Knowledge and Technology in A Connecticut Yankee in King...

Knowledge and Technology in A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court is a complicated novel that fundamentally deals with the concept of the human experience. Hank Morgan is a nineteenth century mechanic who is transported back thirteen centuries to medieval Britain, during the time of King Arthur. After his initial shock, he becomes determined to â€Å"civilize† Camelot by introducing modern industrial technology. At an initial look Twain seems to be favoring the industrialized capitalist society that he lives in over the feudal society of medieval Britain. But in a closer examination of the work it becomes clear that this observation is much too simple, as the industrial world that Hank Morgan†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"Here I was, a giant among pigmies, a man among children, a master intelligence among moles†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (Twain 40). Hank forgets his own humanity and begins to believe that his knowledge makes him more of a man, just as the nobility that he shunned believed they were better than the serfs because of the titles they held. Hank Morgan uses his superior knowledge of technology to gain personal power. It soon becomes clear that even though thirteen hundred years have given Hank a technological advantage, they haven’t made him any smarter. Twain himself says of Hank, †¦this Yankee of mine has neither the refinement nor the weakness of a college education; he is a perfect ignoramus; he is boss of a machine shop; he can build a locomotive or a Colt’s revolver, he can put up and run a telegraph line, but he’s an ignoramus, nevertheless. (Guttmann 103) Hank possesses all of this technological knowledge, but fails to understand the implications that this knowledge will have on the people of the Camelot. Instead of educating the general public and teaching them how and why something works instead he sends a select few to his â€Å"man factories†. He uses his knowledge instead to produce fantastic miracles, which although they give him personal power, continue to perpetuate the superstitions of the populace that he is trying to overcome. For example, Hank is asked to fix the well at the Valley of Holiness. He installs a pump that will return the water,Show MoreRelatedFreedom, Religion, And The Aristocracy By Mark Twain1840 Words   |  8 PagesA Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court is a classic written by Mark Twain in 1889. It is a novel that lives on today as it shows Twain’s use of creativity and humor in a way that allows him to influence his reader’s views. The scene starts with Hank, who wakes up to find himself in the 16th century where he convinces the people he is a magician to escape his death sentence. Mark Twain uses Hank’s experiences and character development in a satirical way to form his opinions. The main mattersRead MoreAnalysis Of Mark Twain s A Connecticut Yankee1764 Words   |  8 PagesHow to train your human In 1889 Mark Twain’s publishes A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, which is consider the first science fiction novel. Like most science fiction stories, there is time travel and futuristic technology messing with the past. Hank Morgan is sent into the past after getting knocked unconscious by a man named Hercules with a crowbar. After realizing that he is in the past, he uses his knowledge of an impending solar eclipse to trick the masses into making him the secondRead MoreThe Importance Of Education1067 Words   |  5 PagesEducation may be perceived as just knowledge in a classroom; however, it is a tool that saves society from ignorance. The nineteenth century was a time of industrial reform and educational reform; as agriculture was no longer the family’s primary focus, children were able to attend school to have a better opportunity at life. Mark Twain’s social commentary A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court utilizes the satir e of King Arthur’s people and Hank Morgan’s ironic wisdom to demonstrate that educationRead MoreLife and Works of Mark Twain Essay1634 Words   |  7 Pageswas not bound by environmental limitations. He openly mocked the things, which he considered to be damaging to the society. This is also reflected in â€Å"A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthurs Court†, where he mocks the Church of justifying social inequality. The Yank is portrayed as a realist or an idealist, who encourages human progress and technology. This also reflects the mindset of Twain, who always opposed the things, which he did not believe in. Background The Greatest American Humorist