Social and cultural aspects of American identity by Mark Twain

Introduction 

Mark Twain, an author, and publisher was branded as  "the father of  American literature " due to the writings and lectures that shaped the American literature and identity. Twain’s novels described the social and cultural lives of people from his time, and issues still presented in current society. Mark Twain’s work is largely attributed to shaping American literature and identity, through a description of cultural and social aspects reflected in his personal life and his fiction and non-fiction characters.    

Timeline 

Mark Twain was born on 30 th November, 1835, as  Samuel Langhorne Clemens in Florida. Twain was born sixth among his siblings by John Marshall and Jane Lampton Clemens. In 1839, Twain’s family relocated to Hannibal, Missouri, where he grew an admiration for the riverboat pilots aspiring to be one. John Marshall died in 1847, leaving Twain and his family into a financial problem, forcing him to work as a printer in 1851 at the age of fifteen. Twain decided to take a two-years apprenticeship to become a licensed river pilot in 1857, and that is when he included the phrase “mark twain” in his trade activities, referring to a safe river depth a boat could navigate. Later, Samuel adopted the phrase and used it as his pen name (Biography.com Editors, 2019). In June 1858, Twain lost his younger brother, Henry, in a steamboat explosion in Pennsylvania, leaving him devastated and feeling responsible for the death. 

In April 1861, the Civil War began, stopping trade, and Twain decided to volunteer as a Confederate soldier. The events during the Civil War are described mainly in Twain’s later literary work, showing the social and cultural life of people during and after this period. Twain later in 1862 decided to travel west, with his adventures escribed in “ Roughing It ” where his inspiration of writing grew with jobs such as being a reported for Daily Territorial Enterprise. On November 18 th , 1865, " Jumping Frog " was printed and it could appear in New York Saturday Press. The narration became recognized and raised Twain writer’s profile. Twain made the initial public lecture in 1866, it became popular, indicating that people loved his writing skills. In 1869, the initial work “ The Innocents Abroad ” was printed and became a success. The following year, 1870, Twain got married to Olivia Langdon, later became an editor of his work. Twain published “ The Gilded Age ” in 1873, a satirical novel describing American history. Other works were published after that, starting with “ The Adventures of Tom Sawyer ” in 1876, and “ Life on the Mississippi ” 1883. Twain created his publication firm,  Charles L. Webster & Co. in 1884, later destroying finances in his family. “ The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn ” was published in 1885 becoming the greatest fiction and non-fiction work Twain ever wrote. “ Connecticut Yankee ” was published in 1889 and the last novel “ Pudd'nhead Wilson ” in 1894  (Biography.com Editors, 2019) . Twain took a lecture around the world in 1895, and after his daughter passed on in 1898, he never recovered. Twain moved to New York City in 1904 to write his autobiography and later returned to Redding, Connecticut, and on April 10 th , 1910 he passed on at the age of 74 years.            

Social and Cultural Aspects of American Identity by Mark Twain 

Mark Twain will forever be recognized as the best American writer. Twain grew up in Hannibal, Missouri, where his literary inspirations began, working as a journalist for a local newspaper. Twain was fast in acquiring knowledge, and pen application pushed him into American literature. Past life acted as an inspiration in later Twain’s work. The childhood and adolescent age in Missouri prompted the writing of the legendary works, “ The Adventures of Tom Sawyer ” and “ The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn .” The two accounts were published initially in 1876 as the American Civil War was starting. It was a violent period, with the two stories describing the social and cultural lives of people during the war (Bird, 2019). Issues such as murder, social evils like drunkenness and accusing people wrongly are covered in the book. Other aspects such as joining the army during the war and how it affected social, economy and political landscape are described. 

Twain’s work in Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer are landmarks in American literature. The two books express the rugged aesthetic nature of the American Midwest. It is illustrated in the secretive caves, the mysteries concealed in the uninhibited houses, and American Midwest natural landscape after the Civil War. Therefore, Twain’s work can be defined as stories of place as they describe what happened in certain regions such as the Midwest. In his work, Twain has used nature sights, smell, and sounds descriptions of Missouri, showing his true expertise as an author. Twain's work can be described both written texts and concrete artifacts of the literary and cultural history of America (Lamb, 2019). Social observations are clear with illustrations of political injustices, especially after the Civil War.     

Twain is still regarded as an essential figure due to his accomplishments in the literary world. He is one of the greatest authors, humorists, and social critics that United States ever produced. Twain's mind, spirit, wisdom, and humor resonates with most people in the world. His life describes what ordinary people pass through. Twain’s life was tragic, and at young age, he had to work after his father’s death. He described the paradox American life, with a country that promoted liberty, yet slavery was highly practiced and that led to the creation of American identity, still existing to the present day. It portrays the American Dream concept which people still pursue to present day, but it is inaccessible. Through his literature, Twain explored and challenged the American identity and presented it in a satirical way. The issue that Twain illustrated in his work, such as access to education, racism, class barriers, and changing landscapes and others are shown in the current United States.     

Different people have recognized Twain's contribution to American literature. Ernest Hemingway, an American novelist, indicated that  “All modern American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called Huckleberry Finn. American writing comes from that. There was nothing before. There has been nothing as good since” (Moss, 2018). The literary work of Huck Finn has been a lesson to mold the youth socially and morally. The youth American have learnt right from wrong, and relevance of country and friendship, ideas borrowed from southern region of America in 19th century, as seen in Huckleberry Finn work: “Right is right, and wrong is wrong, and a body ain’t got no business doing wrong when he ain’t ignorant and knows better” (Lamb, 2019). Twain’s texts took the anti-slavery and anti-racism position, providing observation from a young white boy’s perspective, the protagonist. It illustrates the culture of slavery and anti-slavery efforts in the United States that led to the outbreak of the Civil War. It shows how the white people supported anti-slavery, especially in South America, while the black and some white American supported slavery abolishing. These differences are attributed to the outbreak of the Civil War and aftermath with people suffering from poor economy and isolation on race basis.     

Conclusion 

Mark Twain’s writing reflected American society in the past and present. Issues from the Civil War, slavery, racism, and other beliefs which shaped the American Identity are included in the novels. The literary work has influenced modern literature in the United States.  

References 

Biography.com Editors. (2019, September 10). Mark Twain. Retrieved October 28, 2019, from  https://www.biography.com/writer/mark-twain . 

Bird, J. (2019). Mark Twain.  American Literary Scholarship ,  2017 (1), 89-104. 

Lamb, R. P. (2019). Mark Twain's New Method of Cultural Critique: Authorial Double-Voiced Speech in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.  American Literary Realism ,  52 (1), 1-22. 

Moss, G. (2018, November 26). Why is Mark Twain Still So Important today? Retrieved October 28, 2019, from  https://www.ool.co.uk/blog/why-is-mark-twain-still-so-important-today/ .