The main idea conveyed in Mark Twain’s “The Lowest Animal” is that humanity is marked by immorality, vulgarity, wastefulness, vengefulness, discrimination, cruelty, greed, and obscenity. Twain contends that although we possess a moral sense and conscience, our choices frequently demonstrate flaws and lack ethics. In contrast to Twain’s argument, I hold the belief that while humans have their imperfections, they are not the lowest form of animal and may not necessarily be the highest either.
Mark Twain’s essay, “The Lowest Animal,” delves into the negative and repulsive aspects of human beings. In it, Twain explores various behaviors including greed, cruelty, vulgarity, wastefulness, and other forms of evil. Through his portrayal of these characteristics, Twain argues that humans occupy the lowest rank among animals on Earth. Moreover, Twain expresses a profound anger towards human behavior due to their conscious awareness of their actions and still choosing to engage in wicked acts. He emphasizes that this consciousness is the primary factor attributing to humans being regarded as the lowest animal since he believes that possessing a moral conscience allows individuals to commit wrongdoing.
Mark Twain’s perspective is biased as he only focuses on the negative aspects of human nature while disregarding the positive attributes. He fails to acknowledge the existence of good qualities in humans. However, it is important to recognize that alongside bad individuals, there are also virtuous individuals. This notion holds true both in the present day and during Mark Twain’s era, particularly the 1860s when he experienced the American Civil War. This historical context might explain his critical outlook on human beings.
Possibly, it is due to his disillusionment with the racial discrimination and needless war in the American mind that he missed something about human nature. Mark Twain suggests that humans can be cruel, citing examples such as brutal punishments, a desire for destruction, unnecessary wars, and vengefulness. However, humans are not entirely cruel; they also possess kindness and a love for peace. Many examples exist to support this, including the numerous NGOs, like GreenPeace, that work tirelessly to reform society.
GreenPeace, in Mark Twain’s time, did not exist. However, there were certainly good virtues such as kindness and peace-loving that have always been present throughout human history. Mark Twain acknowledges that greed is one of man’s shortcomings, but also acknowledges that man is inherently somewhat greedy. GreenPeace works tirelessly to combat climate change, defend the Oceans, protect ancient forests, promote peace and disarmament, oppose genetic engineering, eliminate toxic chemicals, advocate for an end to the nuclear age, and encourage sustainable trade. They tirelessly fight against decisions that harm our Earth.
Many men possess the ability to control their greed and exhibit kindness and mercy towards others. As a result, numerous charitable organizations are currently bringing together volunteers and collecting donations to assist those who are experiencing hunger and poverty. One prominent example is UNICEF, which focuses on rescuing hungry children, providing them with basic education and promoting gender equality. Additionally, they strive to prevent HIV & AIDS among children, safeguard them from violence, exploitation, and abuse, and engage in advocacy work and partnerships to create policies that benefit the less fortunate.
Twain not only discusses the negative side of human nature but also addresses the matter of indecency. He suggests that due to their corrupt minds, humans tend to hide and feel ashamed of certain aspects of themselves. Nonetheless, humans are also capable of demonstrating politeness and caution. The majority of individuals consciously make an effort to be polite and understand proper behavior when in the company of authority figures such as teachers, parents, and elders. They are mindful not to be impolite and strive to use words that put others at ease. Undoubtedly, there exist numerous positive qualities that can be attributed to humanity.
Despite the negative aspects attributed to men, it is important to acknowledge the numerous virtues they possess. These virtues play a significant role in enhancing the beauty and value of our society and world. Throughout history, individuals have coexisted and formed deep connections, which challenges Mark Twain’s notion that people are inherently wicked and immoral. Every day, we can observe individuals demonstrating good virtues and performing acts of kindness all around us. It is unjustifiable to categorize men as the lowest form of animal when our world is not solely populated by bad individuals.
