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Discussion on Mark Twain
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Discussion on Mark Twain
Setting
The story is set in a rural town in the context of an active gold mine in California, more
precisely, Calaveras County. This place matters much as it gives the raw, rough, ruffian feeling of
the Gold Rush and is the perfect setting for the satirical humor of Twain (Krause, 1964).
Historical Context
When the story was written, The United States was going through the aftermath of the gold
rush period. This period was characterized by the evolvement of economic productivity, and people
strive for immediate financial gains, which in Twain's opinion, undermined the principles of ethical
conduct (Krause, 1964).
Point of View and Narrator
The narrative employs the first-person narrative style, where the protagonist, an unnamed
man, narrates his experience with Simon Wheeler. It also adds to the complexity of the plot and
thickens the reader's understanding of the events as s/he listens not only to the attitude of the main
narrator but also Wheeler's point of view (Krause, 1964).
Multiple Narrators/Perspectives
Indeed, there are two narrators: The two characters are the primary unnamed narrator, who
situates the reader in the tale, and Simon Wheeler, the man who narrates the story of Jim Smiley
(Krause, 1964). This dual narration contributes to the story's depth as it pits the relatively civilized
primary narrator against Wheeler, whose speech is much more country twang.
Description of Simon Wheeler
Simon Wheeler is characterized as a friendly and gossipy man who tells a story in a dull and
monotonous manner. He narrates his facts in a plain and sincere tone that is diametrically opposite
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to the extravagant and comedic style of the central identification of the man himself, Jim Smiley,
and his betting business (Krause, 1964).
Stories Within the Story
The central plot presents the character of Jim Smiley and his gambling problems, chiefly
concerning the legendary frog Dan'l Webster. Into this framework, Simon Wheeler also reports
other bets of Smiley, related to his dog, Andrew Jackson, which adds extra layers of frame (Krause,
1964).
Main Characters
The principal characters include the novel's main protagonist, whose name is undisclosed,
Simon Wheeler, Jim Smiley, Dan'l Webster, or the frog, and Andrew Jackson, or the bull-pup. All
the characters participated in the narrative, and the jokes and satire related to humanity and its
absurdity in some way (Krause, 1964).
Significance of Names
The names of the animals chosen are meaningful and sarcastic. Dan'l Webster, the frog, is
named after the great American states man Daniel Webster, while Andrew Jackson the bull-pup, is
named after the seventh American President (Krause, 1964). These names, which are given to the
animals, are also sarcastic as even these can be related to some great personalities in history.
Why Was the Bull-Pup Named Andrew Jackson and the Frog Daniel Webster
In the 'The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County', the bull-pup is named after the
brutal and determined president of the U.S.A. The protagonist frog is named Dan'l Webster, after
the great orator. These names are amusing in the way they compare the animals' skills to the
greatness associated with these figures (Krause, 1964).
Discrepancies in the Story
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It includes stereotypical elements of a tall tale, particularly foolish exaggerations and utterly
incredible occurrences. For instance, an element like a frog that has been trained to jump at the
sound of a whistle is somewhat ludicrous, and that is partly the purpose for which it is being used:
to tell the reader that the events described are far from being believable by any means (Krause,
1964).
Oppositions in the Story
One of the most striking aspects of the story is the opposition between the cultivated,
intellectual first-person narrator and the illiterate, country-cradle-robbing Simon Wheeler (Krause,
1964). Such conflict reveals social status, education, and outlook on life; such a setting enriches the
plot and emphasizes the criticism of the American author of human nature and society.
Allusions in the Story
The names Dan'l Webster and Andrew Jackson refer to historical figures,
contributingcontributing to the depth and the humor. By making such references, the story acquires
deeper meanings in that the shocking and illogical behaviors of the animals are tied to the
outstanding achievements and the personalities of these American legends and heroes, thus
producing a satirical intent (Krause, 1964).
Allegorical Interpretation
Therefore, the story is an actual fable that shows people's vices and weaknesses connected
with greed for the easy earning of money. For example, the path of Jim Smiley, which is filled with
bets to gain money as quickly as possible, and the the failed humorous attempts of the characters to
perform stunts reflect the foolishness and compromise of the element of gambling (Krause, 1964).
Tone
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This story has humor and satire as general attitudes that shape it. Humor is Twain's primary
tool for the satirical portrayal of the characters and events of the novel; hence, it is a comedy aiming
at revealing flaws in human behavior and the changes that occurred during the Gold Rush period
(Krause, 1964).
Genre
In the end, the two main elements presented in the story may be viewed as a tall tale on the
one hand and some sort of burlesque on the other. It enhances the aspects of events and character to
the point of ridiculousness to create humor to portray the contrast between the exaggeration of the
epic way of telling a story and the silliness or the trivial and ridiculous situations being depicted
(Krause, 1964).
Theme
The main message told in the story is that greed is stupid and that people will do crazy
things to win a bet. Twain thus condemns the American dream and the corruption that comes with
the desire for and attainment of easy money, with an overlay of humor and satire (Krause, 1964).
