Interpreting Twain

If I am being frank, my experience with Mark Twain stands with his satire alone. Long have I wanted to read “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” yet, every time I conduct a quick internet search, or propose a brief inquiry to someone who has read the work, I am almost always met with the same reply: something along the lines of, “it’s an overrated book that is merely a second-class work compared to Twain’s other stuff.” I, of course, do not hold an opinion on this, because I have not read the book, and that is because the assertions and advice of most others keep repelling me away from it.

But what experience I do have with Twain has proven to me that he is an exceptional author. His satire, for which he was the most widely known at his time, is quite cleverly-written. Contrary to Voltaire, whose “Candide” utilized a story-like structure, Twain’s satire is much closer to the satirical styles of the present day. There is the sarcastic way of speaking, the exaggerated statistics, the occasioned false praise of what is being criticized…

I will admit, though, Twain’s satires are not as timeless as those of Voltaire, which covered far broader themes. Yet, I would recommend anyone who has any interest in satire at all to read some of Twain’s satirical works. They are simply too good to pass up. Not only are they easy-reading, but they are simply humorous and very well written. “The Danger of Lying in Bed”, especially, I admire. Twain claims that, why should one purchase railroad insurance every time they travel? The chances of dying in a railroad incident are so incredibly slim, especially when compared to dying while asleep in bed. So, for logical reasons, one should purchase bed insurance!

And, as I have already mentioned, Twain’s style of satire is quite close to the manner which is commonly accepted today. Therefore, I would recommend that anyone seeking to venture into the literary world of satire read a few of Twain’s more notable pieces (I did, and I have been met with occasional success as a result). Styles of writing tend to change with time, but Twain: his satirical style still resembles much of that which is used today.

Perhaps someday I shall read “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” or “The Mysterious Stranger,” but, in my mind, Twain has been and will always be associated with the title of a master satirical mind. In a sense, while only a few people can create an entirely new world through the realms of fiction, even fewer can comment on the world that already exists in such a profound manner. Twain is easily one of those few.