ABSTRACT

Many critics have discussed the town of Hadleyburg as a “microcosm of America,” comparing townsfolk’s activities and personalities to various features of the American character filled with corruption and the belief that money is paramount to all things. Twain fills this work with poignant sarcasm which some believe is related to personal experiences in his later life. Twain walks readers through the story not only as readers but as participants so much that they become fully engrossed as willing participants and even decision-makers as they look upon this stranger who has invaded the lovely Hadleburg. Under Twain’s vivid descriptions, readers seem to be on the spot in the town hall witnessing this farce and wonder how this problem can be solved as fellow Hadleburgians. Twain’s scathing irony of human nature is fully experienced by all who read this remarkable tale.

Key words：The Man that Corrupted Hadleyburg; Mark Twain; Irony; Human nature

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ABSTRACT

摘要

Chapter One INTRODUCTION-1

Chapter Two LITERATURE REVIEW-3

Chapter Three MARK TWAIN’S IRONY OF HUMAN NATURE-5

3.1 The Penetration of the Hypocrisy of Human Nature-5

3.1.1 The residents’ corrupted concept of money as revealed in psychological description-5

3.1.2 The residents’ ugly and vulgar character as revealed in their dialogues-6

3.1.3 The residents’ vanity as revealed in Twain’s description of scenes-8

3.2 The Connotation of Mark Twain’s Irony-9

3.2.1 The real culprits who corrupted Hadleyburg-9

3.2.2 Hadleyburg ----- A miniature of American society-10

Chapter Four TRANSFORMATION OF MARK TWAIN’S WRITING STYLE-12

4.1 Change in Mark Twain’s Writing Style-12

4.1.1 The early relaxed humor-12

4.1.2 The later bitter irony-13

4.2 Underlying Causes of the Change in Mark Twain’s Style-13

4.2.1 The effects of the development of America-13

4.2.2 The impact of Mark Twain’s life experiences-14

Chapter Five CONCLUSION-16

WORKS CITED-17