Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Mark Twains The Damned Human Race Essay examples - 699 Words

Mark Twains The Damned Human Race Within his essay of The Damned Human Race, author Mark Twain powerfully declares that the human race is both flawed and corrupt, and that people actually should be classified as lower animals rather than the formerly known higher animals. Twain does not hold claim to a Darwinian or creation standpoint, but rather draws conclusions from his own observations in performed experiments. He states that man is the cruel animal, and that we can attribute this to his moral character. However, there appears to be another side which contradicts his findings. Perhaps man is indeed the highest animal, but possesses something which other animals do not. Twain claims that his observations are†¦show more content†¦They show the utmost kindness for one another and the planet they live on. On the other hand, there are many species of animals that kill just because they can. Part of the reasoning behind this is that numerous animals have tendencies of aggressiveness. There is no reasoning behind it, but is clearly found in their innate and learned behaviors. And what of war? The author continually makes reference to man?s innate cruelty throughout the essay, and adds that war is just another example of this behavior. It is with war that man brutally slaughters one another for some minute matter of insignificance. Twain makes known that the animals in his experiment never fought with organization against another. This is ludicrous. First of all, there are many real-world examples of animals attacking other animals for a wide variety of motives. It could be that an animal has trespassed into another group?s territory, or has taken something that belonged to another party. But how, then, is this different from humans? Secondly, people show a love for peace much more than war. War is ugly, and anyone would side-step it as opposed to standing in its way. Individuals of this earth are a people wanting to get along, and live a life of harmony with one another. Twain ends his paper stating that the cause for man?s cruelty is that of the ?moral sense.? Man is the only animal that owns it, yet it is the primary cause for his degradation. ?Without it,? TwainShow MoreRelatedThe Damned Human Race By Mark Twain869 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"And so I find that we have descended and degenerated, from some far ancestor, insect by insect, animal by animal...below us, nothing† (Twain, 4). In Mark Twain’s, The Damned Human Race the purpose is to change the readers mind from the Darwinian theory that man is ascended from lower animals to his own theory that man is in fact a descended from higher animals. Although his argument is successful on some levels, it is weak on others. The diction of which he uses is informal, he uses stereotypesRead More Animal Rights, Human Wrongs vs. The Damned Human Race Essay544 Words   |  3 PagesAnimal Rights, Human Wrongs vs. The Damned Human Race â€Å"Animal Rights, Human Wrongs† by Tom Regan and â€Å"The Damned Human Race† by Mark Twain are more similar than different. Both of the authors are informing the readers about the mentality of some human beings in regard to animals. One of the authors, Tom Regan provides several examples of the tactics man uses to harm animals. Mark Twain’s method compares so called lower animal to the human being. In both stories, the way that man treats animals isRead MoreAnalyzing Twain ´s The Man that Corrupted Hadleyburg and The Mysterious Stranger1137 Words   |  5 Pagesvillagers to the truth whether good or bad. Mark Twain uses such a scenario in many of his works such as The Man that Corrupted Hadleyburg, and The Mysterious Stranger. In both stories are set in small towns whos residents are oblivious to their own moral hypocrisy. The sudden appearance of a stranger spreading a sort of knowledge, initiates a chain of events the leads to certain residents to self-evaluate their own character and that of the whole human race. Its is through these Mysterious StrangersRead MoreThe Damned Human Race by Mark Twain665 Words   |  3 Pages Mark Twain is arguably one of the greatest authors of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, writing unforgettable titles such as â€Å"Adventures of Huckleberry Finn† and â€Å"The Adventures of Tom Sawyer† which are still read by many today. However, it may be shocking for some to know he also endeavored in argumentative writing as well. â€Å"The Damned Human Race† is one such article. As with any Mark Twain writing, it is filled with emotion and thought. Although this article is extremely persuasive, dueRead MoreCritical Evaluation: Mark Twains The Damned Human Race Essay630 Words   |  3 PagesCritical Evaluation: Mark Twains The Damned Human Race At the turn of the 20th century, Mark Twain took on a mission to disprove Darwins theory that, through evolution; man has ascended from the lower animals. Mr. Twain believed that man actually de-evolved and are the lesser species - descending from the higher animals and spent many grueling months studying the subject. Whether this is a valid argument, seems to be one of opinion, as it is rumored that the author was struggling withRead MoreThe Damned Human Race By Mark Twain860 Words   |  4 PagesMark Twain, in one of his later works, describes human beings as the lowest of creatures in â€Å"The Damned Human Race.† As expected, somebody reading this article may be skeptical at first. However, Twain uses emotion to capture the reader’s attention and uses harsh words to influence the audience. He also appeals to his Human beings have always sought out to be the best, whether worldly or just personally. audience with personal experiences through his studies comparing animals to human beings. HeRead MoreThe Damned Human Race By Mark Twain849 Words   |  4 PagesIn Mark Twain’s essay â€Å"The Damned Human Race†, he assumes the role as a scientist, analyzing the differences between various species of animals and the human race. It is an essay, loaded with vicious irony that attempts to shine the light upon what Twain identifies as numerous faults within our species. Twain rejects the Theory of Evolution and human supremacy posed by Darwin, and argues that man is actually devolved from the animals as proven by man’s numerous vices. Despite the essay s dark satireRead MoreMark Twains Critiques Of Society In The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn1274 Words   |  6 Pages Mark Twain’s Critiques of Society In Mark Twain s satirical essay, â€Å"The Damned Human Race,† Twain critiques human beings by declaring that â€Å"The human race is a race of cowards; and I am not only marching in that procession but carryi ng a banner.† The motif of cowardice and the cruelty of humanity is also present in another one of Twain’s most famous works: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Throughout this novel, Twain passionately decries the immorality and corruption of society throughRead MoreMark Twains Belief that the Real Descent of Human Morality Essay676 Words   |  3 Pages Mark Twain theorizes that man is in fact the so called â€Å"lower animal† and has descended from a single atom to insect to animal from a long line of innocence. The lowest stage would be reached and would become known as the human being. Twain counter argues the popular theory of Darwinism which could be considered controversial. However, he conducted experiments using the scientific method to provide evidence to his claim: the principle of human morality, as disputed in â€Å"The Damned Human Race†, hasRead MoreMark Twain s The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn And The Adventures Of Tom Sawyer1226 Words   |  5 PagesMark Twain, American humorist and novelist, captured a world audience with stories of boyhood adventure and with commentary on man s shortcomings that is humorous even while it probes, often bitterly, the roots of human behavior. His writing, Shelley Fisher Fishkin who is one of the leading scholars on the work of Mark Twain in American culture and literature observes, involves an entreaty to rethink, reevaluate and reformulate the terms in which one defines both personal and national identity

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.