earticle

영어

This paper investigates Mark Twain’s critical attitude to sentimental romanticism by analyzing two major novels, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court. These novels deal with the criticism on sentimental romanticism. In the first chapter, the sentimental romanticism of Southern American society is criticized indirectly. Through many episodes, we can know that Huck’s simple and direct behaviors are better than Tom’s selfish and sentimental principles. Also, the feud of the Grangerfords is a good example of the hypocritical and sentimental romanticism, because many things in the house mean their blind and superficial obedience to European culture. Especially, Twain shows the fall of Southern romanticism by naming a wrecked steamboat ‘Walter Scott’. Another instance of sentimental romanticism is shown by the title of ‘King’ and ‘Duke’, two impostors. Their title means Twain’s ridicule to sentimental romanticism. In the next chapter, Twain criticizes the romantic illusion about European medieval society, using the age of England as the allegory of American age. He makes fun of the dignity, bravery, and justice of medieval knights through the journey of Hank and Sandy. Like this, Twain is essentially an American social critic. Focusing on the falsehood of sentimental romanticism, he tries to reveal the false aspect of Southern society.