In his "To the Person Sitting In Darkness" Twain is showing the immoral path America has set itself on by trying to establish an empire similar to those of European governments of the time. He despises the path of brutality and inhumanity that the Americans have set for themselves as their nations policy in dealing with inferior races both in their own country (the aboriginal population) but also China and the Philippines also disparages the role of churches and their missionaries in the spread of the American dream in foreign countries on the pretext of spreading the Christian religion. The satire he uses is similar to, but much more overt, than Kipling's "The White Man's Burden"
Mark Twain often describes darkness as foreboding, enveloping, and mysterious in his works. He uses vivid and atmospheric language to evoke a sense of unease or uncertainty associated with the darkness.
Mark Twain
Mark Twain
The game that Mark Twain refers to in "To the Person Sitting in Darkness" is the imperialistic actions of powerful nations like the United States in exploiting and oppressing less powerful nations for their own gain. Twain criticizes this behavior as hypocritical and immoral.
Makrk Twain named the "Gilded Age" to describe a time after the Civil War.
Mark Twain described the cauliflower as a cabbage with a college education.
They have been dishonest with the people they colonized—Apex
Mark Twain was humorous, talented, antiracist, and anti-imperialist.
The boy who became a steamboatman
Mark Twain used words like "majestic," "muddy," "mournful," "lonely," and "tumultuous" to describe the Mississippi River in Huckleberry Finn.
apex ~ They have been dishonest h the people they colonize
To describe an evil presence you have to use words such as darkness, blood and horror.
In "To the Person Sitting in Darkness," Mark Twain criticizes the imperialistic actions of Western nations, particularly the United States, by highlighting the hypocrisy and moral corruption inherent in their efforts to "civilize" and "enlighten" foreign populations through coercive means. Twain argues that those advocating for imperial expansion are in fact perpetuating injustice, exploitation, and violence in the name of progress and civilization.