Who Was He?

Melissa McMahon

February 26 2009

Journal on Late Twain

"It was believed afterward that the man was a lunatic, because there was no sense in what he said." (324)

This ending line taken from Twain's "The War Prayer," seems like a line that Twain himself must have heard from time to time. Lunatic. Radical. Atheist. All true? Or was he merely an artist misunderstood and dedicated to speaking the truth? He was controversial, for sure, but some of his best works were banned by the very people who probably read them under the covers at night, in awe over Twain's frank manner. No matter what title was put upon his head, no one can come close to understanding and labeling the man who gave us so much to chew over in his lifetime. His characters are richer than most give them credit for- and they all challenge they way we think about things- the way we see the world. Twain was never afraid to put that in our face, and I think he must have liked making people squirm just a bit...it catered to his playful side.

Was Twain an atheist? I think not. In fact, Twain was one of the most "christian" authors there ever was. He lived his life under his own brand of religion- not the half assed-Sunday christian that seems so popular in any house of organized religion. Twain actually emulated Christ in his search for equality- and in his courage to stand up for what he believed in without backing down. Stones were thrown for sure, but Twain rarely wavered. He continued to submit material that was shunned, balked at, turned away...but he kept on writing. When it was the most un-popular thing to do, Twain did it. And it usually was the right thing to do. The stance he took on slavery was incredible- and so ahead of his time. Twain never let people tell him what to think or what to believe in. He believed in himself, and it carried him far.

A biography online about Mark Twain said this: "Twain was born and died in years in which Halley's Comet passed by Earth: 1835 and 1910."-Isn't that amazing?...and so symbolic of the man he was. Mysterious, full of light and wonder, and the streak across our grand universe...his colors still lighting up the sky long after he has passed.

No matter who we think Mark Twain was, we can be assured that he was a loving father, devoted husband, and gifted writer. The truest of artists there ever was...he lives on...and on...and on.