Samuel Clemens, better known by his pen name Mark Twain, wrote two stirring short stories four years apart. The first story, titled A Dog’s Tale, came to publication in Harper’s Magazine in 1903. In 1907, Clemens wrote the second story A Horse’s Tale in response to actor Minnie Fiske’s request for help in her drive against bullfighting. Both stories include innocent eye narration, animal abuse, and sobering conclusions. Soldier Boy and Aileen display strikingly similar character traits and emotions. Even though the plot of the stories differ greatly the main characters show greatly akin characteristics. Aileen has respect and admiration for her mother’s vocabulary, integrity, and courage. Even though she admits that, “I do not …show more content…
Similar to Aileen, Soldier Boy takes great pride in his heritage and admits his ignorance of the meaning of certain words. He is proud to serve Buffalo Bill, and holds him with the upmost respect and awe. But soon the camp is turned upside down when Cathy, a nine year old orphan from Spain, comes to stay. Every animal and soldier alike is enchanted by her infectious charm and Shirley Temple-like attitude and joy. When Cathy breaks her arm and cannot ride back to camp, Soldier Boy exposes that, “People say a horse can’t cry; but they don’t know, because we cry inside.” …show more content…
In A Horse’s Tale, a detailed, gory description of a bull fight sobers the otherwise lighthearted, cheery tone of the story. Two horses listen to the description and remark to each other about the state of humanity, “They are created as they are; they cannot help it. They are only brutal because that is their make; brutes would be brutal if it was their make.”(Twain). In A Dog’s Tale the father of the family kills Aileen’s puppy during a cruel experiment. Aileen watches a hired hand go out to the garden to bury her offspring and hears his ironic comment, "Poor little doggie, you saved HIS child!"(Twain). Starting off cheery, these stories grab attention and draw the unsuspecting readers into in to a conclusion that drives home their messages with unequaled impact and