin society. This is shown throughout the story when Hank disapproves of their politics until he is offered the title of

As time goes on he keeps adapting to the changes that were made but he continues to stray away from the man he once was, this is mentioned by Kanter when he states, “Each adaptation emphasizes a different aspect of the original”(Kanter). All of this high status and ranking is what makes these politics and societies fall because people use that status for their benefit and this is why reforms do not work and are hopeless. Lastly, ignorance plays a big role in social and political reforms. Throughout the story, one can see that Hank’s subjects never question his ideas or knowledge and they just do what they are told. But this lack of basic knowledge and questioning is what makes social and political reforms so hard to accomplish. Hank shows this trait of ignorance throughout his actions and dialogue in the story. He may have some knowledge of how to do certain things, but he does not have the basic knowledge that everyone