Appendix C: Concerning a Frightful Assassination That Was Never Consummated explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Violence and Desperadoism

  The chapter centers on threats of assassination, physical beatings with a rawhide, and the casual acceptance of violence as a means of intimidation and retribution in the mining community.

• The Absurdity of Pretension

  Conrad Wiegand's grandiose self-image—comparing himself to a whale, a planet, or a hurricane—and his inflated view of his newspaper's importance are mocked by Twain, highlighting the absurdity of pretension.

• Humor and Exaggeration

  Twain's framing and Wiegand's own over-the-top language (e.g., 'colossal to ear, but pygmy to the eye') create a humorous, exaggerated tone, even when describing serious threats.

Characters to notice

• Conrad Wiegand

  The subject of the appendix, a harmless, self-important man who fancies himself a revolutionary force. He is the superintendent of the Gold Hill Assay Office, a street preacher, and editor of the 'People's Tribune.' He narrates his own persecution and near-assassination in grandiose terms.

• John B. Winters

  The primary antagonist in Wiegand's account, who physically assaults Wiegand with a rawhide and threatens him with death if he does not retract his published statements. Wiegand refers to him as Gen. Winters.

• Philip Lynch

  Present during the confrontation between Wiegand and Winters. Wiegand suggests Lynch might be compelled to testify falsely if Winters killed him.

• Mr. Lynch

  Mentioned as someone Wiegand addresses during the retraction discussion, possibly the same as Philip Lynch.

• The Narrator

  Mark Twain introduces and concludes the appendix, providing a sardonic frame for Wiegand's account and offering his own opinion on the proper treatment of a journalist who maligns others.

Key passages

• “If ever there was a harmless man, it is Conrad Wiegand, of Gold Hill, Nevada. If ever there was a gentle spirit that thought itself unfired gunpowder and latent ruin, it is Conrad Wiegand.”

  Conrad Wiegand is a completely harmless person who mistakenly believes he is a dangerous, explosive force.

  Twain introduces Wiegand with ironic hyperbole, setting up the contrast between his self-image and reality.

• “It is extravagant grandiloquence confined to a newspaper about the size of a double letter sheet. He doubtless edits, sets the type, and prints his paper, all alone; but he delights to speak of the concern as if it occupies a block and employs a thousand men.”

  His newspaper is tiny and he likely does all the work himself, but he talks about it as if it were a huge operation with many employees.

  Twain mocks Wiegand's pretentiousness and exaggeration regarding his journalistic enterprise.

• “I still adhered to my purpose of nonaggressive defense, and made no other use of my arms than to defend my head and face from further disfigurement.”

  I did not fight back; I only used my arms to protect my head and face from being permanently scarred.

  Wiegand describes his passive response to the beating, emphasizing his nonviolent stance.

• “It does seem a pity that the Sheriff was shut out, since the good sense of a general of militia and of a prominent editor failed to teach them that the merited castigation of this weak, half-witted child was a thing that ought to have been done in the street, where the poor thing could have a chance to run.”

  It's too bad the sheriff wasn't involved, because the sensible thing would have been to thrash this foolish man in the open where he could run away.

  Twain's concluding remark sarcastically suggests that Wiegand deserved punishment but should have been given a fair chance to escape.