Major Findings and Conclusion

It is important to notice that Mark Twain's diverse and remarkable humorous voice and comic style can be distinguished in a variety of the writer's later public activities. His humorous style and comic rhetoric had much in common both in Twain's later speeches and interviews with him. Firstly, the comic forms of irony, self-irony or sarcasm can be detected in Twain's later public activities. Anecdotes, aphorisms and tall tales combined Twain's major comic approach in his numerous public activities during his later years. Secondly, the writer's witty observations and remarks with a definite humorous touch can be found again in all of these later performances of Twain. Thirdly, when giving an interview or speaking in front of the audience, the writer preferred to take several steps away from his inner dark thoughts and pessimistic conclusions. Moreover, Twain's ability to cope with the dark moments of despair and frustration was presented in his active social and public role of a famous humorist. In its turn, Twain's frequent self-ironic treatment of his personal problems and inner issues in front of the public eye can be interpreted as the writer's ability to struggle constantly with his private contradictions and personal complexity.

In detail, the purposes of Twain's humorous voices in speeches and interviews differ. In the later interviews with Mark Twain, his public image of the famous humorist was presented from the side of journalists and interviewers. The major purpose of Mark Twain's comic rhetoric in its full range of forms seems to serve for promotion of his popularity and public status of the greatest humorist. The complex of comic forms and techniques introduced and initiated by Twain himself in the interviews served to be primary means for this promotion.

From the side of journalists and interviewers, Twain's talent as a humorist survived in his later years when this talent assisted in the creation of a prevailingly positive side of the writer in the eyes of the audience – the press defined his comic talent as friendly, sociable, amusing and agreeable. Nevertheless, moments of gloomy remarks, witty criticism and dark philosophic observations that appeared were mainly ignored by the press in the articles and interviews with Twain. However, when these moments were mentioned, the media explained these moments as the episodes of Twain’s illness or as sudden episodes of the writer being serious or thought- provoking. Finally, the interpretation of Twain's humorous talent in the later interviews and articles introduced Twain's personal complexity and lifelong struggle for his position in society, the position and respect he expected from his audience. On the one hand, his self-ironical or self-deprecating remarks concerning his popularity suggested the moments when he was truly delighted by his fame and his reputation as the greatest humorist.

He could enjoy the moments when he attracted the attention of his public, by intriguing and puzzling the audience. At the same time, his reputation as the famous humorist limited considerably his opportunities to promote himself as a serious writer and philosopher. All in all, together with the press, Mark Twain promoted his positive image of the great witty observer. He introduced his comic voice in its full when he appeared to be a central topic in the press.

Nevertheless, when Twain delivered his numerous speeches, his humorous talent was considerable part of his talent as an orator. Seeming to be a spontaneous performance, his comic rhetoric included forms of irony, sarcasm, ridicule and exaggeration. In combination with his oratorical skills, Twain's humorous voice could attract the public's attention, promote Twain's points of view on political events and social problems, and, finally, set a more intimate and friendly atmosphere with the people. More than that, Twain's self-ironic observations and witty conclusions let the writer feel free from the limits of his public fame.

This comic manner of Twain made it possible to introduce himself as a philosopher or a shrewd critic in the eyes of the audience, however, in a less extreme form. Self-irony, ridicule and Twain's style of witty remarks combined his unique humorous in the oratory when he could treat some controversial events or tragedies with less pessimism or despair, in a more light-minded manner.

In conclusion, Mark Twain's frequent use of his humorous voice and varied comic forms suggest existence of positive moments in his life and career when he entered his final years.

His humorous approach in oratory performances can be interpreted as his ability to cope with dark and pessimistic moments, the moments Twain had to face in his later years. In public, Twain preferred a less bitter, but still a thought-provoking and indirectly philosophic manner of his rhetoric. His humorous style together with a wide use of anecdotes, aphorisms and funny stories from his life experience intrigued, entertained and attracted the audience. Twain did not want his public performances to present his personal radical and uncompromising critical attitudes towards religion, politics or human race. In public, the writer preferred to entertain, to instruct and preach but in a more light-minded tone so that to attract the attention of his audience. He valued his fame and the people's sympathy for him. At times, his humorous tone was replaced by more sardonic, gloomy observations. Unfortunately, these moments did not meet the total understanding and support of the audience. Mainly, these moments of bitterness or pessimism were interpreted as the result of the writer's health problems or his age. Together with his public performances, Twain's later life and career

included his private activities. The analysis of the role of humor in this aspect of Twain's later life will be included in the following Chapter 4.

Chapter 4. Humor and its Role in Mark Twain’s Later Private Activities