“Eve’s Diary” by Mark Twain Essay

eventides journal is a satirical account of the days in the Garden of Eden. Twain recounts the well-known tale of contemporaries through a series of journal entries written by rapture and eve these personal accounts arouse for an entertaining and thought-provoking read. Twains personifications of gender stereotypes are easily identified simply fade the reader into a further exploration of Twains deeper purpose. Twains writing direction explicates the paradoxical relationship amidst men and women. Furthermore, Adam and evenings conflicting perspectives within the journal entries provide an illustration of their magnetic reliance on one another, despite their polar differences.The story begins with Eve on the day after her creation Twain creates a tone of despair as Eve ponders her situation and existence. That is what I AM-an experiment just an experiment, and nothing more (Twain 10). As Eve deducts that there moldiness be a counterpart to her existence, her disposition abr uptly changes from anguish to optimism. Through this character development, Twain portrays association as Eves salvation and furthermore, mocks the modern idea of the contingency of a womans survival on that of a mans. Eves perception changes as abruptly as her disposition. Once her mind is at ease, she becomes conscious and appreciative of her surroundings. This majestic new world is indeed a most noble and beautiful work. And certainly marvelously near to being perfect, notwithstanding the shortness of the m (Twain 14). Twain uses Eves passionate and enthusiastic mentality as a personification of the get of femininity according to nineteenth century stereotypes.The diction and timing of Adams introduction exaggerates Eves naivety and sets a precedent for Twains exploration of their paradoxical relationship.Eves entry reads, All the week I tagged around after him and tried to get acquainted. I had to do the talking, because he was shy, but I didnt mind it. He appeared pleased t o have me around, and I used the sociable we a good deal, because it seemed to flatter him to be included (Twain 35). Though it is told from Eves perspective, Twain wants the reader to negate Eves idealization when reading of her interactions with Adam. When one does so, Adams annoyance with Eve is apparent.In addition, Twain makes a considerable effort to portray Adam as haughty, cynical, and drastic onlyy unattached in comparison to Eve Twain uses Adam as a personification of stereotypical conception of masculinity. During the last day or cardinal I have taken all the work of naming things off his hands, and this has been a great relief to him, for he has no gift in that line, and is evidently very grateful (Twain 178). If interpreted in the manner Twain intended, it is clear that Adam has no concern with naming the creatures and is equally indifferent towards Eve.Twain develops these satirical personifications even further to serve two slightly less superficial purposes. Twain u ses these conceptions to delve into the profound relationship between men and women but also to denounce them through his diction. Twains defiance begins with his decision to give Eve, a woman, the prevailing voice in the narrative. He shows further disregard for popular opinion when he tells of the creation of fire. I had created something that didnt exist before I had added a new thing to the worlds uncountable propertiesI realized this, and was proud of my achievement, and was going to run and find him and tell him about it, thinking to raise myself in his esteem-but I reflected, and did not do it. No-he would not care for it (Twain 67). Twains decision to credit such(prenominal) a pivotal aspect of human survival to a woman exhibits either an immense fearfulness for women or a severe distain for unoriginal thought. Regardless, Twains upheaval of the hierarchy of traditional Hesperian gender roles transcends time and leaves the reader to contemplate the validity of gender role s.Ursula LeGuin, a published and renowned originator of short stories herself, discusses the prevalence of personification of stereotypical gender roleswithin _Adam and Eves Diary_. LeGuin argues that Twains personifications of gender stereotypes are the most important aspect of any literally analysis of works by Mark Twain (LeGuin 32). Deviating slightly from the focus of LeGuins analysis, the most important purpose of Eves Diary to be the paradoxical relationship between men and women. As the journal progresses, so does the society between Adam and Eve. Although their differences remain vast, Adam and Eve demonstrate a dynamic reliance on one another. They compliment one another in a sense of discord their stereotypical personas seem to become less obtrusive as they grow together.Through Eve, Adam is humbled and learns to be appreciative and observant of his surroundings. Adam has a similar effect on Eve her interest in esthetics diminishes and while she remains optimistic, she is not so dangerously nave. The story digresses to forty years later, with Adam at Eves grave. Adams eulogy for his lifeless wife is ingeniously engineered to vacillate with nearly every reader. He says, Wheresoever she was, THERE was Eden (Twain 129). Adam, and therefore the male gender collectively, feature a magnetic dependence on Eve that was as involuntary as the polar differences between the two. Twain accomplished a feat that the laws of nature could not through Adam and Eves Diary, Twain provides an unprecedented look into why men and women attract in circumstances that should naturally drive them from one another.Works CitedLeGuin, Ursula K. Introduction. The Diaries of Adam and Eve. By Mark Twain. NewYork Oxford UP, 1996. XXXI-XLI.Twain, Mark. _Adam and Eves Diary_ Eves Diary, Complete. Project Gutenburg. 14June 2004. PDF iBook.