The Mysterious Stranger essays

The Mysterious Stranger essays In the Mark Twain story The Mysterious Stranger, Satan teaches Theodor that the Moral Sense that humans possess is more of an impairment than a gift. The first time Satan degrades Mans Moral Sense is when he use the term to explain the difference between himself and Man (66). Theodor, who only had a dim idea of what the Moral Sense was is upset at the way Satan speaks of it. Satan shows Theodor several examples of the cruel things Man does that no other animal on earth would do. Satan says that that although man was given the Moral Sense to differentiate right from wrong he usually makes the wrong decision(78). Satan also says that man is proud to have the Moral Sense when it is actually a shameful possession(78). The examples of the poverty in the French Village(78-9), the man being tortured in the jail(78),and persecution of the witches are all used by Satan to teach Theodor the flaws of mankind and the Moral Sense. Theodor begins to understand why Satan looks down upon our race as silly and trivial when he sees all of the cruel things that man does to other men and animals. Satan defends even the animals of the earth by saying that even they are not tainted with the disease called the Moral Sense(80) and therefore cannot do wrong because they dont have a choice like man does. He questions the boys as to why Hans Opperts loyal dog should not be allowed into heaven and asks if their race can add anything to this dogs stock of morals and magnanimities.(80) Satan thinks that the Moral Sense make humans a foolish race. Mans cruelty cannot be blamed on anyone but him because he knows right from wrong. Along with the Moral Sense, Satan also compares humans to sheep, and says that they are mostly followers and afraid to assert themselves because they want to sta ...