Cannibalism in the cars - analisi + commento

Cannibalism in the cars by Mark Twain

1868 → vicino alla Guerra Civile

(finita nel 1865)

scenario differente rispetto a Benito Juarez 1836

ma sempre stessi problemi

COSTRUZIONE STRUTTURA molto complessa

• COSTRUZIONE VESTI CAVE molto semplice

• ritmo narrativo molto veloce (+)

• (fondamentale per il suo successo)

costruzione tale perché è un racconto

• COMICO

• GROTTESCO

presenza ELEMENTI TRAGICI

ma che non possiamo definire tali a causa dell'ironia.

Il racconto può essere letto come ALLEGORIA

• ambito politico nazionale

• +

• operazioni Congresso

leggi/benefits applicati agli ex schiavi per renderli cittadini

₁ ambientazione Completamente urbano

• mette in gioco/senza dei tabù
• che attrae la lettura dei lettori

• consumo degli altri corpi
• cannibalismo
• mette a confronto

• mondo selvaggio
• tabù
• illecito
• vs
• mondo civilizzato
• leggi con
• si prendono le decisioni
• lecito

₂ Terra di nessuno

• ambiente di riferimento della cultura americana
• modella gli americani
• se giornalismo o per dibattito politico

₃ trae ispirazione dalla cultura popolare = Twain scrittore di frontiera

• tipiche caratteristiche

• classiche storie della frontiera
• meno civilizzata
• meno acculturata del New England
• tipico dell'oralità
• subito qualcuno che ti parla
• comunità

Cannibalism in the Cars

by Mark Twain

I visited St. Louis lately, and on my way West, after changing cars at Terre Haute, Indiana, a mild, benevolent-looking gentleman of about forty-five, or maybe fifty, came in at one of the way-stations and sat down beside me. We talked together pleasantly on various subjects for an hour, perhaps, and I found him exceedingly intelligent and entertaining. When he learned that I was from Washington, he immediately began to ask questions about various public men, and about Congressional affairs; and I saw very shortly that I was conversing with a man who was perfectly familiar with the ins and outs of political life at the Capital, even to the ways and manners, and customs of procedure of Senators and Representatives in the Chambers of the national Legislature. Presently two men halted near us for a single moment, and one said to the other:

“Harris, if you’ll do that for me, I’ll never forget you, my boy.”

My new comrade’s eye lighted pleasantly. The words had touched upon a happy memory, I thought. Then his face settled into thoughtfulness—almost into gloom. He turned to me and said,

“Let me tell you a story—let me give you a secret chapter of my life—a chapter that has never been referred to by me since its events transpired. Listen patiently, and promise that you will not interrupt me.”

I said I would not, and he related the following strange adventure, speaking sometimes with animation, sometimes with melancholy, but always with feeling and earnestness.

among you; I have not sought the distinction that has been

conferred upon me, and I feel a delicacy—’

‘^{MR. MORGAN} of Alabama (interrupting): ‘I move the

previous question.’

“The motion was carried, and further debate shut off, of

course. The motion to elect officers was passed, and under

it Mr. Gaston was chosen chairman, Mr. Blake, secretary,

Messrs. Holcomb, Dyer, and Baldwin a committee on nom-

inations, and Mr. R. M. Howland, purveyor, to assist the

committee in making selections.

“A recess of half an hour was then taken, and some

little caucusing followed. At the sound of the gavel the

meeting reassembled, and the committee reported in favor

of Messrs. George Ferguson of Kentucky, Lucien Herrman

of Louisiana, and W. Messick of Colorado as candidates.

The report was accepted.

“^{MR. ROGERS} of Missouri: ‘Mr. President, — The report

being properly before the House now, I move to amend

it by substituting for the name of Mr. Herrman that of

Mr. Lucius Harris of St. Louis, who is well and honorably

known to us all. I do not wish to be understood as casting

the least reflection upon the high character and standing

of the gentleman from Louisiana—far from it. I respect

and esteem him as much as any gentleman here present

possibly can; but none of us can be blind to the fact that

he has lost more flesh during the week that we have lain

here than any among us—none of us can be blind to the

fact that the committee has been derelict in its duty, either

through negligence or a graver fault, in thus offering for our

suffrages a gentleman who, however pure his own motives

may be, has really less nutriment in him—’

‘^{THE CHAIR}: ‘The gentleman from Missouri will take

his seat. The Chair cannot allow the integrity of the com-

mittee to be questioned save by the regular course, under the

MARK TWAIN

only he had to get out here. He has got their names as part as A, B, C. When he gets them all eat up but himself, he always says: ‘Then the hour for the usual election for breakfast having arrived; and there being no opposition, I was duly elected, after which, there being no objections offered, I resigned. Thus I am here.’”

I felt inexpressibly relieved to know that I had only been listening to the harmless vagaries of a madman instead of the genuine experiences of a bloodthirsty cannibal.

The End

• Ni è sollevato che non abbia assistito veramente ad un evento cannibalistico ma solo ad una fantasia di un matto innocuo
• Dato che il racconto è allegoria Guerra Civile dobbiamo stare attenti a questa chiusura di tipo ironica/satirica = non dobbiamo prenderla su serio è una burla come detto dal Capo Stazione Ni è inaffidabile