Mark Twain once said: “What is the chief end of man? - to get rich. In what way? - dishonestly if we can; honestly if we must. Who is God, the one only and true? Money is God. Gold and
greenbacks and stock – father, son and the ghost of same – three persons in one; these are the true and only God, mighty and supreme; and William Tweed is his prophet”1 Mark Twain is a man of honesty and pride who cares about the others and tries to battle corruption and greed and doesn't fear the rich and criticizes and attacks them in every possible way. This essay is going to be about Mark Twain and his political outlook in the time of the Gilded Age connected with his standpoint in
society.
How does he proceed in his battle against corruption, greed and dishonesty? Is he an active or passive man in connection with political matters? Is he a Republican or a Democrat or neither one of both? Is Mark Twain a man of the middle class or the upper class? Who are his enemies and victims? How does he present himself in society? All these questions are going to be answered in this essay.
To give a short overview and certain kind of basic knowledge of the time we are talking about and to understand Mark Twain's mindset and standpoint, this essay includes a short summary of the Gilded Age with its problems and typical characteristics. After that, we move on to the basic questions of the essay. We try to find out, if Mark Twain is a man of middle or upper class and how he deals with the topics he feels disgust against. We take a look into his political action, the way he handles topics like corruption and dishonesty in his literary writings and his battle against Tammany Hall. At the end of this essay we conclude the topics and try to sum up how far or whether the questions are answered.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- The Gilded Age
- Mark Twain's political outlook during the Gilded Age
- Mark Twain's position in the American social class
- Mark Twain's critic on politics and society in his literary writings
- Mark Twain's actions in politics
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This essay examines Mark Twain's political outlook during the Gilded Age and his stance on social and political injustices. It aims to analyze his position within the American social class, his critical approach to politics and society in his literary works, and his involvement in political activities. The essay seeks to answer questions regarding his methods in battling corruption and greed, his political affiliation, his social standing, and his presentation of himself in society. The key themes explored in the essay include:- Mark Twain's social class and its influence on his political views
- The impact of the Gilded Age on American society and Mark Twain's critique of its problems
- Mark Twain's literary works as a means of social commentary and political critique
- Mark Twain's active participation in political movements and his stance against political corruption
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This chapter introduces Mark Twain's political perspective and outlines the essay's key questions and objectives. It highlights his outspokenness against corruption and greed and establishes the historical context of the Gilded Age.
- The Gilded Age: This chapter provides a brief overview of the Gilded Age, highlighting its characteristics, including rapid industrialization, urbanization, and immigration. It emphasizes the period's significant economic disparities and widespread political corruption, exemplified by the Tammany Hall political machine.
- Mark Twain's political outlook during the Gilded Age: This chapter explores Mark Twain's social class and its influence on his political views. It examines his critique of the upper class and his aspirations for wealth. The chapter also analyzes his methods of social and political commentary in his literary works and his active participation in political movements.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This essay explores the political and social context of the Gilded Age, focusing on themes of corruption, greed, social class, and political activism. The key terms and concepts discussed include: Mark Twain, the Gilded Age, social class, politics, corruption, Tammany Hall, literary writings, political activism, and social commentary. The essay also touches upon the concepts of liberalism and conservatism in the context of the 19th century.- Quote paper
- Rafael Bokun (Author), 2013, Mark Twain & The Gilded Age. His Political Attitude and Battle against Social and Political Injustices, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/215874
