Mark twain’s Solutions to the Ills of Mankind: A Humanistic Assessment

Abstract

This paper is aimed at comprehending the shady character of a man with sin microbes and Mark Twain’s possible solution to the perennial ills of mankind. Mark Twain in his inimitable style tries to reform man from his perversions and hypocrisy while exploring the ways and means for ensuring freedom, dignity and happiness. He urges man to follow conscience that ensures a sound heart. He also advises man to tread the path of spirituality for moral regeneration. Besides this, Mark also recommends laughter as the most potent and effective medicine that cures physical as well as mental illness.  He advocates the greater role for a woman in politics in order to build corrupt free society founded on morals and ethics.

Mark Twain thought like a lion and wrote like a lion. As an insatiable moral lion he makes mincemeat of kings, nobles, Congressmen, the clergy, the greedy, the dishonest, the cruel, the fraudulent, the morally timid, the mean and the hypocritical. The moral flaws and the immoral actions of man prompted Mark Twain to assume a strategic pose of misanthropy and pessimism so as to rebuke man, and reform him of his evil proclivities and blatant perversions even while exploring ways and means of securing him freedom, dignity and happiness by ushering in an ideal society sustained by secular, moral and humanistic values.