Mark Twain’s Childhood and Early Years
American novelist, humorist and essayist Mark Twain was born Samuel Clemens in 1835 in Florida, Missouri. His childhood home is now preserved, and it vividly reflects the 19th century lifestyle of a small, rural American town. During his early years, Twain’s family moved from Florida Missouri to the nearby town of Hannibal in 1839. This small town on the bank of the Mississippi River, would become the inspiration for many of his novels, most notably The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
Hannibal is set in between beautiful limestone bluffs and the sparkling Mississippi River. It was a vibrant, bustling place in the 19th century and was a hub for people of all backgrounds and lifestyles. The community was largely populated by poor immigrants and slaves who had escaped the east. Twain noted the period of his childhood as a time of “innocence and adventure” in his autobiography, explaining that he had a combination of inhibitions, curiosity and bravery.
The influences of his childhood are visible in his novels, including the mix of wealthy and poor, educated and uneducated, strict and friendly characters. The works of Twain also portrayed the distinct social classes within the town. His novels capture the bustling atmosphere of the town and the freedom of exploration available within the confines of the small community.
Twain had an inquisitive nature and often roamed among the streets and alleys of Hannibal. His adventures often brought out his mischievous nature. He delighted in visiting the town’s jails, undertaking daring treks to hidden places and even chasing after wild animals through forbidden areas. He also took a liking to the public stages used to perform plays and enjoyed participating in the small-town festivals and celebrations.
He was also an industrious student, able to learn multiple languages, master the art of sailing, and perfect his writing. Twain was an ambitious person and often noted the people of Hannibal praising him for it. His determination and self-teaching abilities gave him an edge in the post-civil war days and allowed him to propel on to become a renowned writer.
Twain is often remembered for his wit, humour and fearless nature. He fondly remembers his Hannibal home in many of his works, portraying the foundation of his character in the early days of his childhood.
Hannibal’s Impact on Twain’s Writings
The imprint left by Twain’s beloved childhood home strongly pervades in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, both being set in the fictional town of St. Petersburg, a place modelled after Hannibal. He portrays the town as any typical small American town of the 19th century, including its inhabitants, geography, morals and its regional dialect.
Twain demonstrates the life of a typical 19th century mid-west town in both novels, from its infrastructure and its isolation from the rest of the world, to its protected and secretive nature. He also captures the atmosphere of the Mississippi River, by mixing science and romance in his works. He emphasises the abundance of land and the feeling of freedom available to its citizens, similar to the one he felt as a child in Hannibal.
Several of the customs that were prominent during Twain’s childhood remain in Hannibal today, such as the town’s looming presence of the Church on the Hill, the Hannibal Library association, public dancing, and musical singing. His love of the river survives in Hannibal today via the Harbor house, an institute dedicated to documenting and preserving his writings, a thriving riverboat industry, and the towns annual River festival.
The majority of characters in Twain’s novels mirror acquaintances he made along the banks of the Mississippi while living in Hannibal, including his cousin Ben and neighbor Tom Blankenship. He captures their mannerisms, dialects and everyday lives, creating characters that feel as if they live and breathe within the confines of the books. Twain was fond of capturing the quirkiness of everyday life in the Midwest, a world away from his East Coast upbringing.
Many of the locations in these novels are real places throughout Hannibal and are still visitable today. Twain writes, “the summer had gone by and autumn was heavy on the country, bringing with it a dreary atmosphere, ” placing the adventure of Tom Sawyer in the same landscape he left behind as a child. His works are an eloquent reminder of small town life in the 19th century.
Twain’s Legacy in Hannibal
The impact of Twain’s childhood and writings in the small town of Hannibal remain to this day. Tourists, scholars, and writers all make the pilgrimage to his childhood home, in search of their own small town adventures. Many view this location as a shrine to the writer, recognising the life-changing experiences that shaped his work.
The town has identified itself as the childhood home of one of Americas most renowned authors by erecting statues, museums and other landmarks honouring his memory. There are also two annual events that commemorate his legacy, including a summer festival and a spring writer’s festival. This small city of just 18,000 citizens, is becoming a mecca of Twain’s admirers and has cemented itself in the tourism map.
These tributes allow us to honour the life and works of one of America’s most renowned authors, one who was forever shaped and influenced by the people, places, and emotions that were encountered during his childhood days in Hannibal.
Twain’s Later Years
As Twain grew older, he became increasingly discontented with his boundless and risky life in Hannibal. In 1854, he left Hannibal by steamboat, beginning a career as a riverboat pilot and spending the majority of his life travelling before later settling in Connecticut in the 1870s.
Twain’s post-Hannibal years have been found to have been nearly as influential on his character and writing style as his early years. As he gained international notoriety, his experiences changed his worldview and helped shape his cautious, but social outlook.
Failure followed him at various times over the course of his lifetime and he fell victim to financial as well as emotional instability. He also experienced big successes, including being the first American to be awarded an honorary degree from Oxford University.
Clemens spent his last years depressed, due to the death of his two daughters and ill-health. He died of a heart attack in 1910 aged 74, leaving behind the legacy of Twain’s adventures, but never forgetting his beloved hometown of Hannibal.
Assessing Twain’s Literature
Despite despairing of his popular American image later in life, Twain’s influence on literature is vast. He is widely thought of as being the father of American literature, being the first real voice for the American experience and setting a strong precedent of American satire. Additionally, he was an enigmatic competitor in the fields of popular culture, defending the rights of writers and lending a voice against political authoritarianism.
The works of Twain often leave the reader with a lasting impression of endurance and perseverance. His writing style allows us to experience the adventure and spirit of life on the Mississippi. He advocated truth though his writing and employed humour and irony to give an incisive analysis of human behaviour and the injustice of social norms at the time.
Twain’s works have brought endless entertainment and insight throughout the years. In these, he manages to transport the reader back in time, to Hannibal, Missouri and allows us to experience life as Mark Twain did as a child.
Twain’s Prose and Style
The effectiveness of Twain’s writing is deeply rooted in his crisp, straightforward prose and his knack for blending seriousness with humour. By limiting his dialogue to the accent and grammar of the people of the region, Twain effectively captures the spirit of the South and provides a unique insight into characters and their stories.
Twain’s writing was also unique in its focus on action and physical movement. Characters were often on the move, searching for and seeking out adventures, which made his works exciting and fresh. He also highlighted the relationship between humanity and the environment, showing readers how to interact with the unknown by taking knowledge from every part of life in order to explore and find a greater understanding of the world.
Twain’s works, though humorous, offer a deep moral core and oftentimes contain his own philosophical views and life lessons that have passed on from generation to generation. Despite the tragedies he encountered, his works remain present in our lives and offer insight into both the human condition and social structure. Twain masterfully uses humour to challenge both himself and his readers to rise over adversity.
Conclusion
Mark Twain’s childhood home in Hannibal, Missouri is a vivid reminder of his wit, intelligence and ambition. His works are still iconic today, and his writing continues to be appreciated by generations of readers. The small-town life inspired Twain’s work and his experiences inspired his outlook on life. His experiences of growing up in Hannibal shaped him into the renowned author he has become.
