Mark Twain used the term “Gilded Age” because he saw society as...
Mark Twain used the term "Gilded Age" because he saw society as being outwardly prosperous and golden on the surface, but corrupt and rotten on the inside. Twain believed that underneath the wealth and opulence of the era, there were deep social problems such as income inequality, political corruption, and the mistreatment of workers. The term "gilded" implies that society's wealth and success were merely a thin layer covering up these underlying issues.
Step 1: Mark Twain used the term "Gilded Age" to describe society.
Step 2: He saw society during this time period as being superficially prosperous but corrupt underneath.
Step 3: Twain believed that the surface appearance of wealth and success masked many underlying problems such as social inequality, political corruption, and moral decay.
Step 4: By using the term "Gilded Age," Twain was expressing his critique of the excessive focus on material wealth and the disregard for social and ethical issues during this period.
Step 5: Twain's use of the term became popularized and is now commonly used to describe the era of rapid economic growth and industrialization in the United States during the late 19th century.
To understand why Mark Twain used the term "Gilded Age," we can look at the context in which he used it and the social perspective he was trying to convey.
The term "Gilded Age" was coined by Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warner in their 1873 novel, "The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today." Twain and Warner used this term to describe the society of their time, particularly the post-Civil War era in America, which was characterized by rapid industrialization, economic growth, and conspicuous displays of wealth.
By using the term "Gilded Age," Twain was highlighting the stark contrast between the surface appearance of wealth and prosperity and the underlying social problems and injustices that were often obscured by this veneer. The term "gilded" refers to something covered in a thin layer of gold, suggesting an outward appearance of opulence that masks deeper issues.
Twain saw society during this period as being superficially prosperous and modern, yet fundamentally corrupt, morally bankrupt, and marked by stark inequalities. He believed that beneath the extravagant displays of wealth and progress, there were significant problems such as political corruption, exploitation of labor, poverty, and social injustice.
By using the term "Gilded Age," Mark Twain aimed to critique and expose the darker realities of the time, calling attention to the hollowness and deception that he perceived in society. The term has since become synonymous with this era and is still widely used to describe periods of superficial prosperity and inequality in history.