Mark Twain's letter to the man sitting in the dark.

Yes But it's called "to the person sitting in the dark"

Specifically, please take a patient look at the following passage: editor of European and American literature

Chapter II Realistic Literature in the 19th Century

Section 17 Mark Twain

Mark Twain (1835— 19 10) is an outstanding American novelist and one of the most important writers in the history of American literature. From the standpoint of democracy, he vividly described the colorful social picture and customs of the United States at the end of 19 with humorous and funny style. His later works satirize and expose the hypocrisy, racial discrimination and foreign aggression and expansion of American society.

He is the first writer in the history of American literature to write in pure American spoken language, creating a generation of writing style. Faulkner called him "the father of American literature".

I. Life and creation

Mark Twain, formerly known as Samuel Langhorn Clemens, was born in Florida, Missouri on June 1960. His father, John Clemens, is a local judge with a small income and a heavy family burden. Mark Twain had to do a lot of housework at school to reduce the burden on his family. /kloc-When he was 0/2 years old, his father died, so he had to drop out of school and began to go out to make a living independently. From 1853 to 186 1, he worked as a printer apprentice, newsboy, compositor, sailor and ship driver. Rich life experiences, especially the life of a sailor on the Mississippi River, had a great influence on his later creation. Many of his excellent works are based on his childhood life experiences and the customs of the Mississippi River. His pen name "Mark Twain" comes from his jargon when he was a sailor on the Mississippi River, which means "the water depth is two *9", that is, the water depth 12 feet, and the ship can pass safely. 186 1 year, the American civil war broke out and the shipping of the Mississippi River was depressed. Mark Twain came to the western United States with the gold rush at that time, trying to find a mine, but without success. After his dream of making money was shattered, he went to work in a newspaper and then came to Virginia City. He worked as a reporter in Career and San Francisco Morning Post, and began to write some communication reports and humorous sketches under the pseudonym of Mark Twain, gradually becoming a literary world.

Throughout Mark Twain's 50 years of creation, it can be roughly divided into three periods.

(1) Early creation (1867— 1870). When Mark Twain began to write, "humorous literature" swept the American literary world. Generally speaking, this humorous literature originated from western oral literature aims to entertain and enrich the cultural life of the lower classes. Mark Twain's works are different from this kind of humorous literature. He is full of associations and sometimes combines humor with irony. In the writer's own words, "We should not just laugh, but have higher ideals" and "I always teach". Mark Twain's famous Jumping Frog in Kara Velas County (1865) based on folklore is his famous work. These works reflect the flourishing life in the development of the western region.

Since the late 1960s, Mark Twain has strengthened the exposure and satire in his communication reports, satirical sketches and short stories. He satirized the poison of religious education to teenagers, such as the story of a bad boy and the story of a good boy (1870). Expose the intrigue and ignorance of the press, such as Tennessee Press (1869) and how I edit the agricultural newspaper (1870). Running for governor (1870) is a satirical sketch, which exposes that bourgeois politicians buy newspapers and use them as a tool for slander and extortion, and vilifies candidates of different parties as "notorious perjury criminals, thieves in Montana, corpse thieves, drunkards, dirty bribers and disgusting blackmailers". The author grasps the characteristics of American newspapers that ignore the facts and specialize in spreading rumors, which greatly exaggerates them. Therefore, although the length of this work is very short, it is spicy, humorous and ironic. This is a wonderful political cartoon of bourgeois democratic election. In these works, Mark Twain often pretends to be an ignorant and naive hero to achieve the expected comic effect.

The theme of opposing racial discrimination and exposing American false democracy is another important aspect of Mark Twain's works in this period. Goldsmith's Friends Go Abroad Again (1870) exposes the persecution of Chinese workers in the United States where everyone is equal. The work consists of several letters from Ai Songxi, a naive and honest China worker. Ai Songxi listened to the lie that America is a paradise, and everyone is equal and free, regardless of nationality, creed or color. He traveled across the ocean, not far from Wan Li, and came to the United States to seek happiness. However, as soon as he landed, he was punched and kicked by the police. "The luggage was confiscated." He was penniless, went out to look for a job and was arrested by the police. He had no money to bribe and had to go to jail. Ai Songxi realized what kind of "freedom" there is in "American Paradise"! Mark Twain witnessed the discrimination and abuse suffered by many workers in China in California, and expressed deep sympathy for the people of China. He talked many times about "China people are self-disciplined, hardworking and kind". This short story focuses on the theme of opposing the persecution of the people of China.

1869, Mark Twain published "A Fool Going Abroad", which is a communication report of the author's trip to European countries. The author plays an ignorant American and laughs at the feudal remnants and religious ignorance in Europe. He wrote in this work: "As long as a person has money, he is greatly respected. He can be a member of parliament, a governor, a general and a senator, no matter how stupid he is. " From Mark Twain's early works, we can see that this humorous writer, who seems relaxed, witty and imaginative, is actually a serious social critic. The humor contained in his humor and the extreme exaggeration he often uses are a means to expose reality, and at the same time they are full of life breath, which is deeply loved by readers. The reason why he often takes innocent people as the protagonists of his works is to reveal the contradiction between fantasy and reality. However, when Mark Twain laughed at the remnants of European feudalism, he showed the superiority of American democracy. He is still full of confidence in exposing the inequality and undemocratic phenomena in American society, which is reflected in his humorous characteristics, that is, he is light in ridicule, with an extremely exaggerated humorous image and an optimistic tone.

(2) Mid-term creation: The 1970s and 1990s were the mid-term creation of Mark Twain, and also the heyday of his creation. Most of his works in this period are novels.

Mark Twain's first novel The Gilded Age (1874) was co-written with Charles Dudley Warner. In the United States after the civil war, capitalism developed rapidly, but the superficial prosperity could not hide the internal corruption. The Gilded Age is a satire and criticism of this phenomenon. In the chapter written by Mark Twain, he mainly created two characters: Cyrus and Durworthy. Cyrus is an ordinary citizen who dreams of getting rich. Although there is only "cold water and a pot of raw radish" on the dinner table at home, he has never given up the illusion of getting rich, from making eye drops to building a big city in the wilderness. In his view, "the whole air is full of money." Mark Twain contrasted his poverty with his ridiculous fantasy, and created a typical image of an ordinary American citizen. His fantasy was to get rich by opportunism. Senator Dilworthy is a representative of American bureaucrats. He is a typical corrupt politician, praising the virtue of doing good while accepting bribes. Mark Twain's revelation shows that the 1970s of capitalist free competition was not a "golden age" but a "gilded age". Later historians used this name to summarize this history.

1876, Mark Twain published the famous children's thriller The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, which is one of Mark Twain's important novels and the companion of his masterpiece The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. This novel describes a small town before the American Civil War. Tom, the hero, is a naughty boy. He hates dull and rigid living environment and pursues legendary adventure life. He is lively by nature, good at telling lies, and can play endless practical jokes, but he is also honest, brave and kind. Through Tom's inadaptability to vulgar and conservative ordinary citizens, his dislike of boring reading education methods, and his mockery of hypocritical religious ceremonies and pastor's hypnotic sermons, the novel expresses the author's criticism and denial of American educational methods and moral life at that time. In addition, the author gives a vivid and interesting description of children's psychology, which is a new development of Mark Twain's creative characteristics. But at the end of the novel, Tom and Huck found a large number of gold coins hidden by robbers, which seems to cater to the taste of ordinary citizens who want to get rich and fall into the stereotype.

On the Mississippi River published by 1883 is Mark Twain's article Revisiting the Mississippi River. The author describes the natural scenery of the river with excellent lyrical style, and expresses the author's yearning for childhood and nature. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (also translated as The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn) published by 1884 is another children's thriller after The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and it is Mark Twain's best work. In addition, the important novel of this period is Fool Wilson (1893), which exposes the "white superiority theory" by changing packages and adheres to the ideal of racial equality.

From the standpoint of bourgeois democracy, exposing and criticizing feudal autocracy and the sins of the church is another theme of Mark Twain's novels. The Prince and the Poor Child (188 1) and the Connecticut American in King Arthur's Court (1889) are all about criticizing and satirizing the British monarchy and church. "The Prince and the Children of the Poor Family" makes the prince and the children of the poor family exchange their identities through dramatic plots, and makes the prince endure all kinds of hardships in people's lives under the autocratic monarchy. When poor children become kings, they can sympathize with the lower classes. This work exposes the cruel oppression of the working people by the British feudal system. Connecticut Americans in King Arthur's Court fantasize that Hank Morgan, an American blacksmith from the19th century, will return to life in Britain in the 6th century. In the novel, nobles, knights and church leaders are portrayed as ignorant, cruel and greedy characters. Hank Morgan tried to establish a democratic system through the industrial revolution, but failed. He planned an armed revolution, but failed because he didn't get the support of the masses. The author attacked the absolute monarchy in an absurd way. Some people think that this novel is the pioneer of contemporary American "black humor" novels.

The Man Who Corrupted Heidelberg (1900) is an excellent novella in this period. The pollution and evil caused by money to society is a major theme that Mark Twain often criticizes and mocks in his works. The famous short stories "One Million Pounds" and "30,000 Yuan Heritage" are also written around this theme. Those who corrupt Heidelberg have further exposed the ugliness of bourgeois hypocrisy in front of money. Fort hedley is a fictional town, and its residents call themselves "the most honest and noble town". But one day, a stranger sent a bag of gold coins, saying that it was for the benefactor who had helped him in the town, but left without specifying the name of the benefactor. The residents in the town have always been "recognized honest people", especially a dozen "honest people" in the upper class vying to be "benefactors", so various ugly dramas were staged. The author firmly grasps their inner contradiction of wanting to be bitches and building memorial archways, and exposes and satirizes the hypocrisy of American morality at that time. This novel is ingenious in conception, rigorous in structure and full of drama.

This period is the golden age of Mark Twain's creation, and it is also a period for him to deepen his thinking and exploration of American political system, lifestyle, thoughts and feelings on the basis of continuing to observe society. Sharp satire and ruthless exposure are the main characteristics of his works in this period. With the deepening of thought, the tone of Mark Twain's works changed from light humor to bitter irony. The humorous elements are reduced. In the works of this period, Mark Twain's face is cold, and he can't see the previous teasing and funny smile. In the way of expression, the author's imagination is more free and lively than before, and he often boldly changes the era and environment of the protagonist's life, and uses this technique to compare history with reality, different social status and social environment, thus making the theme of his works more profound. Such as The Prince and Poor Children, Connecticut Americans in King Arthur's Court and Fool Wilson. In the psychological description of characters, the author's skills are mature, such as The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. The author always embarks from the need of expressing the theme, firmly grasps the specific environment, and ruthlessly analyzes and lashes the hypocrisy of the bourgeoisie with delicate and profound brushstrokes.

(3) Post-creation. /kloc-at the end of 0/9, American society developed from liberal capitalism to the stage of foreign aggression and expansion, and Mark Twain's creation also entered the third stage. Exposing and attacking the policy of aggression and expansion is the most important content in Mark Twain's works during this period. In the form of creation, Mark Twain also opened up a new garden, that is, from novel creation to a large number of travel notes, essays and political essays.

Mark Twain's understanding of American aggression ranged from 1895 to 1896. Because of business failure, Mark Twain was heavily in debt, and he had to give speeches all over the world to pay his debts. Around the Equator, published in 1897, is what he saw and heard in British colonies such as Australia, New Zealand, Africa and India. He condemned the British colonial policy and criticized British Governor Rhodes for "doing all kinds of evil". He said sarcastically: "I admire him; When his end comes, I must buy a piece of his noose as a souvenir. " He pointed the finger at all capitalist countries, including the United States. He said: "The territories of all countries in the world, including the United States, are clothes stolen from other people's clotheslines." "The governments of various Christian countries are now discussing plans to rob each other of clothes hanging on clotheslines." The author spoke highly of the colonial people who took up arms to resist, such as Tasmania in Australia and Maori in New Zealand. But he held a negative attitude towards the anti-British uprising of Indian soldiers.

/kloc-in 0/900, Mark Twain returned to China and declared that "I am anti-imperialist, and I am against vultures extending their claws to any country". He firmly supported the anti-imperialist struggle of the people of China. As early as 1866, he wrote an article opposing foreign powers to open up concessions in China. 1900 August 12, the day before Eight-Nation Alliance invaded Beijing, he said in a letter to his friends, "My sympathy is with the people of China. The thieves in power in Europe have long brutally bullied China. I hope that the people of China will expel all foreigners and never allow them to come back. " He predicted that one day "China would be free and save itself". In the same year 165438+ 10, he said in a speech: "The Boxers are patriotic and love the motherland ... I wish them success." In American Lynching, he said: "The people of China are an excellent nation, honest, respectable, hardworking and reliable", and "American missionaries in China" might as well go back to China to convince those Christians who lynched black people.

From 1900, Mark Twain took an active part in political activities and published political articles such as To the Man Sitting in the Dark, Defending General Fenston and Praying for the War. The man sitting in the dark refers to the colonial people. Starting with an American missionary who went to Chinese mainland to extort "reparations" after the Boxer Rebellion, the article reveals that overseas missionary activities are a tool of aggressive policy. The theme is to expose "Christian civilization", including "love, justice, freedom, equality and education". "The outer layer of the package is gaudy, beautiful and charming, showing the special patterns of civilization that we left for our own people to enjoy, while what is hidden inside is the substantial things that the customer sitting in the dark exchanged for blood, tears, land and freedom." 1907, mark? Twain completed his autobiography and recalled his life experiences, including his childhood and early work life, creative activities and his views on some people and things at that time. This is kind and natural, but sometimes it is fictional and untrue.

19 10, Mark Twain died in Connecticut. Six years later, the posthumous work "Mysterious Stranger" was published (revised by Mark Twain's posthumous Committee, and this edition was deleted too much. "No.44, Mysterious Stranger" was published on 1969 as original. ) also published "what is a person". The former came to this world as an Austrian in the16th century, and Satan, who claimed to be an angel, mocked the ugliness of this world. He said to people, "Life itself is a dream." He cursed "people are worse than animals", gave up hope for the future of mankind, and then quietly left. With the help of Satan, the author mocked the ugly phenomenon in the capitalist world. Behind the ridicule, there is deep despair. He regards all kinds of ugly phenomena in the United States as the source of evil that all mankind can't extricate themselves, and then expresses pessimism about the whole human civilization and future. As Mr. Lu Xun said, Mark? Twain is a "joker" and now "clearly proves that he is a world-weary person". Mark Twain's short stories were introduced to China before his death. Later, Lu Xun also prefaced his Chinese version of Eve's Diary.