Twains A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthurs Court essays

Twains A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthurs Court essays King Arthur becomes the butt of Mark Twain's satire in "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court." As Twain often does, his vision of life in King Arthur's court is quite different than the life that Thomas Mallory presents in "Le Morte D'Arthur." This paper will examine how Twain depicts King Arthur as an individual that comes across as nothing more than In contrast to Arthur's court, in "Le Morte D'Arthur," Hank sees a very different court life. Mallory's King Arthur is always seen with nobility and respect. On the other hand, Hank notices the stark contrast between classes. The king is presented as a man who revels in storytelling and apparently believes every story he is ever told. While the starving peasants wore tattered clothing, Arthur's Round Table was: as large as a circus ring; and around it sat a great company of men dressed in such various and splendid colors that it hurt one's eyes to look at them. They wore their plumed hats, right along, except that whenever one addressed himself directly to the king, he lifted his hat a trifle just as he was beginning his remark" (Twain 25). This scene leaves us with the impression that the aristocracy is arrogant and mindless of the ordinary citizens. Hank tells us that he "knew that the highest and first ladies and gentlemen in England had remained little or no cleaner in their talk, and in the morals and conduct which such talk implies, clear up to a hundred years ago" (34). Additionally, we learn that no one in the country can read except a "few dozen priests" (48). We can definitely see how the higher classes deprived the lower classes of many things that we consider absolutely essential for modern life. Interestingly, Hank likes the king regardless of his lack of refinery. He tells us, "Well, I liked the king, and as king I respected him respected the office; at least r...