Twain's Love for Niagara Falls
Source: Niagara Falls Circa 1890
In The Diary of Adam and Eve, Twain reference’s multiple locations that are set in Niagara County, New York. A theme that I found was that Twain is absolutely in love with Niagara Falls and the surrounding areas. Not only in The Diary of Adam and Eve Twain writes a satirical piece, A Day at Niagara, though it pokes jabs at the resorts and attractions there is still the underlying theme of his love and appreciation for Niagara Falls.
The Diary of Adam and Eve, is Twain’s writing on how Adam and Eve perceived each other through the birth of Eve until as few years after the downfall of Eden. In the beginning of the story Adam talks about his confusion and distaste for Eve, claiming she is naming everything. Adam then claims he finally named the location of the story, “Garden of Eden” (Twain 274); here is where Twain first brings up Niagara. Adam writes that Eve says, “it looks like a park… it has been new-named Niagara Falls Park”(Twain 274). I think in these passages it is Twain is speaking through the characters by saying that Eden can be compared to the beauty of what Niagara Falls. Then (as I talk later) he is stating his distaste for the commercialization of the park, when Adam grows frustrated with the multiple signs Eve begins to put stating “Keep off the grass” (Twain 274). Then he continues through Eve’s words about his distaste with new idea of growing over with his use of sarcasm from Adam. When Adam is asked by Eve to stop going over the falls he writes, “I have always done it- always liked the plunge, and coolness. I supposed it was what the Falls were for.”(Twain 275) In that passage, he is poking at what man is doing with the Falls, not enjoying it for its scenery and raw beauty of the Falls, but instead looking for it use in industry. In 1893, when the story was published, a small company was hired to start using the Falls as an energy source.
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| Source: Water Turbine |
Which is shown here would change and inhibit the natural beauty that was created for. Therefore Twain is using Adam to proclaim his over all distaste and and hatred of what is happening to the Natural Wonder of Niagara.
Work Cited.
Twain, Mark. The Complete Short Stories of Mark Twain. Ed. Charles Neider. New York: Bantam Classic, 1957. Print.
I like how you point out that Twain might actually really like the falls even though he really makes a joke of the tourism that is associated with it. I feel that the passages in which he talks about the majestic beauty and power of the falls really exemplify this.
ReplyDeleteI also like how you talk about the use of beautiful landscape and scenery for industry. I think that Twain attempts to show the reader how truly average the experience of tourism is, and that if you really want to enjoy a unique experience you have to actually go out and find it on your own. Industrialization and 'naming' of landmarks have turned them from their pure forms into something used for human's own greedy interests.
Terrific connections you draw between these stories, Robert, and it's helpful to include these links and some historical context. What do others think?
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