Mark Twains Stories - Book Report/Review Example

Mark Twain’s Essays. Order No299521 Topic: David Wilson, Hank and technology. Body: Hank Morgan can be said to be the most important figure in King Arthur’s court. Arthur was king only in name and Hank (as the Boss) was actually running the administration. He was the son of a blacksmith, and was practicing this trade initially. But it was in the Arms factory that he found his real trade and attained his full stature. He became the head superintendent with about 2000 workers under him. He was so ingenious that he could anything one wanted no matter what. There are numerous situations in the story of his displaying his technological skills with spectacular results. He starts a newspaper, introduces coins, manufactured bicycles, set up telephone networks, and established power generation plants. He brought the sixth century civilization to the 20th century level in the course of a few years. When the king and the Boss were sold as slaves and were about to be executed, it was a long and picturesque of 500 mailed and belted knights on bicycles that came to the rescue. Finally when the church and the knights were out to destroy the new civilization, the strategy employed was to build a wire fence around, charged with electricity. A knight would come and touch the wire with his sword and he would be dead at once apparently for no reason. Some one else would come and touch his shoulder to ask why he was silent, and he would be killed too! Killed by a dead friend in fact! 25000 brainless knights perished like this, and the Boss and his handful of smart boys won owing to their strategy. David Wilson also had a scientific bent of mind, though of a different kind. He was a scotch national in America to seek his fortunes. He came as a young post graduate in law, though he did not handle cases in courts. It was he who developed the science of finger prints, that wonderful science for the establishment of people’s identity. He was too much of a scientist that ordinary people could not understand him and this resulted in his being nicknamed Pudd’nhead Wilson. It was he who solved the mystery surrounding Tom. Conclusion: Brain is more powerful than brawn. Mere numeric or physical strength is nothing against strategy and technology. ****** Topic 2. : David Wilson’s and Hank’s Theatrical power. Introduction: This study is to find out the theatrical abilities of Wilson and Hank. Body: Hank introduces various improvements such as the newspaper, telephone net- works, bicycle factories, power generation plants etc. He uses these occasions to create spectacular effects. He is not for using them quietly without publicity or excitement. To use his own words, “I always use that high style when I am climaxing an effect” ( p. 23) This trait is seen in all his actions. In the course of the dinner at Dowley’s place, he indifferently tosses $4, a huge amount then, on to the table. Dowley and people are stunned. They feel he is “made of money” (p.194). In his fight at the lists, he shoots down his adversaries invisibly and onlookers are baffled as to how such veteran knights are thrown down apparently without cause. It looked like magic. The book is replete with numerous instances of this kind. Wilson on the contrary, is hardly theatrical. His actions, conversations etc. are rather subdued and common place. He was no doubt brilliant in tracing the guilt to Tom, but this was because he had a brainwave that the suspected murderer dressed as a girl need not necessarily be a girl. This directs the evidence in a new direction and the finger prints proved Tom’s guilt. The scene in the court is full of suspense but it was hardly the result of any theatrical effort. Conclusion: Hank and Wilson stand far apart in their theatrical skills ***** Topic.3. “Dream other dreams and better.” Hank and failed utopia. Introduction: This is about Hank’s dreams of utopia and their sudden end. Hank, a highly-qualified American technocrat of the 19th century, is transpositioned into the kingdom of King Arthur of the 6th century. There is a wide gap of thirteen centuries in between. With the advantages of his superior knowledge, he comes to power and becomes the advisor to the king. In a short time, several reforms and improvements are introduced in the country. The improvements, though beneficial to the common people, are not liked by the Church and the knights. They wage a war in which their entire armies of 25000 knights are killed, and Hank and his 53 apprentices come out victorious. But the poisonous fumes emanating from the dead bodies of 25000 knights suffocate the 54 winners, and thus the conquerors are conquered. And with it ends Hank’s utopia. Conclusion.: A gap of thirteen centuries cannot be undone in a day. ***** Topic 4: Patricidal Tom and Hank. This is a comparison of Tom and Hank with regard to their inclination for killing. Tom was actually a Negro. Roxy, his mother, in addition to her own son, had also to look after the white son of the judge’s brother whose wife had died shortly after delivery. The children were very much alike, and Roxy cleverly exchange them. The Negro boy is thus brought up as the judge’s nephew. When grown up, he repeatedly incurs debts due to gambling, and the infuriated judge disinherits him thrice. However, out of consideration for his brother, he relents every time and restores the will. But, Tom is afraid that he may disinherit him again. So one day, he cleverly murders him. Hank is responsible for the death of 25000 knights who wage war against him and the nation. This is however, to save the country from the atrocities of the knights and safeguard the reforms and improvements brought about by him. Conclusion: A deed is judged by the intention behind. ***** Read More