Exaggeration as a form of truth and reality

Through the short stories that we have read this week in class, Mark Twain uses the theme of exaggeration and false story to make readers understand the truth to the world’s madness. The definition for exaggeration can be perceive as either positive or negative, it is a statement or description that represents that something as better or worse than it really is. An exaggeration in journalism or literature can also be known as a hyperbole or understatement. This type of writing is well known through literature to better understanding of the work and not to be taken as literal meaning.

Mark Twain uses two main types of exaggeration in his short stories, grotesque through casual violence and through description of detailed characteristics of a person or place. In the short story “Cannibalism in the Cars” the detailed description of the language that is portrayed through the group is used to classify them as Politian’s representing the government and their system. When two of the politicians pass the narrator on the train, and say in front of them they say, “Harris, if you’ll do that for me, I’ll never forget you, my boy”(Twain 11). Through this exaggerated language of the politicians we see the idea of the inner personal favors that happen through the government process. As long as it looks good on the outside, which is shown through the exaggerated use of a classy/business like language. The process on the outside follows the rules and laws, but the reality on the inside is done in order to make the decision that is wanted by the government.

Not only does the story “Cannibalism in the Cars” use the exaggeration of description of language it also uses grotesque exaggeration. When the narrator at the end says, “I felt inexpressibly relieved to know that I had only been listening to the harmless vagaries of a madman instead of the genuine experiences of a bloodthirsty cannibal”(Twain 19). Mark Twain uses the disturbing language and grotesque descriptions of figures in the conversation of the politicians to show how crazy and messed up the judicial system is. By the end of the conversation the narrator didn’t know if he was listening to or dealing with a mad man or a bloodthirsty cannibal. The government’s process comes off to individuals that know the truth as a horrible, and disturbing way to make things happen the way that they want it to happen. An outsider or stranger wouldn’t understand the true madness until shown through exaggeration that it doesn’t happen the way we think it happens.

Also through the use of hyperboles, exaggeration, and understatements the reader brings out the real truth. In our world, most stories are told with exaggeration and the understanding or meaning that is taken is a lesser version of the exaggeration. Also brings up the idea that our society needs to be shown grotesque things to understand the true meaning about our government, and ways in which the society works and is run. Without exaggeration things aren’t taken to the real level of understanding, individuals want to represent their country in a positive light because they are put of what makes the world today what it is. We are in denial of what really happens through our government system and how things are processed in the world, and Twain uses exaggeration to show how bad it really can be and is.

Works Cited:

Twain, Mark. The Complete Short Stories of Mark Twain. Ed. Charles Neider. New York: Bantam Classic, 1957. Print.