In Corn-Pone Opinions, Mark Twain explains how public opinion affects different belief systems and impressions on society. He analyzes trends that exhibit this process in an attempt to understand their meaning. Twain explains how he has seen the way public opinions have affected clothing styles and has discussed his thoughts with an intelligent slave. These insightful observations make him seem credible. The essay is written in the context that fads are constantly changing. The world is filled with different people who seem stuck in their opinions, so Twain’s purpose is to show the power that public opinion has over our decisions. His main argument states that, contrary to common belief, humans have no free will. Everything they do is a result of their opinions, which are a result of the public. Twain’s main audience is those who believe that humans have free will, including Christians. He makes numerous Atheist remarks throughout the text, as if to contradict those he does not trust. To achieve his purpose, Twain uses the negative connotation of the word “conformity,” which represents going along with public opinion and displays a lack of free will. The author also uses examples, including the hoop skirt, to show fads that go along with his main idea. He describes, “One woman abandons the fashion; her neighbor notices this and follows her lead” (3). This example backs up his purpose, as it shows how important public opinion is in everyday life. A final rhetorical device that Twain uses is the homily. Twain explains that the reason he began thinking about public opinion in the first place was a result of a sermon given by an intelligent slave. Twain recalls, “He imitated the pulpit style of the...clergymen of the village” (1). Although Twain technically accomplishes his purpose, it still feels like he is missing something. In fact, he lies by omission. Twain does not attempt to reconcile the other point of view with his own. He argues his point, but he does not address the other side. Not all of the reader’s concerns are challenged, so he fails overall.
No comments:
Post a Comment