Nature And Nurture In Mark Twain's Pudd Nhead Wilson

Mark Twain, well-known American author, ridicules the self destructive nature of greed upon man in his controversial novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry and Finn. Twain criticizes the society he lived in, noting the “superficiality and meaningless” lives of people. Mark Twain utilizes situational irony, farce, and exaggeration in order to compare two situations in the novel where characters illustrate upon themselves the negative effects of greed. Twain establishes a critical tone to bring attention to even modern day readers that greed will eventually result in punishments and consequences.

In “A Connecticut Yankee at King Arthur's Court”, Hank Morgan often compares the issues of slavery in Camelot to the issues of slavery in the American South. However, since Hank Morgan is a “Connecticut Yankee”, the images of Southern slavery, are directed from Mark Twain’s own personal viewpoint. A deeper analysis of slavery in, “A Connecticut Yankee at King Arthur’s Court”, gives us insight into Mark Twain’s personal stance in favor of anti-slavery, which helps clarify his purpose as a writer.

Pudd’nhead Wilson was a novel written by Mark Twain and published in 1894. In this story, a mother bound by slavery switches her son with her owner’s son so he does not have to go through what she has gone through. This story is not only that of a basic story line, but a story filled with symbolism. I believe that Mark Twain’s Pudd’nhead Wilson is a story of nature vs. nurture, betrayal, females and femininity, race, identity and courage.

In Grangerford episode The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain uses satire to attack the Grangerfords by exposing hypocrisy in their way of life. Twain does this to criticize the behavior of the slave-owning plantation families in the South. One of the best examples of this is the feud the Grangerfords have with the Shepherdson family. The Grangerfords are perceived as being of high social class, but by the end of the episode, Twain makes it apparent that they are awful people.

The phrase, ¨He comes from your side of the family” is used by many to explain why someone, a child maybe, has done something terrible or something that they should not have. To some, It is believed that genetics is the sole reason for a person's behavior, good or bad. This is called Nature. Others believe that it is the environment that influences a person's behavior, and the environment can be anything or anyone- society, a community, or a caretaker. This is called Nurture. The debate of Nurture vs Nature is an ongoing argument that has yet to be finally solved, but it is clear that Nurture is the most influential. Genetics, race, and biology does have somewhat of an impact on how a person deals with certain things, but it is the environment in which that person grew up in that determines whether the situation will even occur. For example, a person who has her mother’s negative attitude may deal with a conflict with someone else in a negative way, but a person who grew up in a positive environment in a society who looks down on unnecessary problems may have a less chance of getting into the conflict in the first place. In this Literary Analysis, first society’s

The black man on the back porch is afraid of the rattle snake because it is bad luck, or the innocent little slave is quick to believe everything one tells them at the drop of the hat. These are just some of the many racist stereotypes of the 1840s. A character named Jim is the star African American whom Twain bestoys the mission of being the stereotypical black man to prove a point. He along with his much more pallor companion Huck go on exciting adventures that unfold the events which expose the racist conduct of the time. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Twain saturates his novel with potent images of acute racism severe enough as to create a satirical mien that exposes the absurdity of prejudice.

“‘Tain’t no sin-white folks has done it! It ain't no sin, glory to goodness it ain't no sin! Dey’s done it-yes, en dey was de biggest quality in de whole billin’, too-kings!’” (Twain 15).

He wants all blacks to be enslaved and work on the fields. The core beliefs of the society within The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn serve to promote class segregation and racism. Slavery was established as a cornerstone of their culture during this time period. These quotes show how Mark Twain was influenced socially by the public and individual events in his life during the 1800s. Pap talks a great deal about how much he hates a country where a man can't have control over his son and a country where a black man has the right to vote and be

.Explanation that Includes Analysis of a Rhetorical Strategy or Strategies (must be 100 or more words of explanation)

Racism and Slavery are a hand in hand subject, without Slavery, Racism wouldn 't have been a broad topic. Although modern day slavery is nowhere to be found in America, Racism is still an existing matter. Racism against African Americans was a byproduct of permanent and inhumane enslavement of the black population. Although slavery was not only among Afro- Americans, it was also towards white slaves, and indentured servants who all received the same treatment, were punished equally and worked the same hours. The need to solve economic and social problems drove the Colonists to strip Afro-Americans down from their basic rights and such, which rose to naming all blacks, slaves.

Childhood and adolescence has a big impact on how someone will develop into a fully functioning adult. There are important implications for their future success. These implications are especially important if a traumatic event occurs, because this can have both immediate and lasting effects on a person’s social functioning in areas of moral development, peer play, and academic achievement. We have seen direct examples of how a person’s childhood directly influences how they will identify themselves in two works from class: “Felicia’s Journey” and Waterland.

This book proves that not everyone who grew up around racism was cruel, as Huck began to love Jim for who he is, despite the society he grew up in. An example of Huck maturing could come from chapter forty, "I knowed he was white inside, and I reckoned he'd say what he did say - so it was all right, now, and I told Tom I was agoing for a doctor." (Twain 301). This quote clearly shows that Huck is maturing, and seeing past the color of Jim's skin. The book shows us how hard it was to grow up in a racist society and not be racist. Twain's writing cuts deep into the heart of racism, and shows us that it does not matter what we look like on the outside, it only matters what we have on the

Tom grows from a spoiled kid to a dishonest and lazy adult. Tom's greedy education is the reason why he is flawed. From a young age he got everything that he wanted and a sense of power is born within him. When he becomes an adult the idea of working or making an honest living seems below him. Instead, he feels he has the right to just to take whatever he wants. Even though Tom was raised as a spoiled little kid his character and bad nature would not have changed if he grew up as a slave instead. Someone’s personality doesn’t change so much just because they were raised in a different family. That’s why if Tom was growing up as a slave he would still be lazy and would have bad attitude. Tom doesn’t think the same way because after he is told the truth from Roxy he, “imagined that his character had undergone a pretty radical change. But that was because he did not know himself” (50), but that change did not last leading to the conclusion that he would not change just because of his family history. Chambers grew up as a slave even though he is one hundred percent white and has no business being owned as a slave. He is raised to respect whites and believes he is below them. Even when he is back into the house and recognized as the rightful son he does not feel comfortable around all of the white people because, “The real heir suddenly found himself rich and free, but in a most

Chambers grew up to be a strong, good fighter, "Chambers was strong beyond his years, and a good fighter; strong because he was coarsely fed and hard worked about the house, and a good fighter because Tom furnished him plenty of practice..." (42). The reason he became strong and a good fighter was because he was a slave and slaves had to work hard. Tom would also mess around with Chambers which made Chambers a good fighter. All of a sudden he found out that he wasn’t a slave; “The real heir suddenly found himself rich and free, but in a most embarrassing situation. He could neither read nor write, and his speech was the basest dialect of the Negro quarter... Money and fine clothes could not mend the defects or cover them up; they only made them the more glaring and more pathetic" (166). This means that since Chambers is actually a white person he acts like that of a slave. He cannot read or write or act like a white person. This shows that he was nurtured to becoming a slave because he thought he was black. This is almost irrefutable evidence that portrays Twain’s dismay against the idea that nature and genetics is what you become to be in

The author's depiction of man's descent from “higher animals” communicate a valid message as the author relates his ideas using experimentation and accurate past events. Mark Twain persuades the reader in utilizing reliable figures along with proven evidence and thus adding to the validity of his argument. Furthermore, as he points out that information in a visible form, with a clear intent of proving humanities downfall Twain gives multiple accounts of man's collapse from higher order through the use of scientific methods devised by him. As well as captivating an emotional response of the audience over the use of language choices and equitable claims. In fact, his assertion tempts the logic applying rational reasons. Twain extensively explored