Twain vs. Thoreau on Society and Humanity Comparison Essay by Nicky
Twain vs. Thoreau on Society and Humanity
A comparative analysis of the ideas about society in Henry David Thoreau's "Resistance to Civil Government" and Mark Twain's "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn".
# 148715
| 877 words
| 0 sources
| 2011
| 
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Description:
The paper discusses how Mark Twain and Henry David Thoreau show a clear mistrust of society, but each had very different ideas on how to address this society. The paper goes on to show how Thoreau has at once a more pessimistic view of society and more faith in the ability of the independent individual, whereas Twain views society with somewhat more humor than Thoreau, but is far more cynical in his idea concerning the ability for society and humanity to truly change.
From the Paper:
"Thoreau displays an outright distrust for other people when he claims that the majority is not wise; though Twain definitely satirizes mob mentality and many of the prevailing majority viewpoints of his time, he also shows many kind and well-meaning people. Even while he deems society as a whole to be a foolish and even vicious entity, Twain seems to believe that people are basically good in a way that Thoreau does not suggest in his essay."Both authors show a clear mistrust of society, but Mark Twain and Henry David Thoreau had very different ideas on how to deal with this distrust, as evidenced by Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Thoreau's "Resistance to Civil Government." Twain's main character continually subverts society and the government, showing the hypocrisy inherent in the system without ever directly challenging it. Thoreau, on the other hand, directly confronts the hypocrisies of society and demands that they be redressed through direct revolutionary action. Ironically, this means Thoreau's is actually more hopeful--he believes that extreme action and constant vigilance could lead to true and lasting change. Twain's only solution is to shrug one's shoulders, smile, and leave society be."
Cite this Comparison Essay:
APA Format
Twain vs. Thoreau on Society and Humanity (2011, November 03)
Retrieved September 29, 2023, from https://www.academon.com/comparison-essay/twain-vs-thoreau-on-society-and-humanity-148715/
MLA Format
"Twain vs. Thoreau on Society and Humanity" 03 November 2011.
Web. 29 September. 2023. <https://www.academon.com/comparison-essay/twain-vs-thoreau-on-society-and-humanity-148715/>