Two Views Of The Mississippi By Mark Twain Analysis

On pages 100-102 of The Pocket Reader, there is short essay titled, “Two Views of the Mississippi” penned by one of the best and most effective authors, to date. Samuel Clemens was better known as, Mark Twain, the author of the short essay, is not only the best to date but the best from within The Pocket Reader. Twain’s portrayal of the Mighty Mississippi River as seen through the same eyes, but with a vastly different maturity level. In the “Two Views of the Mississippi” Twain’s description of the river is drawn from his experience on a riverboat. His pen name,”’Mark Twain’ (meaning "’Mark number two’") was a Mississippi River term: the second mark on the line that measured depth signified two fathoms, or twelve feet—safe depth for the

His words are flooded with the experience, beautiful imagery, and comparisons to give the story more depth. Twain’s love of the river seen through his innocent eyes transformed as he grew into maturity and saw her as her true self. The Mississippi is untamable, and he had grown to share a life with her with unconditional love. In turn, Twain realized the river taught him maturity, and he realized how he had changed. Mark Twain in “Two views of the Mississippi” did not want to lose his love; he grew from rose-colored glasses to harsh clear lenses. The harsh lenses came with a slight resentment. Twain wrote, this work, with an entertaining quality; not for laughter but reflection. It is this reflection which takes a reader into his life, his eyes, and makes them reflect on their own lives. “Two Views of the Mississippi” show just how people’s attitudes change, usually without the realization as it is happening; a person grows mature. Mark Twain provides imagery beyond imagination to speak of the beauty with regards to the river. Twain also describes the depth of his feelings, from being in love or from maturity, “I stood like one bewitched. I drank it in, in a speechless rapture” (Twain 101). Mark Twain touched all his readers,