A strapping girl of fifteen, in the customary sunbonnet and calico dress, asked me if I "used tobacco" - meaning did I chew it. I said no. It roused her scorn. She reported me to all the crowd, and said:

"Here is a boy seven years old who can't chew tobacco."

By the looks and comments which this produced I realized that I was a degraded object, and was cruelly ashamed of myself. I determined to reform. But I only made myself sick; I was not able to learn to chew tobacco. I learned to smoke fairly well, but that did not conciliate anybody and I remained a poor thing, and characterless.

In about 100 words, discuss the meaning Twain intends in the excerpt and how satire is used to develop that theme.

Question

Katelyn

English

13 February, 03:40

A strapping girl of fifteen, in the customary sunbonnet and calico dress, asked me if I "used tobacco" - meaning did I chew it. I said no. It roused her scorn. She reported me to all the crowd, and said:

"Here is a boy seven years old who can't chew tobacco."

By the looks and comments which this produced I realized that I was a degraded object, and was cruelly ashamed of myself. I determined to reform. But I only made myself sick; I was not able to learn to chew tobacco. I learned to smoke fairly well, but that did not conciliate anybody and I remained a poor thing, and characterless.

In about 100 words, discuss the meaning Twain intends in the excerpt and how satire is used to develop that theme.

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Kallie Matthews · Answer 1

Twain is informing people aboutn how young kids are being pushed to do things they dont want to do. As in peer preasure, cleanrly this young boy should not be smoking or chewing tabacco but he tries because of the people laughing at him about not being able to chew tabacco. Mark Twain is conveying a former problem that we still have but do not acknowledge anymore. This happening will not just affect an individual, but everyone around.