Mark Twain post

Several of the stories that we have read in class have completely changed my perspective on Mark Twain. Extracts from Adams Diary and Invalid's story have made me realize their was a very different side to this classic American author. I read The Carnival of Crime in Connecticut which contributed to my changing image of Twain. First off, let me say that this story reminded me of a Tom Waits song with its unusual characters, bluesy tone and supernatural feel. It was a bizarre story of repentance as the main character faces off against a moldy dwarf that is the embodiment of his conscience. It seems in Twain's stories, I'm noticing a pattern of strangers that come into wicked peoples lives and tamper with their life. What grasped my attention the most in this story is the 180 the story pulls right at the beginning. The story begins with a man talking about his aunt (who attempted to make him quit smoking) is coming to visit him. Then suddenly,
"Straightway the door opened, and a shriveled, shabby dwarf entered. He
was not more than two feet high. He seemed to be about forty years old.
Every feature and every inch of him was a trifle out of shape....... One thing about him
struck me forcibly and most unpleasantly: he was covered all over with a
fuzzy, greenish mold, such as one sometimes sees upon mildewed bread.
The sight of it was nauseating."
As you are reading you almost do a double take as the tender family story turns into..... something..... else.
The Situational irony was clever at the end because I was completely expecting him to either get sent to a mental institution or change his ways, but instead he grabs hold of his conscience and kills him. The story ends humoursly as he talks about his recent crime spree of murder and house burnings, and upcoming "honest" sales hes going to have in the spring, now that his tortuous conscience is gone.

Adam's Diary

Wow..... Extracts from Adam's Diary is sexist and comical. I cant believe Mark Twain wrote such a comedic piece! This is like a description of all relationships any man has had. "She's using "We" again" made me laugh out loud (which is rare when Im reading) This seemed pretty racy for a this time period. I was thinking about the womens lib stuff going around at the time and couldnt help but think Twain would get a lot of guff for this. I dont necessarely like Twain, but I am willing to give him another chance with a story like this. I enjoyed that he took a story from the bible and completly changed the story from a vague and bland (and a total lack of character development, god do you think Peter, Paul, John and Ezekiel could take a screenwriting class?) and showed us a side of an infamous character we never thought we would see. His use of dry humor was something that I really didnt see in Huck Finn, but I hope to get a better perspective of. He demonstrates how even the very first male/female relationship was not perfect, and that they didnt even know what they were doing even with the guidance of God. I probably will encounter a similar experience with my child some day.


Yeah the whole eating the apple bit is kind of why men have a lot of regret when it comes to women.....

What other authors have done something like this????

I am interested in seeing Eve's view, though I bet it will not be as good as Adam's......... is that sexist????

Whenever I think of 9/11, I always think of the comedian David Cross. He is one of the best comedians around, but you might know him as the flamboyant Tobias from the brilliant Arrested Development. (Which was cancelled because it couldnt compete with quality television such as Ugly Betty and dancing with the stars. Its hard to type sarcastic tones) It sheds some comedic light on a tragic subject and he really points out the bullshit that people pulled after 9/11 (AKA the week that football stopped)
It's from his CD "Shut up you fucking baby". Have a listen.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5tldEQg6is

Here's some other dark comedy that has nothing to do with anything, but it makes me laugh.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHmvkRoEowc