In "Two Views of the River," an excerpt from Mark Twain's Life on the Mississippi, Twain comes to the realization of the realities of the river. After a life along the river and knowing "every trifling feature that bordered the great river as" well as he knew his alphabet, (Twain 1) Twain sees the reality behind the "beauty" (1) and "poetry" (1) of the river. A comprehensive analysis reveals Twain's argument questions the value of learning a trade, as his images of "the majestic river" (1) and the peril it may cause for the steamboat, show the comparisons of the beauty and the reality of the river.

Twain's detailed images of the "gold," (1) "tinted... opal," (1) and "silver" (1) river, paint the beauty he finds in the surroundings. The "graceful curves, reflected images, woody heights, soft distances; and... marvels of coloring" (1) depict the opinion Twain has of the river. This beauty has been learned...