A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court Research Paper Mark Twain’s A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court uncovers an opinionated social view of his literary framework, using comical symbolic relations between America and Europe. Hank Morgan crusades England’s sixth-century religious aristocracy government, as he exposes democracy sentiment and industrial moderation, foreshadowing international relations with the eighteenth and nineteenth historical centuries. With the involvement of war and social class, Morgan leads into a circumstance of survival. As Twain presents himself as the main character reading Hank’s manuscript, revealing the historic facts and predictions society faces in future circumstances; when the novel was published. …show more content…
As well as, relating his personal beliefs of imperialism within the protagonist Hank Morgan. The novel opens, in Morgan’s perspective, as the setting of the medieval hierarchy of King Author, his knights, and the peasants of the Camelot society. Hank distinguishes the civilians as “. . . plainly, too, they were a childlike and innocent lot; telling lies of the stateliest pattern with a most gentle and winning naiveté, and ready and willing to listen to anybody else's lie, and believe it, too” (Twain 19). Proclaiming the peasants of Camelot are treated as if they were nothing. They are poor unfortunate souls and have no suspension of the corrupt system of government that they are facing. Correspondingly, they are forbidden to have an opinion, as the outcome of consequences will have to be served. As Hank strives for the success in the Middle Age, the reader begins to comprehend the political perspective he has, after the eclipse event and the honoring of his nobility from the citizens of Camelot. Hank approaches the declaration, “I was no shadow of a king, I was the substance; “the king himself was the shadow, My power was colossal; and it was not a mere name . . . it was the genuine article” (Twain 77). Hank’s lack of self-entitlement supports his diplomatic outlook. Hank stating he does not need a noble name for his recognition. Showing the ancient society, the worthlessness of having the hierarchy name. Seemingly, Twain initially divulges England as of today, “. . . of monarchic government, exposing how it has inured the individuals living under it to ignore the terrible abuses that exist under its rule” (Kehlenbach). Observing how the ones who are under the rule of command, will never know any greater degree with the empowerment of relevance in dictation settled in the legislature of the nation, past and present. Twain ends his novel with his democracy equality aspects that a government should acquire. One biggest lesson Hank Morgan learns is, Unlimited power is the ideal thing when it is in safe hands. The despotism of heaven is the one absolutely perfect government, and earthly despotism would be the absolute perfect earthly government if the conditions were the same; namely the despot the perfectest individual of the human race, and his lease of life perpetual; but as a perishable, perfect man must die and leave his despotism in the hands of an imperfect successor, an earthly despotism is not merely a bad form of government, it is the worst form that is possible. (Twain 402) The debated lesson is to be said, it’s not who is making the power, who whose hands it is in. There isn’t a perfect regulating government system, but there is always room for improvement. Hank’s democratic opinion implies that one man cannot make an efficient politically, socially, and economically system himself. Hank proclaims any type of power given to a singular person, will end in destruction, and future nation worldwide will learn this lesson. Twain reflects religion, the Roman Catholic Church, has too much power in government, proving every political involvement of affairs has to do with a one’s spiritual belief. Hank blames the abusing of the Church’s political power has the results of the ministerial regulations of Camelot. We must have a religion — it goes without saying — but my idea is, to have it cut up into forty free sects, so that they will police each other, as had been the case in the United States in my time.
Concentration of power in a political machine is bad; and an Established Church is only a political machine; it was invented for that; it is nursed, cradled, preserved for that; it is an enemy to human liberty, and does no good which it could not better do in a split-up and scattered condition. That wasn’t law; it wasn’t gospel: it was only an opinion — my opinion, and I was only a man, one man: so it wasn’t worth any more than the pope’s — or any less, for that matter. (Twain …show more content…
176) Hank stresses that anything with power over divine right will never let the freemen, free.
Religion is acceptable and appropriate to have for a person’s guidance through life, but for the people of the church misusing the power is ghastly. Twain expresses a mockery in ancient Europe with the emphasizing of failure productions. Also, religion in the novel reflects universal complications with one’s belief. Proving that the errors of history parallel with conflicts around the world, resulting of constitutions of religious aspects. In addition, the authority of power contributes racism; which also has a huge involvement in the eighteenth and nineteenth century. Hank indicates “A master might kill his slave for nothing—for mere spite, malice, or to pass the time” (Twain 273). A slave life had no worth to itself. Likewise, in the eighteenth century, the civil war was fought over inequality and no civil rights for the slaves. Not to mention concentration camps for the innocent Jews, the dictator, Hitler despised. The impacting of the cooperation of both religion and racism in the novel is to emphasize on the ongoing difficulty throughout history and present day. “Twain’s return to the past is in part a strategy undertaken to attack the present's use of the past; the return to the past would therefore, seem to be an implicit critique of both ages” (Fulton ), Twain time traveling protagonist is experimenting a theme of history repeating or having simulations with
itself. Hank being an idealist and in favor of democracy, the belief in the improvement of technology would change society as a positive reinforcement. Hank recreates technological advantages such as telephone wires, gun powder, and education, to industrialize the nation. His goal is to be able to change one’s perspective on equality of social class and equal rights. Yet, with his contradictory judgments, he tends to prove that one man cannot change a system into an efficient one. There are limitations only technology can do. “All of the technological and social advances that Hank brought from the nineteenth century are destroyed, and English culture is reverted back to the primitive, enslaving mindset that it had when he arrived” “Connecticut.” / Twain reflects the technological advantages as the diction of violence and war. Between the Church and Hank, it is an endless war, what is now representing the Vietnam War. Mark Twain’s desire to attack United States imperialism had no hesitation to be outspoken. Twain was a strong disbeliever in the expanding of the Caribbean and the Pacific, during the eighteenth century. I was from Connecticut, whose Constitution declares "that all political power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority and instituted for their benefit; and that they have at all times an undeniable and indefeasible right to alter their form of government in such a manner as they may think expedient. (Twain 82). The expanding of territory in King Arthur’s order’s, infuriates Hank, in his disbelief of the King thinking he can do so. Mark Twain born a citizen of the United States, Twain believes and supports democracy. Twain proclaims how the United Stated is going against their will, and their actions have proved it. The United States strictly believes in divine rights but ceded Hawaii, Puerto Rico, The Philippines for military and naval bases in dictatorship form. Twain leaves off the opinion of Hank Morgan, much to himself, to his readers. “. . . humorously perceptive, undeceived by sham, successful in spite of circumstance because of distinctive personal characteristics” (Leary). In conclusion, Mark Twain’s novel, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, the novel portrays political views of one man’s intellectual ability, who desires to change society, as power and conflict can limit everything. The irony of the rule of government and technological predictions signifies the futuristic eighteenth and nineteenth century.
Over the course of history, power in the hands of new leaders and how new leaders deal with power have been deeply analyzed topics; however, as Abraham Lincoln once said, “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” In the idealistic novel A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain, the nature of power and rule directly reflects many of the ideas presented in the philosophical and non-fiction novel The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli. These two writings intertwine authoritative concepts including new leaders taking up residence in the new state, defending the weak, rising to supremacy through fear, and never avoiding war to delay controversy.
In Chapter 1 of A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain, the role of inequality is emphasized heavily. The quote on page 8, paragraph 2 shows this. The quote is “They and the women, as a rule, wore a coarse tow-linen robe that came well below the knee, and a rude sort of sandals, and many wore an iron collar. The small boys and girls were always naked; but nobody seemed to know it.” (Twain PG 8). The Yankee seems to be looking down on the people around him, thinking he is better than they are. The role of inequality is shown throughout the book.
Guttmann, Allen. “Mark Twain’s Connecticut Yankee: Affirmation of the Vernacular Tradition?” in Critics on Mark Twain, pp.103-107. Edited by David B. Kesterson. Coral Gables: University of Miami Press, 1973.
Mark Twain’s Conneticut Yankee in King Arthurs Court is a book about time travel. It was written 1989 which was before science as we now know it, which tells us that time travel is not possible because of paradoxes. This is still a good book that has many good things to say about America versus England, proving that the American way is superior.
King Arthur’s Britain, a vastly different Britain than we know today, is revealed through many timeless classics in literature. Two of these pieces of literature are Thomas Malory’s seriously toned Le Morte D’Arthur and Mark Twain’s satirical A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court. These works show distinctly different visions of the Arthurian legend. King Arthur’s Britain in Twains A Connecticut Yankee and Malory’s Morte D’Arthur may be compared through the unique portrayal of living conditions, chivalry, knightly adventures and the role of magic and mystery.
Whereas a reader in the 1880s might have overlooked the moral absurdity of giving a man custody of another man, however, the mirroring of this situation in the granting of rights to the immoral Pap over the lovable Huck forces the reader to think more closely about the meaning of slavery. In implicitly comparing the plight of slaves to the plight of Huck at the hands of Pap, Twain demonstrates how impossible it is for a society that owns slaves to be just, no matter how "civilized" that society believes and proclaims itself to be.
Twain developed from a writer who attempted to instill compassion in American’s less privileged classes. Near the end of his life he seemed to have given up on mankind after recognizing cyclical trends in history. During the last ten to fifteen years a melancholy Twain condemned, yet called for compassion, all of mankind, which he saw stuck in a terrible and unsolvable predicament. He realized that the white slave master was stuck in the system that the black slave was and that the Civil War created more problems then it solved. At the very end he wished for release. He called death "the gift that makes all other gifts mean and poor (Neider 375)." He resigned himself to the vision of a heaven full of unrecognized heroes and colored angels (McCullough 129-188). This is not the vision of a racist, but one of an eminent, open-minded, and remarkable human.
Throughout the many works of Mark Twain, Huckleberry Finn is one that can metaphorically serve as a time machine, in which as soon as one enters, one is quickly taken back to a time where social differences heavily marked history. Published in 1885. Addressing social defects, this novel sincerely illustrates the flaws of the 19th century. Mark Twain typically exemplifies issues through his writing and in this literary work, formally titled The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn; he criticizes the attitude of the Gilded Age. This American novel can be closely assessed through many different types of criticism, however, two that,
The prejudices on which the “civilized society” lie build those who are blind to the injustices occurring. The dark visages from which the societies hid are revealed through Huck’s persona and his interaction between the minor characters. Twain’s exposure to the dark side to even the moral- looking people reveals the theme of everyone wears a face and behind the front is a much darker side that most people do not want exposed.
Mark Twain’s novel, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court reveals the power of the unconscious self through the symbolism of an eclipse. The eclipse’s effects are prevalent throughout the journey of The Yankee and King Arthur when the true self is revealed. When put in the right situation, anyone will find their inherent greediness or arrogance as the dark side of their eclipse. The Yankee needs constant reaffirmation of power through “magic” stunts whereas King Arthur finds himself unaccepting to becoming a peasant despite the potential of losing his life.
Imagine waking up in the night in shining armor time era. Everyone you know and loved including yourself were not even thought of, more or less being born. In A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s court by Mark Twain Young gentleman named Hank Morgan got hit on the head and woke up to a knight asking who he was. After a while Hank remembers the dates of events and ends up tricking everyone to think he is he was wizard. King Arthur believes in Hank, though the Kings trusty sidekick that is also a magician, Merlin, doesn’t fall for hanks tricks. Hank is promoted to the prime minister, or the name he prefers “the boss”, and tries to civilize Camelot like his home was back in Connecticut. Mark twain addresses the 19th centuries issues of the churches being overpowered and the discrimination between higher and lower classes by using irony and satire to connect the events in the novel to 19th-century America.
“The ungentle laws and customs touched upon in this tale are historical, and the episodes which are used to illustrate them are also historical” (Twain, 6). In the Preface, of Mark Twain's piece, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, he states that the laws and customs were “ungentle” in the sixth century. In the story, Twain presents Hank Morgan, who gets hit in the head with a crowbar during a quarrel and wakes up in the sixth century in King Arthur's Court. Pretending to be a magician like the other so-called magician Merlin, he claims the title “The Boss” and also becomes the right hand man of King Arthur. Twain’s story centralizes around the laws and customs of the sixth century and how unfair they were using traits such as foolishness,
Samuel Langhorne Clemens, better known by the pseudonym Mark Twain, has been central to American literature for over a century. His seemingly effortless diction accurately exemplified America’s southern culture. From his early experiences in journalism to his most famous fictional works, Twain has remained relevant to American writing as well as pop culture. His iconic works are timeless and have given inspiration the youth of America for decades. He distanced himself from formal writing and became one of the most celebrated humorists. Mark Twain’s use of the common vernacular set him apart from authors of his era giving his readers a sense of familiarity and emotional connection to his characters and himself.
Throughout the story, science and technology are recurring elements that are often utilized by the Yankee for his own benefit and in whatever way he personally wants to use them. In Mark Twain’s novel, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, the Yankee’s use of science and technology shows that he is at times an arrogant and selfish character.
Freedom is what defines an individual, it bestows upon someone the power to act, speak, or think without externally imposed restraints. Therefore, enslavement may be defined as anything that impedes one’s ability to express their freedoms. However, complete uncompromised freedom is virtually impossible to achieve within a society due to the contrasting views of people. Within Mark Twain’s 1885 novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, numerous controversies are prevalent throughout the novel, primarily over the issue of racism and the general topic of enslavement. The characters in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn along with their development take an unmistakable, resilient stand against racism and by doing such in direct relation against the naturalized views of society. Twain’s characters, Jim and Huck are at the focal point of this controversy; they together are enslaved in two particularly different forms, nevertheless they both pursue their freedoms from their enslavements. The development of these characters and the growth of their interdependent relationship generate the structure of the anti-racism message within this novel. Twain’s introductory warning cautions the dangers of finding motives, morals, or plots in his novel, ironically proving the existence of each and encourages the reader to discover them. One of the undisputable major themes that extensively peculated my mind as I read the text regarded the subject of freedom and enslavement. Through Twain’s constant contrasting of freedom and enslavement such as its portrayal of slavery in the form of life on land compared to the freedom on the raft on the Mississippi Twain’s novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, suggests that people are subject to various ensl...