The Early Years of Mark Twain
Mark Twain, the American writer and humorist, was born as Samuel Langhorne Clemens in 1835. He famously started working as a Mississippi river pilot in 1857 and his Mississippi river-themed works. His birth parents were John Marshall and Jane Lampton, who married in 1823. His father, a Tennessee blacksmith and land owner, passed away when Twain was just 11 years old.
Twain’s father, being the fourth of five children, married Jane, who at the time was 35 years old. His father had received very little formal education, yet he taught himself enough to get by on land transactions. His brothers and sisters would recall later in their lives the amazing stories their father would tell. He was also respected in their small town. By all accounts, he was an honest and hardworking man who did his best to provide for his family.
Twain enjoyed a quiet childhood, as it was typical in that time and place. He was often with his father outdoors, either exploring nature or visiting a neighbor. He enjoyed his father’s stories, of which he would later remember fondly. As he recalled, his mother often sang for the family in the evenings. Twain’s father, himself no stranger to creative expression, occasionally showed off his skills with a banjo or mandolin. He would also take trips with the young Twain to the nearby river to fish and enjoy the scenery.
The young Twain, unfortunately, only had his father for 11 years until his death in 1847. The cause of death is unconfirmed; some say he was a victim of malaria outbreak, while others claim he contracted pneumonia. No matter the cause, his death was an undoubted tragedy for the family. Left without a source of income and with six children, Twain’s mother worked hard to make ends meet. With his father gone, the young Twain had to grow up quickly, taking on more responsibility around the house.
Twain ultimately found success in his life, publishing some of the most beloved stories in American literature. However, it’s impossible to know just how different his life would have been had his father lived longer. Knowing the warmth, caring and support his father provided in his childhood could have had an soothing influence in Twain’s young adulthood seeking a career in literature.
The Significance of His Father’s Death
The death of his father had profound effects on young Twain, yet the full repercussions of this tragedy would only be fully noticed many years afterwards. The sudden death of the family’s breadwinner placed a large burden on his mother and his siblings. Twain, being the eldest at the time, had to take on more responsibilities than any eleven year old should. As a result, he was forced to mature quickly, leaving behind his childhood in order to take care of his family. Moreover, Twain’s father was known for his incredible stories, and his death meant that Twain was no longer exposed to those stories or his father’s wonderful presence. This likely robbed Twain of an important source of inspiration.
Twain’s father had been one of the few sources of stability in the Clemens household, which had been increasingly unstable in recent weeks leading up to his death. Shortly before his passing, Twain had seen his mother’s mental health deteriorate, leaving her unable to care for the children. Feeling powerless in the face of this crisis and witnessing his father’s death, Twain was increasingly resentful towards his mother. His relationship with her would suffer for years to come and this sacrifice of emotional energy would be something Twain could never get back.
Not having a father figure also meant that Twain had to learn things himself, something he was good at. Being naturally curious, Twain would continue to explore and learn as much as he could. However, it is possible that a father figure could have provided him with guidance and direction in his life, something that would have been especially beneficial to a young Twain who looked towards a career in literature.
Mark Twain’s Writing Career
Mark Twain began his professional writing career in 1861, a few years after his father’s death. His early works, such as The Innocents Abroad and Roughing It, focus mainly on his travel experiences. After a stint as a reporter for a local newspaper, Twain eventually found success with works like The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The impact of his father’s death can be seen in these works; Twain often paints a bleak picture of family life and its accompanying problems, allowing the reader to mourn for the lost father figures in these stories along with characters like Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.
In fact, Twain could be seen as a reflection of his own childhood – a young boy trying to make his way through a harsh world missing the guidance of a father figure. Even in his later writing, although it takes on a more comical tone, the theme of the absent father still lie in the back of the reader’s mind.
Although Twain never talked at length about his father or his death, the effect it had on his life appears clear. Had his father survived, it’s possible Twain would have had better guidance in his life. This could have led to a different kind of writing, one that was more uplifting and focused on light rather than dark topics. Ultimately, the death of Twain’s father set the stage for the themes we see in his works today.
Twain’s Legacy
Despite the losses and hardships that Twain faced, he was still able to find some semblance of success in his life. He never really had the chance to express the loss he felt from his father, instead channeling his sadness into the characters in his works. Unfortunately, Twain’s father never got to see the success that Twain would later find, however, his legacy and memory lives on through his writing to this day.
It is easy to see why his works still stand the test of time. In them, one can find an emotional legacy of an absent father, a reminder of the pain and sadness that Twain faced when his own father passed away. In a way, he was able to immortalize his father with his works, a gesture of love, appreciation and remembrance.
Twain’s Struggles After His Father’s Death
After the death of his father, Twain faced numerous struggles, some of which were caused by the death itself. The tragedy left him without a stable source of income and was therefore forced to seek employment as a newspaper reporter. This changed his life dramatically and caused him to move away from his hometown of Hannibal, Missouri.
Twain’s mother remarried a few years after the death of her husband and soon the family moved to Keokuk, Iowa. For Twain, this move was difficult to come to terms with and he soon began to resent his mother for remarrying. Undoubtedly, the trauma of his father’s death still lingered and made it hard for Twain to form any sort of connection with his new stepfather.
Twain’s professional pursuits were also hindered by the tragedy, as he often resorted to freelance writing to make ends meet. It was during this time that he decided to take on the pen name Mark Twain, a name that would soon become synonymous with literature. Despite the hardships of his life, Twain managed to write some of the most beloved stories in American literature, most of which are permeated by the memory of his father.
Conclusion
How old was Mark Twain when his dad died? The answer is 11. The death of his father had a profound effect on young Twain, robbing him of a possible source of guidance and support that could have been beneficial to his professional pursuits. Even though his father perished, Twain was able to take his memory and homage it in his works, thus creating a touching legacy of love and appreciation that is appreciated greatly to this day.
