On the Southern Literary Trail discussion

Comments on this board are made with the assumption that readers have finished the book and may include spoilers.

This is one of my favorite Twain reads. In this classic he challenges the whole idea of nature vs nuture and the concept of racial differences. He does it with his his usual satirical wit. I listened to an audio book this time. The reader was excellent. What a darkly amusing, satirical tale. Not the usual Mark Twain story. If I were to choose three people that I wanted to share dinner and conversation with Mark Twain would top my list.
1 like

I think I will get the audio too

I really enjoyed rereading this story although it did reveal some aspects about Twain's views on the races that are less than flattering. Even though his views were ahead of most of his contemporaries, the switched-at-birth story reveals where he stands on the nature v. nurture argument on what makes races different. Make no mistake, I am still a big fan of Twain, but I am curious as to how other people handle this issue.

Anyway, here is my review.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Tom wrote: "I really enjoyed rereading this story although it did reveal some aspects about Twain's views on the races that are less than flattering. Even though his views were ahead of most of his contemporar..."
I perceived that Twain was making an observation regarding the "consequences" of nurturing vs nature. The "true white child" was raised, brought up, lived the life of a black boy. His actual "race" was not a factor in his perception of life. When he was officially identified at a "true white person" he was not able to shed the identity that he had been raised with. I am not saying that racism was not a significant factor in life at that time. For me it was Mark Twain making a sharp dig at the resulting consequences.

I will jump at any chance to defend Twain but I am struggling with the notion that in this story when the two babies are switched, the one who is black (actually 1/32nd black) adopts every base personality trait imaginable whereas the white baby stoically accepts his lot and behaves honorably. As Roxy said of her son, “Ain’t nigger enough in him to show in his finger-nails, en dat takes mighty little—yit dey’s enough to paint his soul.”

I would also take issue with the the race that makes up only 1/32nd of his DNA would automatically dominate his personality. I suspect, though, that Twain is aware of how ridiculous this legal definition is and that his intent is to point this out.

Tom wrote: "I will jump at any chance to defend Twain but I am struggling with the notion that in this story when the two babies are switched, the one who is black (actually 1/32nd black) adopts every base per..."

I wonder if the two children had not been switched if the "true" white boy would have become a selfish, entitled, abusive rich kid due to being overindulged in his whims??? A product of nurture by overindulgent, rich aunt/uncle. I agree with you that Twain is mocking the legal definition as well.

I read Twain's view as very tongue-in-cheek. He exaggerates it exactly so that we will see how completely ridiculous it is and I agree with Judi that the "true" white boy would have become a selfish, entitled, abusive rich kid due to being overindulged in his whims. Anyone raised by the Judge and company would have been worthless, how convenient that all that can now be blamed upon his drop of black blood.

Roxy is my favorite character. She is virtually white as well, but she buys into the idea that that drop of black blood is responsible for any flaws in her child or herself. I believe Twain wants us to see how detrimental such conditioning is.

Twain's closest neighbor was Harriet Beecher Stowe and by all accounts they shared the same views and were in and out of one another's homes.

Sara wrote: "I read Twain's view as very tongue-in-cheek. He exaggerates it exactly so that we will see how completely ridiculous it is and I agree with Judi that the "true" white boy would have become a selfis..."
Sara I agree with your comment on Roxy and her perception of the impact on behavior based on a single drop of black blood. Non sequiter. I have followed Mark Twain's tracks all over Nevada and the CA. gold country back in the day. Very cool.

How exciting. Would love to follow his steps all over Europe as well. I have been to his home in Hartford. It was inspiring to stand before the desk where Huck Finn was written.