The Autobiography of Mark Twain · Chapter
A Memory of John Hay explained
Mark Twain recalls a visit with John Hay at Whitelaw Reid's house in New York, twenty-five years prior.
What happens
Mark Twain recalls a visit with John Hay at Whitelaw Reid's house in New York, twenty-five years prior. He describes two incidents: Hay's fearlessness toward Horace Greeley contrasted with his deference to his wife's strict Sunday observance, and a conversation in which Hay urged Twain to begin his autobiography at age forty, arguing that a man's life after that point is worth recording. Twain reflects on his own failed attempts at autobiography and the difficulty of writing with a pen versus speaking.
Themes in this chapter
Memory and Autobiography
Central theme of the chapter; Twain discusses Hay's advice on autobiography and his own repeated attempts and failures to write one.
Character and Morality
Explored through Hay's courage in facing Greeley and his deference to his wife, illustrating the complexity of moral courage.
Hypocrisy and Human Nature
Twain reflects on the impossibility of perfect courage and the subtle lies in autobiographical writing.
Characters to notice
- Mark Twain
Narrator and subject of the chapter; recalls his visit with John Hay and his struggles with autobiography.
- John Hay
Secretary of State at the time of writing; former editorial writer for the Tribune; friend of Twain who urged him to begin his autobiography.
- Horace Greeley
Former editor of the New York Tribune; noted as someone whom John Hay was not afraid of.
- Whitelaw Reid
Owner of the New York Tribune; his house was occupied by John Hay during the visit.
- Mrs. Hay
John Hay's wife; described as strict about Sunday observance, causing an awkward moment during Twain's visit.
Key passages
“At forty a man reaches the top of the hill of life and starts down on the sunset side. The ordinary man, the average man, not to particularize too closely and say the commonplace man, has at that age succeeded or failed; in either case he has lived all of his life that is likely to be worth recording; also in either case the life lived is worth setting down, and cannot fail to be interesting if he comes as near to telling the truth about himself as he can.”
John Hay told Twain that by age forty, a person has either succeeded or failed, and in either case their life story is worth recording honestly, as it will reveal their true character despite any intentional or unintentional distortions.
Hay's advice to Twain about beginning his autobiography at forty.
“She is very strict about Sunday.”
John Hay apologized for his wife's cold reception, explaining that she observes Sunday with great seriousness.
Twain recounts Hay's embarrassed apology after Mrs. Hay's disapproving entrance.