Question

Read the following quote from Mark Twain: "It should, it seems to me, be our pleasure and duty to make those people free, and let them deal with their own domestic questions in their own way. And so I am an anti-imperialist. I am opposed to having the eagle put its talons on any other land."

In a short paragraph, reflect on how this quote represents the anti-imperialists' point of view. What is the impact of Twain's use of the metaphor of the eagle and its talon? Type your response in the box below.

Answer 1

Mark Twain's quote reflects the anti-imperialist belief that it is not the duty of one nation to impose its will on another. By stating that it should be a pleasure and duty to make people free and letting them handle their own domestic issues, Twain emphasizes the importance of sovereignty and self-determination. The metaphor of the eagle putting its talons on another land symbolizes the aggressive and oppressive nature of imperialism, portraying it as a violation of the autonomy and freedom of the colonized people. Twain's use of this metaphor conveys the idea that imperialism is a forceful and harmful act that goes against the principles of liberty and justice.