There is no doubt that Twain's A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court is marred by structural absurdities, imperfect shifts in tone, and an episodic, stuttering arrangement. The novel often tries to do too many things at once, juggling commentary on chivalry, aristocracy, religion, technology, and more. That the book survives these shortcomings and transcends many of Twain's other texts demonstrates the author's remarkable talent. The success of the book is largely due to three elements working beneath the narrative surface; these three devices are undoubtedly the most popular instruments in Twain's repertoire. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The first of these, irony, is evident even from light reading. Never mind that Yankee was originally supposed to be a romantic story. Because readers are likely to sympathize with Hank Morgan, they instinctively reflect his assumption that the 19th (or 21st) century is superior to the naïve and archaic projects of the 6th century, most likely because the differences between the two eras are immediate and tangible. While the modern world has brought us a degree of gender and racial equality, charity, leisure and democracy, the world King Arthur inhabited was sordid, muddy and a mockery of his own virtues. In the modern age, a man can be a man, and even those who must resort to menial physical labor are afforded the ability to at least take care of their family without fear of a "major" knocking on their doors. At least, that's the reality presented to us through Hank Morgan's musings, but as anyone who's read much literature of that era knows, such decency was not often the case. In Chapter XXXIII, "Political Economy of the Sixth Century," Morgan attempts to explain in detail the cunning workings of political economy to the blacksmith Dowley, but all his arguments are reproached with ignorance. What Morgan never stops to consider is that the situation he is analyzing was not foreign to the population of the 19th century; in fact, it was almost analogous to the deplorable standard of life experienced by many of Morgan's contemporaries. This leads to the second aspect of Twain's style that keeps this far-reaching book from falling over the edge: tragedy. The work seems to blindly assume that a richer economy strengthens a culture. Indeed, at first glance this appears to be true; after all, how could an educated, prosperous, constantly evolving civilization amount to anything less than a civilization that puts itself at the mercy of inbred idiots adorned in cumbersome armor and ridiculous clothing? Even this, however, ultimately unravels, as we see Morgan's "colony" of educated, like-minded revolutionaries return to their superstitious ways in the blink of an eye. There are some instinctive human flaws that can't be eliminated in a million years, and so there is little to no basis for assuming that all the technology in the world can make a culture truly "better." As Twain commented regularly during the last years of his life, the human race is inherently sick and depraved, and no matter what superficial masks humans may wear, their souls remain destitute. Despite Morgan's proud assumptions, humanity hasn't evolved much in the last 13 centuries, and the future doesn't look any better. In line with Twain's Calvinist attitudes, there is nothing man can do to save himself, nothing that can be done to redeem him. Please note: this is just an example. Get a customized document from our writers now.?