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.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. The Gilded Age
- 3. Mark Twain's political outlook during the Gilded Age
- 3.1 Mark Twain's position in the American social class
- 3.2 Mark Twain's critic on politics and society in his literary writings
- 3.3 Mark Twain's actions in politics
- 4. Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This essay aims to examine Mark Twain's political views during the Gilded Age and his response to the social and political injustices of the era. It explores his social class position, his literary criticisms of politics and society, and his direct political actions. The essay also provides context by offering a brief overview of the Gilded Age itself.
- Mark Twain's social class and its influence on his political perspectives.
- The methods Twain employed to critique corruption and dishonesty in his writing.
- Twain's direct political engagement and activism.
- The relationship between Twain's personal experiences and his political views.
- The portrayal of the Gilded Age's social and political climate in Twain's work.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the essay by introducing Mark Twain's famous quote highlighting the prevailing ethos of greed and dishonesty during the Gilded Age. It establishes the central questions the essay will address, including Twain's political stance, social class, and methods of combating corruption. The chapter outlines the essay's structure, promising an overview of the Gilded Age followed by an analysis of Twain's political outlook, encompassing his literary criticism, political actions, and class position. The use of secondary literature, including works by Fishkin, Hutchinson, French, Putnam, and Covici Jr., is also mentioned, indicating the research foundation of the essay.
2. The Gilded Age: This chapter provides a concise overview of the Gilded Age (1870-1900) in the United States. It highlights the era's rapid transformation from a rural society to a modern, industrialized, and urban nation, characterized by immense economic growth, widespread immigration, and significant social and political issues, including greed, corruption, and growing inequality. The chapter discusses the dramatic population increase fueled by immigration, particularly from Europe, and the explosive growth of industry, driven by technological advancements and the expansion of railroads. The concentration of wealth in the hands of "robber barons" is noted, along with the stark contrast between the burgeoning wealth of industrialists and the widespread poverty experienced by the majority of the population. The chapter emphasizes the pervasive corruption in Gilded Age politics, exemplified by figures like William M. “Boss” Tweed and Tammany Hall, yet also acknowledges the concurrent rise of political movements and social organizations. The chapter serves as essential context for understanding Mark Twain's political outlook, establishing the social and political landscape against which his views and actions are evaluated.
3. Mark Twain's political outlook during the Gilded Age: This chapter delves into Mark Twain's political views and actions during the Gilded Age. It is broken down into sub-chapters, but this summary treats the chapter as a whole. It promises to explore Twain’s social class position, his literary criticism of politics and society, and his direct political actions. The chapter will likely analyze how Twain's social standing informed his critique of the Gilded Age's excesses and injustices. His literary works, which employed satire and social commentary to expose corruption, are likely examined. Moreover, the chapter would explore any evidence of Twain's direct involvement in political movements or actions. This chapter aims to paint a complete picture of Twain's political engagement, demonstrating how his writing and any direct actions reflect his opposition to the corrupt and inequitable systems of the Gilded Age.
Keywords
Mark Twain, Gilded Age, American Politics, Social Commentary, Corruption, Inequality, Social Class, Literary Criticism, Political Activism, Satire.
Frequently Asked Questions: Mark Twain's Political Outlook During the Gilded Age
What is the purpose of this text?
This text provides a comprehensive preview of an essay examining Mark Twain's political views during the Gilded Age in the United States. It includes the table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords. The preview aims to offer a structured and professional overview of the essay's content for academic use.
What topics are covered in the essay?
The essay explores Mark Twain's political views during the Gilded Age, focusing on his social class position, his literary criticisms of politics and society, and his direct political actions. It also provides a contextual overview of the Gilded Age itself, including its economic growth, social inequalities, and widespread corruption.
What are the key themes of the essay?
Key themes include Mark Twain's social class and its influence on his political perspectives; the methods Twain used to critique corruption and dishonesty in his writing; Twain's direct political engagement and activism; the relationship between Twain's personal experiences and his political views; and the portrayal of the Gilded Age's social and political climate in Twain's work.
What is included in the Table of Contents?
The table of contents includes an introduction, a chapter on the Gilded Age, a chapter focusing on Mark Twain's political outlook during the Gilded Age (further divided into sub-chapters on his social class, literary criticisms, and political actions), and a conclusion.
What does the chapter on the Gilded Age cover?
This chapter offers a concise overview of the Gilded Age (1870-1900), highlighting its rapid industrialization, urbanization, immigration, economic growth, and the social and political issues of the era, including greed, corruption, and inequality. It discusses the rise of industrialists, the stark contrast between wealth and poverty, and the prevalent political corruption.
What does the chapter on Mark Twain's political outlook cover?
This chapter analyzes Mark Twain's political views during the Gilded Age, examining his social class position, his literary use of satire and social commentary to expose corruption, and his direct political actions or involvement in political movements. It aims to connect his personal experiences to his political views and demonstrate how his writing and actions reflected his opposition to the corrupt and inequitable systems of the Gilded Age.
What are the chapter summaries?
The provided preview includes summaries for each chapter, outlining the content and scope of each section. The summaries highlight the key arguments and analyses presented in each chapter of the essay.
What keywords are associated with this essay?
Keywords include: Mark Twain, Gilded Age, American Politics, Social Commentary, Corruption, Inequality, Social Class, Literary Criticism, Political Activism, Satire.
What secondary sources are mentioned?
The introduction mentions using works by Fishkin, Hutchinson, French, Putnam, and Covici Jr. as a research foundation for the essay.
Who is the intended audience of this text?
This text preview is intended for academic use, supporting the analysis of themes in a structured and professional manner.
- 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
