I find that these stories are very entertaining. Perhaps sometimes it is more enjoyable to read about an isolated situation of a story as you have it then trying to analyze long difficult to read literary work and draw political or national critique. Nevertheless, in someway this is also accomplished in The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County. We see that in a small community such as the one Jim Smiley is in people can occupy themselves with theses games of gambling and frog racing. It reminds me of my grandfather who lives in a small rural community in Mexico and on afternoons spends the entire evening at the local town store chatting it up with other elderly gentlemen. What other things are there to do then just tell stories and perhaps drink or gamble when you live in such a small community. Yes I can think of other more constructive activities, however people are social beings and it is much easier to socialize when we are drinking or playing a game. This depiction Twain portrays is kind of a look into the simple life again, a contrast from Industrial America.
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I agree. And I think that this piece could be a strong argument for the idea that the more complex we become as humans, the more trouble we cause for ourselves. Because those who dwelve (i think that's the word) in simple things are simpy happy. Great posting.
ReplyDeleteI thought that too. This short, enjoyable, joke of a story was entertaining and not so riddled with deeper meanings. I think its popularity was due to the fact that is was a small escape for the readers at the time, a fun read without tragedy.
ReplyDeletea good blog post as usual Santiago... That whole story-telling gig appealed to me too, because I personally like chilling out and chatting with my friends or even with elderly people, sipping on a brew and just relaxing. You can learn more from someone's intellect or story telling wit, than you can from personal experience in some cases. I can't relate to the narrator in the story. I would have stayed and listened to old Simon Wheeler.
ReplyDeleteI thought the same thing after I read The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calavaras County. It was nice to read a story that was entertaining. As a reader you did not have to look for under lying clues that were working for some kind of political agenda. The reading was much easier as well.
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