Two Ways of Viewing the River

Samuel Clemens wrote in his Autobiographical book Life on the Mississippi (1883), a section entitled Two Ways of Viewing the River, in which Clemens relates his experience working as a Riverboat Pilot.

Clemens emphasized the difference of seeing things in a different perspective. It is about seeing something as magical, in comparison to seeing it in a scientific and informative point of view. Clemens stated that when he “had mastered the language of the water and had come to know every single detail in his surroundings like knowing the letters of the alphabet”, he gained knowledge about how things are done, but, he lost something which could never be restored. He lost the appreciation and amazement that he felt when he saw the river for the first time. The sparkle and beauty of the scenery is no longer magical and doesn’t give much amazement to him anymore.

The author shows the difference of how people see things, and how it changes. At first, people admire the beauty and simplicity of the things around them. But after being exposed to those things for countless times, people’s appreciation for those things deteriorates, the innocence gone, and somehow sees it in an informative and logical manner.