Parents and Early Childhood
The life of Mark Twain, born Samuel Langhorne Clemens, began in Missouri in 1835. He was the son of John and Jane Clemens, parents of four children, born into an adventurous and humble family in the small town of Florida. Jane, a devout Presbyterian, was a stay-at-home mom, while John was a lawyer and justice of the peace. Despite his sporadic success as a lawyer, John found himself more frequently in debt, leading to several shifts in his career. John would often move his family to other towns and states, offering Mark an array of different experiences.
In his early childhood, Twain found solace in nature, spending his days playing outdoors, hunting and swimming in the river. He also enjoyed playing pranks, a part of his character which would later be attributed to his storytelling ability.
At the age of twelve, Mark experienced tragedy when his father passed away. This event marked a turning point in his life – in search for work and new beginnings, he took a job as a printer for his brother’s newspaper, The Hannibal Journal. It was here that Twain began to write stories and satire on the events he read. His writing skills matured with experience, and by the age of fifteen, he was writing articles for the newspaper.
Writing Career
With a newfound purpose and developing skill, Twain spent the next two decades as a writer of short stories, sketches and novels. He became masterful in his craft, crafting humorous and unique voices with each narrative. It was his short story, The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, that earned him national recognition and became an overnight sensation.
Twain’s popularity surged and he soon became known for his use of wit, satire and irreverent critiques of society. His novels, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, have become classics in American literature, as his writing was a gateway to a time now long past.
Though most well-known for his literature, Mark Twain also achieved success in other areas, such as public speaking and investing. His ability to engage audiences with a mix of wit, satire, and rhetoric was unparalleled. He used his writing skills to draft lectures and other forms of public speaking, which he exploited to help pay off his debt. Additionally, Twain’s prowess in intellectual finance was renowned, as he was able to turn a $500 investment into $500,000 in only two years.
Legacy
Mark Twain is internationally recognized as one of the greatest writers in American history, and his works are still widely read today. His writing touched on vast topics ranging from the struggles of slavery, the effects of racism, and the importance of morality. His critiques of society and moral commentary were unique, as they were able to reach both ends of the political and religious spectrum. In 2000, Time magazine listed Mark Twain as one of the 100 Most Important People of The 20th Century.
In truth, Twain was more than a writer; he was an activist, a speaker, a businessman, and an inspiration to millions. He was a man of many talents, whose wit, intellect, and charisma will reverberate through generations for years to come.
Controversies
Though Mark Twain is widely respected, from time to time his writing has caused controversy. Many argue that his works document, or even satirically poke fun at, the unsavory aspects of American history, such as racism, sexism, and colonialism. Despite criticism, Twain often spoke out in favor of equality and progress, utilizing humor to make difficult topics more accessible.
His book The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has been at the center of debates regarding these topics for years. While it is considered an important work of American literature and provides valuable insight, some people have found it to be racially insensitive. Twain acknowledged the problematic connotations of the book, retracting some of his earlier statements in an 1880 letter to a friend. Twain’s letters reveal he was aware of the changing cultural climate, so his story became more reflective of those changing views.
Influence on Society
Mark Twain’s impact can be felt throughout society. His writing has prompted readers to think more critically, sparking conversations about difficult topics. His sharp wit and clever wordplay has captivated readers of all generations, and his legacy will continue to shape and guide future generations.
Even today, Twain is being celebrated with books, movies, statues, and other forms of entertainment. His influence can be seen in popular culture and throughout academic circles, from study abroad programs to academic lectures and seminars. Twain’s influence will never be forgotten, as his works continue to inspire and educate generations to come.
Death and Legacy
Though his health declined in the last decade of his life, Mark Twain never stopped living up to his reputation as a great writer and a great man. On April 21st, 1910, Twain died of heart disease in his home in Connecticut. He was 74 years old.
In death Twain has become an even bigger phenomenon, his life and writings celebrated throughout the world. He left behind an impressive body of work that stands as an invaluable contribution to American literature, offering readers both an expert insight into the past and an entertaining look into the present.
Contemporaries
During Twain’s career, he was an active member of both the literary world and the intellectual community. As an author, lecturer, entrepreneur and celebrity, he was an inspirational figure who was admired by many of his peers. American novelist and short story writer Bret Harte praised Twain’s work as early as 1867. Charles Dudley Warner, a contemporary novelist and essayist was also a close friend of Twain. Together, Twain and Warner wrote a novel entitled The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today.
Twain was a pivotal influence on many of the modern day authors of his time. His freestyle manner of writing and openness to public criticism wasn’t common in 19th century American literature, but his work has endured for generations. Some of the authors who drew influence from his writing include Robert Louis Stevenson, Ernest Hemingway, and Charles Dickens who praised Twain’s writing style and ability to capture the pace of life in the American South.
Literary Genre
Most of Mark Twain’s work can be classified as Realism, a literary style that is concerned with the representation of reality as it is, without introducing any additional narrative elements. Unlike Romanticism, Realism focuses on everyday issues and is often used to express ethical and social criticism. Twain was known for writing stories with such realism, often enough infused with his own wit and humor.
Twain is also credited with being one of the first writers to introduce the use of vernacular in his works. His writing has become an example for using dialect as a form of expression, with stories from Huckleberry Finn becoming the textbook example for other writers.
Additionally, Twain was an active proponent of the Free Speech movement in the United States, often penning essays and stories in objection to the suppression of this ideal. His political critiques and commentary were often infused into fictional stories, allowing him to explore difficult topics in a more palatable manner.
References
Twain, M. (1883). Life on the Mississippi. Hartford: American Publishing Company.
Twain, M. (1959). The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County and Other Sketches. New York: Oxford University Press.
Graff, H. (2002). Mark Twain: A Short Introduction. New York University Press.
