What Is Man? and Other Essays — Key Ideas to Explore

The Machine Metaphor in 'What Is Man?'

The title essay is structured as a dialogue between an Old Man and a Young Man, with the Old Man advancing the thesis that humans are machines. The argument proceeds through a detailed comparison: just as a steam engine's performance is determined by its construction, so human actions are determined by external forces and heredity. The Old Man asks, 'What could the stone engine do?' and the Young Man replies, 'Drive a sewing-machine, possibly—nothing more, perhaps.' This analogy is used to deny personal merit or demerit, as the Old Man states, 'It is not a merit that it does the things which it is set to do—it can’t help doing them.' The dialogue is notable for its relentless logic, but the excerpts are incomplete, so it is unclear whether the Young Man ultimately concedes or offers a counterargument.

Shadow-Watching on the Jungfrau

In 'Switzerland, the Cradle of Liberty,' Twain describes watching the shadows on the Jungfrau mountain from 4 to 6 P.M. He notes that the shadow forms a face that he identifies as Roscoe Conkling, a U.S. politician, and later a 'fist' shape. He calls the mountain 'the oldest clock in the world by a couple of million years.' This passage reveals Twain's habit of 'hunting for faces in the clouds and in mountain crags,' a pastime he finds 'very entertaining even when you don’t find any.' The description is precise and observational, contrasting with the abstract philosophy of the first essay. It also shows Twain's interest in natural phenomena and his ability to blend humor with detailed reporting.

Incognito Encounters: The King of Greece

Another excerpt recounts an anecdote about the King of Greece traveling incognito in a train compartment. A German-American passenger engages him in conversation, asking about his 'line of business.' The king replies that he is 'only a kind of foreman, on a salary' and that his business is 'a very general kind of business.' The passenger assumes he is a traveling salesman. This story, likely from one of the travel essays, demonstrates Twain's interest in mistaken identity and social roles. The king's understated responses create a comic contrast with his actual status. The excerpt ends abruptly, so the full context and punchline are not available, but the scene exemplifies Twain's skill in capturing dialogue and character.

Readers approaching this collection should be prepared for variety: the philosophical dialogue demands close attention to its deterministic argument, while the travel pieces reward those who enjoy Twain's observational humor. The catalog subject 'American essays' is accurate but insufficient; the work includes autobiography, literary criticism, and satire. The excerpts suggest that Twain's voice shifts markedly between pieces, so readers may wish to sample several essays to find those that best suit their interests.

That rainy afternoon, Twain’s argument about our mechanical nature felt oddly comforting—less a verdict, more a shared shrug. Flipping pages, I stumbled on his essay about artifice, which whispered of another voice entirely. Hours later, Wilde’s prose answered that whisper, his paradoxes savoring the masks Twain dissected. Selected Prose of Oscar Wilde — Edition Insights felt like finding the same rain falling on different windows.