Why Is Mark Twain Controversial

Mark Twain: Controversial Folk Author
Imagine growing up in the segregated south, on the Mississippi River, and being able to adventure on the river and in the forests nearby. This adventurous childhood inspired Mark Twain’s childlike, yet still sophisticated, novels. Mark Twain was born in 1835 and grew up with his brother in a small southern town on the Mississippi River. He spent his childhood adventuring and playing around. Adventures on the river gave Twain the influence for writing his novels, which were controversial, but also great. Growing up on the Mississippi River inspired Mark Twain to compose his novels The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn that were criticized for poking fun at society which made
Mark Twain's dad died, so he had to move in with other close family. Twain’s dad died in 1847 which caused him to have to move in with his brother Orion who lived in the small town of Hannibal, Missouri which is located on the Mississippi River (“Mark Twain” 2-3). This caused Twain to have to make the best of this time by adventuring around the river. Jones writes, “But life was not all tragedy in Hannibal; in fact much of it was an idyll of youth that Clemens would replay through his fiction the rest of his life” (229). Twain’s youth life adventuring on the Mississippi River gave him inspiration for writing some of his best novels. Jones says, Twain played along the river and would construct rafts to float on. He would also explore in the forests around Hannibal and would find caves to explore. This influenced him to come up with characters in his later novels such as Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn (229). Adventuring on the river and in the forests inspired Twain to create some of the greatest modern American novels of all
These novels are considered by most as core texts in modern American literature. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer gives a look on the adventures during childhood while still being a serious adult book. The article “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” explains, the novel displays the life of an imaginative boy living in the American west of the 1840’s, who always finds a way to cause trouble. Some of the main characters who are depicted in this book are Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn, Aunt Polly, Injun Joe, Muff Potter, and Dr. Robinson. These characters play a vital role in developing Tom throughout the story. Tom and Huck are good buds and enjoy adventuring and playing outside. One day the boys go to the town cemetery and they see Muff Potter, Injun Joe, and Dr. Robinson. Dr. Robinson and Joe get in a fight and Muff ends up being knocked out. Joe the kills Dr. Robinson and blames his death on Muff. This scene hangs over the boy's head throughout the rest of the story. A few themes that were displayed throughout the story are everyone has their flaws and weaknesses, and even if someone's life seems perfect, they are still fighting their own battles (3-10). This novel introduced us to Huck Finn who would be introduced into a new novel which is considered to be a sequel to The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is considered as one of the most important works of