Would you read more of Mark Twain's writings even if they were not assigned in a course? Why or why not?"
I would most definitely read more of Twain's writings, whether or not they were assigned to me in school. Personally, I find his works highly amusing and interesting, even though they are so old. With what I've glimpsed so far, I think they are exceptional and intriguing pieces of art. Mark Twain had the fine gift of expertly attracting his readers/fans with each and every story that he composed. It's nearly impossible, I think, to become bored whilst lost in one of his tales. They have a timeless air about them, one that doesn't become faded and outdated even in the modern day. This is why his books have been popular best-sellers throughout the course of three long centuries.
I specifically thought his monologue on the chambermaids was funny, as well as the dissertation on Franklin's aphorisms. He humorously discusses how Benjamin Franklin's lifestyle was modeled by many families, much to the distress of their sons. He uses himself as a reference, saying how much he detested the rigorous rules he was subjected to. Twain recalls that as a young boy, he thought his parents were too strict and overworked him. This, he claimed, was all due to what they had read in Poor Richard's Almanac. They followed Ben Franklin's guidelines to a T, believing his precepts to be the preeminent solution for their son. Like many others in their time, they found no fault with taking advice from this respectable, successful man.
It was their earnest desire that their son should turn out just as wonderfully as Franklin, once he was grown to adulthood. They thought there was only one definite way for him to flourish, as they wished him to. Wisely taking to heart every nugget of insight from the learned, knowledgable Franklin was the key.Mark Twain was quick to point out that he saw little outcome from these well-meant efforts. He didn't see any improvement or difference, as a result of the extra hours he spent in tireless study and endless toil. He makes it abundantly clear that nothing was accomplished, but does so in a classic and comical tradition.
The short sketch on bachelorhood was the other anecdote that I found hilarious. It is a brief look into the lives of working bachelors and their trials with chambermaids. Twain loudly expresses his detest for these hotel maids he encountered in his business travels. He tells how they consistently fumbled with his things while cleaning, rearranging them in the most aggravating manner. His complaints sounded a lot like those of a husband, annoyed with his meddlesome wife. It paints a perfect picture of how men and women have completely contrasting views on home organization.
Twain makes himself look like a helpless, agitated man, at the mercy of these cumbersome domestic goddesses. Always out to make his life miserable, he'd concluded that there was nothing but trouble when it came to them. He repeatedly recounts different instances, where he came home to find his boarding room in total disarray(from his perspective). I feel sure many a bachelor in Twain's time could relate to his tribulations.
Mark Twain was a witty and remarkably intelligent character, with a knack for invoking laughter in all his readers. People appreciated the comfort and distraction of merriment in the awful aftermath of the Civil War drama. It was a balm to their troubled, weary hearts to relax in the company of his novels.
So I would infer that Mark Twain's publications were hugely enjoyable to me and I would love to explore more of them in the future.
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