A Dog's Tale

A Dog’s Tale is a rather touching yet melancholy story. As with previous short stories by Twain, we can expect to learn some moral lesson to go home with. In this story however, I get the feeling the satire here is more of a social commentary on the inhumanness of people along with their hypocrisy and disrespect towards life. The story follows a dog that has learned lessons of honor, respect, and purpose from her mother. When she is separated from her mother and joins a human family, she puts her lessons to work. When she drags the baby out of her crib, the mother of the family think she has gone crazy and beats her before she realizes that Aileen saved the baby from a fire that had ignited because of the fireplace. This goes to show how people are quick to inflict physical pain on an animal and assuming the worst- two sad traits of the human being. When Aileen gives birth to a puppy, it isn’t long before the husband of the family kills Aileen’s puppy because of a scientific experiment testing optics. The message at the end of the story is clear, like many of Twain’s stories. It gives abused animals a voice, shows how people are relentlessly cruel and hypocritical, and shows the loyalty of man’s best friend.

Huck Finn..again

After reading Tom Sawyer for the third time in my academic career, I realized a couple of things. Firstly, I have no idea why such a complex novel was assigned to me in middle school, and secondly I never realized Twain had so many commentaries on social issues within his books. While I had always known the book to be controversial, I never realized that he was strongly opposed to racism and slavery as a whole. I believe that Twain used these texts to try to enlighten people/ readers not only on his opinion but perhaps to sway their opinions. After all, Twain was a big supporter of imperialism before he realized what the truth was and then vehemently opposed it. Huck Finn seems like an innocent story when you read it young, but as an adult you realize there is a whole lot more going on than you originally thought. I think this is a great book to keep in the course and should be essential to TCU Core Curriculum.

A Scrap of Curious History

Of the three essays we read for today, the one that left me thinking the most was "A Scrap of Curious History" After we received that quote sheet from Dr. Williams in class, I was left to thinking about how society really does dictate what is acceptable during any given time period. For example, let's take the civil rights movement where only 45 years ago colored people were being sprayed with firehouses like rag-dolls for fighting for their God-given rights. At the time, in many parts of the country, racism was considered okay because that was how people were taught and raised, that whites were supreme to every other color. Similar to abolitionists, civil rights leaders weren't seen as heroes in every town. Some people despised MLK, Cesar Chavez, and Malcolm X. Now society has determined that being racist is politically incorrect, when in the Bible itself it says that all men are created equal. It is rather sad, even today, how many time the first thing we notice about someone is their race. But Dickinson is right, if you demur you are considered dangerous- and handled with a chain for your beliefs because you are going against the established social norms that have been laid before you. It amazes me how humans can treat others like animals, show no compassion, no love.

The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg

After reading "The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg", I realized that this was yet another one of Twain's "short" stories that leaves the reader with a sense of self-examination and it left me wondering about society's and my ethics. Clearly this story suggests that money can make people do crazy and ridiculous things and essentially brings out the worst in people: deception, greed, and lying. The Richards seem like a honest older couple who could really use the money for themselves and are clearly tempted many times to take the money. Eventually,they do the same as the other 18 and submit a letter with the words to the mystery man. In the end, when they receive the checks they feel so guilty that they burn them and eventually their health deteriorates and they die. When I put myself in their shoes, I wonder what I would have done. I surely would have been tempted to take the money for a new car, many shoes, or a new house, but in the end I think I would take the honest road and do what is right. The mystery man played the people in town like a bunch of puppets. Money really can make people do crazy things and there is no doubt that money can change a person. I remember my freshman year I had more cash than I ever had in my life and before I knew it I had unopened CD's and boxes of new Nike sneakers in my closet. I had new sunglasses and new polo shirts. Money is a dangerous tool that can overtake a person. This is why we see so many professional athletes who end up bankrupt with nothing after their careers. One must have a strong mind to not be manipulated. Unfortunately, it would seem that most people would easily succumb to it.

Was it Heaven or Hell?

After reading "Was it Heaven or Was it Hell?" I have found myself thinking about lies and how they can be beneficiary or malicious in one way or another. I took the story as another "parable" by Twain, whom I believe thinks that lying is a natural human action but some positive things can arise from such lies. When the doctor lies about Margaret being well, I originally thought he was trying to make the situation easier and give the girl some hope. However, the doctor seems blunt to me and explains that every person lies. Based on the exercise we did in class, I guess it sort of supports that. No one in the class denied doing the exercise saying they haven't told a lie recently. There were some doozies, but it just proves that people lie every day. As my mother told me, one lie leads to another and I am certainly guilty of that. Is it right to tell a lie that can help someone? I remember growing up having a blue parakeet named Joe. I really loved that bird. However, one morning I went to uncover him as I did every day, and I saw him on the floor. My mother told me he was just taking a nap and tired of being on the stick all day. When I returned from school, (kindergarden) "Joe" was back on the stick looking younger and revitalized. I guess sometimes the truth hurts too much.

A Ghost Story/ Back in 2010

I found Mark Twain's "A Ghost Story" to be rather entertaining and different from other short stories we have read in class. I felt like it was a generally fun story, although I admit, in the beginning I thought someone was going to die or something awful was going to happen. As the story went on, I sort of got the sense that there was nothing to be afraid of and the narrator seemed to become calmer as well. I had never heard of the Cardiff Giant before so I used trusty Wikipedia to gain some background knowledge on the situation and found that Twain is satirizing the hoax that occurred at that time. I found the ghost's diction to be rather comical and added some humor to the story because you would sort of expect the ghost of an enormous being to be rather angry and hateful towards the world. When he finds out the body nearby is just a replica, the reader gets the sense that Twain is having a good time with this and that he indeed is making fun of the situation. I felt like this short story was a page turner and a good read. I know I found my self laughing a couple of times. This is different in terms of narration compared to other of his stories but he is similarly satirizing a human condition: believing everything you hear and see.

Lucy

So I met with Lucy last week for a short introduction and she was thrilled to see that I speak some spanish. It will definitely be useful as I teach her a few things. She is a real sweet person and she just wants help. She reminds me a lot of Dolores, my previous partner, who I will also start seeing again real soon. This whole service learning thing, in my opinion, is great because it allows us to interact with TCU faculty we would usually not. These are hardworking people that just need a little help. As a college student, we are being prepared to better the world when we graduate. We can still make a difference while we are in it. I am glad Lucy and I am on the path to success. She called me a few minutes ago saying she can't meet this week, but next week is a go. I look forward to it.