I was really intrigued by Mark Twain’s speech at the dinner. I cannot believe he thought that it would not offend anyone, especially because the group he was talking with does not seem like the type of men that would be used to what we consider a ‘roast.’ It is even more interesting to me that he used pieces of these author’s works to make these statements and to make what would be considered a ‘below the belt’ blow in many circles. He was basically making fun of what these people had done and how they became successful through these works. I question whether or not Twain ever had anyone read or listen to him practice his speeches before he gave them and if they thought it was funny? I do however think he may have felt very uncomfortable to be in the presence of many of these men whom had been acclaimed literary artists for years. It would be rather intimidating to stand up in front of many of these people and give a speech when the world has not quite given you the same acclaim that the men in your presence have ascertained.
In the beginning of the speech in fact he mentions how he does not want to be seen as a literary in their standard, by making fun of them all coming together. Mark Twain was from a different background, was from a different area of the nation and in fact could not really relate to these men in all of the same ways in my opinion. Which then makes me wonder why he went and agreed to make the speech? I can understand why he would go, because it is in honor of Mr. Whittier however if he felt detached from these men and their backgrounds would you want to talk in front of them? I do not think I would however, I think Mark Twain took this as an opportunity but at the same time did not realize the impact his words would have. I am very intrigued by the man that used humor to get through much of his career and how the people around him could take him so seriously in the end.
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I agree with you on that. There could have been no way he practiced that speech or hand anybody proof read it before he gave it. Somebody surely would have said something.
I think he went to this speech because these were men he admired and looked up to. Despite what he said in the speech and the vast differences in style of their writing.
And that makes me wonder too, why did he say those things if these were men he looked up to? My only guess is that Twain is always writing in the form of jokes, maybe he just doesn't know when the proper time was to make a joke.
Twain was renowned for his ability as a speaker and his irreverence, so it may be that he thought his audience would appreciate his humor and irreverence in the same spirit that he had intended it. Then, too, his ambivalence about his position as "littry man" may have made his speech sharper than he intended.
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