Mark Tawin and American Realism!!!

American Realism era ranged from 1865-1910 and had many talented writers such as Mark Twain, who wrote about situations and how people handle them. A book I am very familiar with that Mark Twain wrote was " The Adventures of Tom Sawyer." Twain usually writes about the problems people face and what the outcome of these problems are. During this week in class we read many stories on which " nature" and the "government" affected people and how it lead them into a certain direction.
Twain, very different then many of the American Romantic writers, actually writes about actual situations and the solutions that people had to face at this time. The other writers usually talked about how the love for someone could solve a problem. To me this almost seems like a fictional fairy-tale. In the two writing's " The Story of the Bad Little Boy" and " The Story of the Good Little Boy," Twain bases this short story on a real life issue and shows how this character is affected by this situation. He does not let love or nature get into the mind of the boy, but lets his religion take control.
In the stories Twain tries to send out a point. He believes that if the boy is nice to everyone and does not do harmful things then good things will happen to him. Twain wants everyone to believe this so that there could be a better world and so that people would not have many problems to deal with. In " The Story Of The Good Little Boy," there is a boy named Jacob Blivens. This little boy is very fascinated with Sunday school and always helping people out. He fells as if he does the right things, something may be in return. Twain uses real life issues in this short story and shows how this little boy goes around helping people and solving problems. Sadly, this little boy dies and has very bad luck. For example, I have an uncle who is very kind and loves to help everyone out where help is needed. Unfortuantely, when it was time for him to get help no one was there to back him up. Twain wants the reader to realize that is always good to help someone out, but just don't do it becuase you have to or want to get lo9oked at. In the second story which is " The Story Of The Bad Little Boy," there is a boy named Jim who is totally different then Jacob Blivens. This boy always has the propers luck and everyone likes him, but he is always doing the wrong things. He will not help anyone and he only cares about himself. In my opinion, I believe that everyone should worry about themselves and if there is a time when someone needs help you should be there for them. To me its not all about getting good karma or even luck, its feeling accomplished that counts.
Twain sends this message out to anyone of any race, size, age, or culture. He wants people to realize doing the right thing isn't always right, but doing the wrong thing is also not right. Twain really inspired me to live my life to the fullest and not be afraid of doing things or even being shy of helping people. He makes us all want to just sit and think how we have helped people in the past or how we did wrong, but yet good things still came to us. To me religion is also another main factor and if you believe in God then he will guide you into the right direction.
What caught my attention of Mark Twain was one of his most famous pieces which is called " The Adventures of Tom Sawyer." This book was very good and it held my attention throughout the whole thing. Reading this piece wanted me to venture out and find new reading of him. Even though these stories were similar I still really enjoyed them. The excerpt I chose to talk about was " Once he climbed up in the Farmers Acorn's apple-tree to steal apples, and the limb did not even break, and he didn't fall and break his arm, and get torn by the farmer's great dog...." One time in my life I played " knock, knock runaway and happened to run into a tree and hide. We stayed there while another friend got in trouble and I felt like I did wrong. So this quote can relate to me very well.
All in all, Twain taught me a very valuble lesson and his writing is deffinetly an example of American Realism.