Mark Twain is a renowned author, journalist and humourist best known for his books The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Twain was born in Florida, Missouri and was a journalist before he became a celebrated author. Twain had a profound knowledge of human nature and his writings reflect his observations of society and the world in general. One of Twain’s works, A Helpless Situation, is an essay exploring the consequences of inaction and selfishness.
In this piece, Twain begins with a story of a rich man and a poor man admiring each other’s gold watches. The rich man is not interested in buying the poor man’s watch, and they part ways. The rich man makes a promise to the poor man that if ever he is in need, he can call on the rich man. Years pass, and the rich man discovers the poor one in dire straits. He calls on the rich man, and he is received coldly. The essay goes on to explore the implications of this selfish decision.
Twain uses a powerful metaphor to explain why rich people will not help others. He likens it to a “hogshead of vinegar standing with the bung-hole open and flowing out nothing”. According to Twain, once a wealthy person has gone through a process of indifference to those in need, it becomes very difficult for them to have the capacity to help others.
From this essay, it is clear that Twain believes in being humane and generous, instead of disregarding people who are suffering. He warns that once we become selfish and indifferent, it becomes increasingly difficult to genuinely extend a helping hand.
Twain argues that without offering charity, we are failing to live up to our duties as a human race. After all, arguably, one of the greatest duties of being human is to look after the less fortunate. Without charitable help, those in the grips of misfortune may fall even further.
Twain’s message rings true to this day – selflessness and kindness are traits to be appreciated, rather than shrugged off. With this in mind, this essay hopes to inspire readers to be kind and generous, especially when facing difficult circumstances.
A Cruel Denial of Freedom
A Helpless Situation by Mark Twain serves as a reminder of the importance of offering help to those in need. The story of the rich man and the poor man is a metaphor for a greater truth: in an unjust world, those who have power and resources have an obligation to help those who are oppressed and suffering.
This obligation is one of the most powerful lessons to be gleaned from Twain’s essay. He warns of the consequences of denying people their freedom, especially those without the ability to fight for it. He stresses that people should be aware of their power to help those in difficult and helpless situations.
In today’s world, poverty, racism and inequality are issues that still need to be addressed. Those who are in a position of power are able to offer help, whether through providing support, education or resources to people in vulnerable and disadvantaged situations.
In addition to responding to individual issues and instances of injustice, there is a need to address the underlying causes. This type of systemic and institutional change requires collective action and solidarity. This means tackling the roots causes of issues such as poverty, racism and oppression.
It is not enough to simply ‘give handouts’ to those who are suffering. Rather, there needs to be a shift in the way we think about justice and equality, and a commitment and willingness to empower those who have been denied their freedom and human rights.
A World of Inequities
The implications of Mark Twain’s A Helpless Situation are still highly relevant today, particularly in a world that is becoming increasingly unequal. This inequality manifests in all sorts of ways, from poverty and lack of access to education to racial and religious discrimination.
Statistics published by the World Bank in 2018 showed that the richest 1% owned over half of the world’s wealth, while the poorest 10% owned just 1% of it. This situation is largely the result of globalisation leading to an increase in the working-age population and a decrease in jobs.
This same population is being increasingly exploited, with people being pushed into low-paying and dangerous jobs without any security. This leads to economic insecurity, which in turn can lead to further exploitation and discrimination.
The increasing wealth gap between people has a powerful impact on the way people live their lives and the opportunities they have. Those who are fortunate enough to have money and resources are able to access better education, medical care and other benefits. Those who do not have access to these things are denied the opportunity to improve their lives and the lives of their families.
It is clear that the world’s current state of inequality is not fair or just, and this is an issue that needs to be addressed. The challenge is to ensure that those in power understand their responsibility to make the world a fairer place for everyone, regardless of their wealth or social class.
Conclusion
In his essay A Helpless Situation, Mark Twain reminds us of the obligations that people have to help those in need. He warns against the dangers of ignoring those who are in far worse situations than ourselves, and stresses the importance of taking action.
Today, inequality is a huge problem around the world, with the richest 1% owning half of the world’s wealth and the poorest 10% owning just 1%. This widening gap needs to be addressed, and it is up to those who have power and resources to use their privilege for good.
It is only through kindness, generosity and collective action that we can begin to make the world fairer and kinder for everyone. It is clear that Twain’s message still has relevance today, and his essay serves as an important reminder of the duty we have to make the world a better place.
