Rhetorical Analysis

In the essay, Mark Twain is saying that humans are the lowest of animals. Instead of evolving from lower species, human have descended from higher ones. “In order to determine the difference between an anaconda and an earl (if any) I caused seven young calves to be turned into the anaconda’s cage. The grateful reptile immediately crushed one of them and swallowed it, then lay back satisfied. It showed no further interest in the calves, and no disposition to harm them… The fact stood proven that the difference between an earl and an anaconda is that the earl is cruel and the anaconda isn’t….” (Twain 2). This is one example Twain uses to explain to the reader one of the reasons why he believes man is the lowest of animals. This example tells

He points out how we participate in mass wars, and how we can knowingly be cruel to other species. I also think that he is trying to get across that all of the things we believe make us better actually make us worse. “The higher animals engage in individual fights, but never in organized masses. Man is the only animals that deal in that atrocity of atrocities, War… gathers his brethren about him and goes forth in cold blood and with calm pulse to exterminate his kind” (Twain 3). War, power, revenge, and money are just a few of the things mentioned by Twain that have led to humans being the lowest of the animals. I completely agree with the main idea of Twain’s essay. I also believe that humans are not the highest of the animals. How could the highest of the animals be so willing to kill and do wrong the way humans do? “The cat plays with the frightened mouse; but she has this excuse. She does not know that the mouse is suffering… she only scares the mouse, she does not hurt it; she doesn’t dig out its eyes, or tear off its skin, or drive splinters under its nails) man fashion; when she is done playing with it she makes a sudden meal of it and puts it out of its trouble” (Twain 3). I feel as though the highest animals would be generous and kind or at least be doing harm due to ignorance of what was truly going on, such as, the cat. I also believe Twain’s description of the cat is a perfect foil to the human race. The only point that brings up disagreement between Twain’s essay and I is the whole religious aspect. I feel that humans actually being able to come up with a concept so large and so much more powerful than themselves actually puts them ahead. I believe it shows the capability of thought in the human