Analyzing Mark Twain's Essay 'The Damned Human Race'
Poteete 1
Jeffrey Poteete
Penny Freeland
English 102
17 March 2015
Critical analysis essay of The Damned Human Race by Mark Twain
Mark Twain 's satirical essay, “The Damned Human Race”(Twain, M.) Twain spins a rather
bizarre discussion about man 's useless moral sense, or compass. He points out, rather rudely that we
humans are the only species who own a moral compass, yet refuse to use it in a morally decisive way.
He further rants on about some sort of comparison between us and a dog. Twain 's abrasive sensibility
notwithstanding, he is rather successful with his take; one that points to the core of moral sense and
asks the reader to point that finger at it 's on self.
The attempt at presenting himself as a …show more content…
credible scientist is quickly diffused as the story unfolds.
The reader has by then acknowledged the author 's non too dry attempt at adjusting all of the
metaphorical angles.
He lumps all of society into their typical stereotypes and that they all lack the
wherewithal to be a functional part of its peers. Some of his analogies are spot on and truly are
indicative of human behavior. Those certain truths behind each one showed enough logic to raise a
reasonable doubt to the reader.
Twain 's Astaire-like approach at dancing around the reader 's intellect is an emotional
roller coaster. He seems to use the world as a stage and the people in it are merely puppets on his
workbench in line to be the next to see the world through his eyes. He sets the tone with the story of the
monks, appealing to the emotional epicenter of the reader. That is always an advisable tactic that will
leave an indelible mark and does in this story.
Mark Twain wrote this story in a depressing unfair way in that he hooked the reader and forced
them to think about the meaning of the piece. He kept the audience feeling low throughout in order to Poteete 2
keep them focused. They were also kept to realize any misgivings of their own. Twain offered no
solutions to the many problems of his peers, just to take a good hard look at themselves. He turned
the
entire story around by not stating the claim of his thesis statement either in its entirety. That was his
satirical mark. It was the point where he got the readers focus and kept it. He kept it light until the very
right moment when he wanted to toss in the pain element.
All the while, Twain pokes and prods at his audience until they start to side with him. He uses
himself as the bad guy in order to get questions raised that he has valuable analysis on. He is very
effective in his master plan. Twain 's flair for the farce, satirical spoofing and emotional expulsion at the
expense of his audience proves he has still got it.
Poteete 3
Work Cited
Twain, Mark. “The Damned Human Race.” Moodyap.pbworks.com. nd. Web. Dec. 2014
Jeffrey Poteete
Penny Freeland
English 102
17 March 2015
Critical analysis essay of The Damned Human Race by Mark Twain
Mark Twain 's satirical essay, “The Damned Human Race”(Twain, M.) Twain spins a rather
bizarre discussion about man 's useless moral sense, or compass. He points out, rather rudely that we
humans are the only species who own a moral compass, yet refuse to use it in a morally decisive way.
He further rants on about some sort of comparison between us and a dog. Twain 's abrasive sensibility
notwithstanding, he is rather successful with his take; one that points to the core of moral sense and
asks the reader to point that finger at it 's on self.
The attempt at presenting himself as a …show more content…
credible scientist is quickly diffused as the story unfolds.
The reader has by then acknowledged the author 's non too dry attempt at adjusting all of the
metaphorical angles.
He lumps all of society into their typical stereotypes and that they all lack the
wherewithal to be a functional part of its peers. Some of his analogies are spot on and truly are
indicative of human behavior. Those certain truths behind each one showed enough logic to raise a
reasonable doubt to the reader.
Twain 's Astaire-like approach at dancing around the reader 's intellect is an emotional
roller coaster. He seems to use the world as a stage and the people in it are merely puppets on his
workbench in line to be the next to see the world through his eyes. He sets the tone with the story of the
monks, appealing to the emotional epicenter of the reader. That is always an advisable tactic that will
leave an indelible mark and does in this story.
Mark Twain wrote this story in a depressing unfair way in that he hooked the reader and forced
them to think about the meaning of the piece. He kept the audience feeling low throughout in order to Poteete 2
keep them focused. They were also kept to realize any misgivings of their own. Twain offered no
solutions to the many problems of his peers, just to take a good hard look at themselves. He turned
the
entire story around by not stating the claim of his thesis statement either in its entirety. That was his
satirical mark. It was the point where he got the readers focus and kept it. He kept it light until the very
right moment when he wanted to toss in the pain element.
All the while, Twain pokes and prods at his audience until they start to side with him. He uses
himself as the bad guy in order to get questions raised that he has valuable analysis on. He is very
effective in his master plan. Twain 's flair for the farce, satirical spoofing and emotional expulsion at the
expense of his audience proves he has still got it.
Poteete 3
Work Cited
Twain, Mark. “The Damned Human Race.” Moodyap.pbworks.com. nd. Web. Dec. 2014