Devouring works written by renowned authors; people tend to forget that the actual lives of the writers might have been even more exciting than the fiction that they have created. The personal journey of Samuel Clemens, globally known under the pen name of Mark Twain, is in every way just as fascinating as the stories that he told in his books. Representing his memoirs in “Life on Mississippi,” Twain incorporated descriptions that allowed for recreating the unique environment of the American south of the time. Thus, helping the reader plunge into the realm of a different era and experience the amazing events that transpired during Mark twain’s life.
Exploring “Life on Mississippi” of themes that Twain rendered in his memoir, one is likely to distill one of the developments of the American Identity as the core concept addressed throughout the entire book. While not constantly being placed at the center of attention, the idea of American culture and national identity experiencing their formative period is rendered rather clearly in the book. For instance, Twain mentions the following idea: “Now and then we had a hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates” (Twain). Representing a childish and naive idea of acquiring a sense of personal identity, the described perception of oneself and one’s place in the community renders the desperate search for belonging and the distressing failure to locate it (Twain). The described sentiment aligns with the importance of establishing and maintaining the concept of national identity, which is why the book’s main message is easily perceived and understood by all readers.
The unique perception of reality and the resulting ability to connect with the environment is another item of Twain’s narrative that allows capturing his idea of personal identity. For instance, Twain mentions the following: “Come back here, you couple of chicken-livered cowards, and I’ll thrash the two of ye!” (Twain). The specified emphasis on the perceptive aspects of one’s lived experience also constitutes a crucial part of the narrative, symbolizing one’s being tethered to one’s sensual and physical experiences (Twain). While also acknowledging the importance of intellectual connection, the described scene allows constructing of a unique American identity, shaping the readers’ perception of it as the narrative continues (Twain). The rambunctious, free-spirited, and rather pert nature of this identity becomes apparent alone of the lead characters utters the specified quote.
In some sense, the story that Twain narrates can be related to the Biblical one of Adam and Eve. Namely, similarly to the specified characters, the development of a completely new and fascinating American identity is observed by the central protagonist of Twain’s novel. In other words, Twain manages to encapsulate the genesis of American nature in his narrative by depicting interactions between the leading characters. Therefore, Twain succeeds remarkably at creating a narrative that allows for crystallizing the true American identity and representing it in its raw, uninhibited nature (Twain). Not flinching, portraying the weaknesses thereof while also detailing its strengths, Twain explores its nature profusely (Twain). Namely, Twain does so by considering the historical factors that have led to the development of the character traits and perceptions that constitute what the author defines as the essence of the American identity (Twain). Consequently, the portrayal of true Americanness turns out to be exceptionally honest and, therefore, extraordinarily likable.
Furthermore, the narrative is filled with symbolism to the brim, allowing the reader to construct a mental image of the Americanness that twain represents in the memoir. For instance, the most obvious metaphor that jumps out of the story and becomes immediately obvious, the comparison of Mississippi to the very body of the American nation, namely, the source from which it sprung, should be mentioned as the most poignant and memorable metaphor used throughout the novel. Connecting the idea of the true American identity to the concept of a powerful natural force, twain establishes the mood of the narrative and the quintessence of its interpretation of the American identity (Twain). Specifically, Twain states that “The man they called Ed said the muddy Mississippi water was wholesomer to drink than the clear water of the Ohio” (Twain). The specified comparison allows picturing the American nation as an all-powerful and ancient force that simultaneously represents essential values associated with family and related issues (Twain). As a result, the wholesome nature of the American identity becomes apparent by embracing the complexity and nuanced nature of the provided metaphor.
By including the descriptions that contributed to a complete understanding of the author’s intent and emotional experiences, Mark Twain made his “Life on Mississippi” instantly relatable, therefore, offering the reader an opportunity for an emotional connection with the narrative despite the time gap dividing the reader and the author. As a result, the book remains relatable and emotionally appealing to the reader. Incorporating a broad array of symbols, the narrative elements weave a unique tapestry of the author’s life.
Work Cited
Twain, Mark. Life on Mississippi. Gutenberg.org, 1883.