Conformity In Mark Twain's As Regards Patriotism

Yet, Twain remarks that this is not the sole detriment of this flaw as the state control on an individual’s religion not only cripples the very essence of self-governing citizenship but damages the cause in an even wider context. By crafting an identical religious identity for the entire mass, the state secretly infuses a false sense of security and sows the seeds of conformity within society. As Twain points out in “As Regards Patriotism,” “The Patriot did not know just how or when or where he got his opinions, neither did he care, so long as he was with what seemed the majority—which was the main thing, the safe thing, the comfortable thing (“Patriotism” 566).” The resultant comfort, conformity and patriotism that stems from state control consequently blurs the line between the personal and national identity of the individuals. As a result, an individual begins to perceive the two identities as one and, not realizing the significant difference between “shared” and “individual” identity, thus fails to recognize his own involvement in the creation of both. The deceptive and misleading nature of state control not only creates an illusion of the acceptable identity an individual

His writing reveals more depth about the mind and art of Twain than its clearly satirical, critical and anti-chauvinist theme it seems to indicate. Through the voice of his character, Twain echoes his own ideals and personality. This attack on the conformist attitude paints his desired utopia of a world in which he visualizes each individual with a unique identity driven by individual passions. Such distinctiveness can only emerge when each individual designs his or her own