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Analysis Of Mark Twain's Advice To Youth

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My mum had just pulled me out of school in haste only to bring me to my grandparents ' house. For what? I had no idea. But when my grandmother began talking, I got the picture of what was about to take place because it has happened more than I can enumerate. She went ahead to tell me that she received complaints from my mum about my behavior and that I do not listen to the corrections that my parents ask me to make with regards to my character. As I sat down listening to the "advice" that my grandparents had for me, I could not help but reminiscence. I thought about how many times I have heard phrases along the line of "always obey your parents," "respect your elders," "refrain from lying," "we are telling you this so that when you grow up, …show more content…

Many teenagers and adolescents now believe that you have to look, behave, and do other things in a certain way which has lead to mental illness in some extreme situations. In "Advice to Youth," the author, Mark Twain was asked to give his audience advice that is appropriate for youth (Twain 637). In his speech, he said to the young, "Always obey your parents, ... This is the best policy in the long run," (Twain 637). When I read Twain’s essay, it felt like I was there when he was giving the speech because of the voices of my family members ringing in my ears. He presents himself as an adult who is aware of the pressure that youth face from adults in the society. He satirized his speech to call awareness to the problem that youth …show more content…

Although the point of view is different, Mark Twain and I’s story shows the pressure that “society” puts on young people on how they act in comparison to the way they are supposed to. It provides room for some youths to become individuals that they are not which surfaces as a problem later in their life. It makes them drop the expectations of the society and rebel against who they have been crafted to be. Although Twain’s story does hold some truth to it, having a good and excellent character is a benefit for an individual, it gives them nothing to worry about and leaves their mind in peace. Sometimes the goal of many people might clash meaning they aspire to reach the same place. The fact that it does happen when people want to be the best they can be for their benefits does not make it a societal

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