"Advice to Youth" is a satirical essay written by Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) in 1882. He was asked to write something to the youth of America. He talks about six things, including obeying parents selectively, respecting superiors, early to bed and early to rise, the matter of lying, handling firearms, and reading good books.
This essay is a classic example of Juvenalian satire. Juvenalian satire, named after the Roman satirist Juvenal (late 1st century to early 2nd century AD), is more contemptuous and abrasive than the Horatian. Juvenal disagreed with the opinions of the public figures and institutions of the Republic and actively attacked them through his literature. “He utilized the satirical tools of exaggeration and parody to make his targets appear monstrous and incompetent” (Podzemny). Juvenal satire follows this same pattern of abrasively ridiculing societal structures. Unlike Horace, Juvenal attacked public officials and governmental organizations through his satires. He regarded their opinions not just as wrong, but instead as evil. Juvenalian satire thus is more contemptuous and abrasive, and uses strong irony and sarcasm. Polarized political satire is often of this nature, and aims to provoke political and societal change.
Juvenalian satire addresses social evil through scorn, outrage, and savage ridicule. This form is often pessimistic, characterized by irony, sarcasm, moral indignation and personal invective, with less emphasis on humor. Strongly polarized political satire is often Juvenalian. See also: Satires of Juvenal.
A Juvenal satirist’s goal is to provoke some sort of change because he sees his opponent as evil or harmful. A Juvenal satirist mocks “societal structure, power, and civilization” (Thomas). He will do this by exaggerating the words or position of his opponent in order to jeopardize his opponent’s reputation and/or power. Jonathan Swift has been established as an author who “borrowed heavily from Juvenal’s techniques in [his critique] of contemporary English society” (Podzemny). Jonathan Swift—and Juvenalian satire—attempt to punish.
This satirical mode can be seen in Clemen's recurrent employment of sarcasm while addressing the youth with his words of wisdom. Specifically targeted towards any kind of authority, Clemens' "Advice to Youth" may be a response to the recent prohibition of alcohol in Kansas in 1881. This action deeply upset many residents. The youth became especially disgruntled with this change, because it was they, who above else, enjoyed indulging in the fine art of alcohol consumption.
Yet, in his satire--as is usually the case with satire--Twain does give some solid moral advice. The main point is what the previous poster has succinctly written, conventional wisdom is often hypocritical and phony: Getting up with the lark does not make one a better person, obeying one's parents simply because they are the parents teaches nothing, the truth does not always prevail, and guns do not always kill people.
Then what is satire on earth? Literary compositions, in verse or prose, in which human folly and vice are held up to scorn, derision, or ridicule. Here's one example, “Build your character thoughtfully and painstakingly upon these precepts, and by and by, when you have got it built, you will be surprised and gratified to see how nicely and sharply it resembles everybody else’s” Here Twain points out that the youth of society is gradually becoming like everyone else, which discourages their individuality. His main idea is that conventional wisdom is often hypocritical or unreal. The audience is self-explanatory from the title, as he is directing this essay toward the youth of the century. Twain finds it important for the youth to realize that they must begin thinking for themselves rather than listening to those in authority or simply just others in general. Moral lessons may be taught or realized by self, and does not necessarily have to be swallowed by teachers, parents, etc.
In this satire, Twain gives the solid, moral advice to listen to yourself rather than take on moral lessons from others, as what seems to be the truth does not always prevail. From the satire, one realizes that Twain truly believes in moral behavior, as he jokes that he has not learned how to "practice this gracious and beautiful art." And art it is, not reality. The audience would then have differentiated this valuable lesson and remembered it, as it is usually the case with satire. By giving advice to youth, Twain uses satire to mock the way our culture has been giving advice to the youth. He tells the audience to “[b]uild [their] character thoughtfully and painstakingly upon these precepts”, mocking those that pretend that their intentions are simply to give advice when actually, they are attempting to lead the youth.
If, however, one understands Twain's satire, one realizes that he--perhaps more than many others--truly believes in moral behavior, for he quips that he has not learned how to "practice this gracious and beautiful art." And art it is, not reality. The perspicacious listener, then, would have discerned this valuable lesson and long remembered it, as is usually the case with satire.
In my opinion, the main idea of this essay or lecture is that conventional morality and conventional sermons about morality are totally worthless. This is a theme that Twain explores in books such as The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and I believe he is doing it again here.
I think he is saying that conventional sermons and the morality they are trying to pass along are sanctimonious and fake. I think he is trying to tell people that they should think for themselves rather than just swallowing the moral lessons that they are given by their parents, teachers, and so on.
Is it not amazing that anyone would ask Mark Twain, America's curmudgeon, to address a group of young girls? As so cogently put on the site listed below, it did, indeed, "turn the conventional moral lecture on its head."
參考出處：
1. http://nedstuckeyfrench.com/essays-in-america/advice-to-youth-by-mark-twain-1882/
2. http://www.studymode.com/subjects/advice-to-youth-by-mark-twain-analysis-page1.html
3. http://theeducatorsroom.com/2015/08/twains-satire-advice-youth-speech/
4. https://www.antiessays.com/join.php
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