Two Years Before The Mask Essay

Two Years Before the Mast Richard Henry Richard, Jr. narrated an episode in his life in his book, ‘Two Years Before the Mask’, which depicted the reality of the life of a common sea man. The book showed realistic descriptions of abuses undergone by his fellow sailors which made it an American Classic. The book is a nonfiction narrative that gives readers adventurers journey at sea with clear descriptions of the landscape and strong desires by the author to heal himself by spending his time with nature. As a successful author and lawyer, Richard used the popularity of this book to promote the rights of men who chose sea professions. Richard was born on August 1, 1815, in Cambridge, Massachusetts into a prominent colonial family of Anne Bradstreet descent. His Father, Richard Henry was a poet and a critic. After a series of dramatic school days, Richard enrolled to Harvard College in July 1831. In his freshmen year he was suspended for six months for supporting a student protest. Fatefully, on his third year at college he contacted severe measles that led to
John praised Richard for his rare gift of simplicity, straightforwardness and lucid utterance. “He is one of the few writers who are completely understandable...”(Bryce, 1987). He gives raw account of what happens in the sea to end those who are dreaming and have no knowledge or false fantasies by showing them the