Analysis

Analysis of Mark Twain's "Extracts From Adam's Diary"

Mark Twain's story is his view of creation. Mark Twain in his musing of how this human race became as it is today, concentrated on the very beginning of time. He translated the book of Genesis into a scenario today's world could read and understand. He showed how Adam must have felt when Eve was first created and how "true to form" humans react by adapting to others and situations. First, dislike, then acceptance evolving into being pleased with, transformed to love. Adam went from paradise to hell and convinced himself hell was better. Funny how humans justify until they believe.

He, in graphic detail, shows how the mind of a man and a woman can be so different, while each thinks the other sees as they do. He captures the essence of human nature in his account of the way Adam felt, what he saw as Creation "went to hell in a handbag" by submitting to peer pressure and going along with the crowd; no matter a crowd subsisted of Adam and Eve.

True to nature, Adam "looks a gift horse in the mouth" when God gave him Eve. He could only complain rather than enjoy the company. He still wanted to do everything on his own rather than share the Garden with a mate.

Adam doesn't want to be bothered with entertaining Eve and is glad when she finds the Serpent to take up time with her. He wants the easy way out with no price to pay. He knew better than to eat the fruit, told Eve not to partake of it, then does so himself, knowing all the time the consequences.

Eve, expecting Adam to see and think in the same way she did never asks his opinion on names, places, anything. She just jumps in and expects him to approve and understand. Then comes temptation and submission. Could there be something to this rumor of communication helping to avoid problems?

Mark Twain pointed out in "Extracts from Adam's Diary" how it is in a human's nature to consistently think, "the grass is greener on the other side." Always struggling to change the best resulted in losing it and settling for less. Then comes the justification that it must be better somehow.

Adam begins life alone, but is given a helpmate. Having no idea how to treat a woman he leaves Eve with too much time on her hands and she searches for someone, something to sympathize with her. Each gets what they ask for. Isn't there an old saying about, "careful what you ask for?" Guess there may be something to it.

Life as they knew it is over. Then begins strife, death, hurt and their justification that it must be a better world. Adam convinces himself this is what he wanted and needed all along and things are better. It never crosses his mind it could have been this way all along without the strife, the hurt, and death lived out in a place of perfection.
Paradise was right in front of his nose and he never recognized it.