In "The Mysterious Stranger" Mark Twain portrays a society so dependent on outside sources for guidance that the majority of Eseldorf's citizens do not have independent thought. This reliance is what eventually ruins many of the resident's lives and Satan merely serves to elucidate their foolish behavior. Though it is a much more modern time and setting, "The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg," is the same idea in a more modern time and setting. The inhabitants of Hadleyburg are not without corruption, simply temptation and the stranger's scheme only function to induce the true nature of the town. Awareness breeds independent thought, and without knowledge it is very difficult to have awareness. The citizens are forced into ignorance because, knowledge "was not good for the common people, and could make them discontented with the lot which God had appointed for them, and God would not endure discontentment with His plans."(279) They are taught to be followers of God and all that s!
ymbolizes Him and His power which leads to the importance they place on the idea of Moral Se
not realize how meaningless their concept of morality is. The town of Hadleyburg is a modern version of Eseldorf in many aspects. It was considered by outsiders the "most honest and upright town in all the region around about," but only superficially.(231) The reality of the village's nature becomes clear when a sum of money is given to one of the nineteen principal families by a stranger. He charges them to find the towns-person who did him a great service while he was in Hadleyburg and deliver the money to him. This money represents the first temptation the town has had to face and tests the citizens' true nature. Enticed with the thought of a better life, the residents are "as weak as water" and the town's grand reputation goes "to ruin like a house of cards."(241) Everyone wants the money but no one has the right to claim it until the Nineteener's receive a letter containing the remark that will guarantee them the gold. However each letter contains the same remark and cons!
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