Mark Twain's short story "A Dog's Tale," published in 1903, warmly and humorously depicts the world from an animal's perspective in a human-centric society, through the eyes of a clever and intelligent female dog named Aileen Mavourneen. Aileen, who humorously introduces herself as a "Presbyterian dog" born to a St. Bernard father and a Collie mother, diligently observes and tries to understand the actions of people and animals around her with her exceptional intelligence and keen observation from a young age. Adopted by a family of scientists, she spends happy times under their warm care, forming a deep bond with the scientist's young son, who affectionately calls her "Buff" and considers her a cherished friend and family member. Aileen is touched by the son's pure and kind heart, loving and obeying him wholeheartedly. However, one day, the scientist decides to use Aileen as an experimental subject to study her brain, comparing human and animal intelligence and seeking to uncover new facts about brain structure and function, leading her to undergo brain surgery. Temporarily losing her memory and experiencing confusion, Aileen gradually regains her memories and understands her situation, realizing that the scientist's experiment threatens her life, causing her great shock and sadness. In despair at human selfishness and cruelty, she deeply contemplates the meaning of her existence. When the scientist's son enters the laboratory and discovers Aileen, he is shocked and pleads with his father to release her, but the scientist refuses to give up his research. The son desperately tries to save Aileen, and she eventually escapes from the laboratory with his help. Fleeing with the son, Aileen witnesses the dark side of human society, feeling great sadness and anger at the sight of humans abusing and exploiting animals. Dreaming of a world where humans and animals respect and coexist, she resolves to spread the wisdom gained from her experiences to other animals. She starts a movement with animals to resist human society, advocating for animal rights, fighting against human cruelty, and striving to create a world where animals and humans coexist peacefully. Aileen's courageous and dedicated efforts inspire many animals, who rally around her to fight against human society. As Aileen and the animals' resistance intensifies, human society falls into chaos, and humans, fearing the animals' retaliation, begin to seek peaceful coexistence. Aileen constantly emphasizes to humans that animals, like humans, are beings who feel pain and emotions and deserve to be respected. Eventually, humans empathize with Aileen's arguments and begin to build a new society for coexistence with animals. Aileen witnesses the creation of a world where animals and humans live together in respect and love, feeling deep emotion and satisfaction as she watches everyone live happily. "A Dog's Tale" transcends mere storytelling from an animal's perspective, delivering a message that critiques human selfishness and cruelty while emphasizing the sanctity of life, prompting readers to reconsider the relationship between humans and animals and to contemplate what we can do to create a world where all lives are respected.
Mark Twain, whose real name was Samuel Langhorne Clemens, was born in Missouri, USA, in 1835 and passed away in 1910, leaving an indelible mark on American literary history during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was a multifaceted figure, not just a writer, but also a humorist, lecturer, and social critic, leading the golden age of American literature. His life and works capture the essence of America's transition through a period of upheaval into modern society, sharply portraying human nature and social contradictions with satire, continuing to inspire and enlighten readers today. At a young age, after the sudden death of his father, Mark Twain began working in a printing shop at the tender age of 12 and started writing. He began using the pen name "Mark Twain" while working as a steamboat pilot on the Mississippi River, a term meaning "two fathoms," a safe depth for river navigation, indicating the deep connection between his life, literature, and the Mississippi River. After the Civil War, he worked as a journalist, traveling to various regions and writing, experiences that enriched his works with vivid backgrounds and descriptions. Mark Twain was renowned for his humorous and satirical writing, and his works, beyond mere entertainment, contained social criticism and profound insights into human nature. His representative works include "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" and "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," both set against the backdrop of the Mississippi River, portraying coming-of-age stories that criticize social issues such as racism, slavery, and imperialism through the adventures of their protagonists. His works sharply criticized the injustices and contradictions of the society of the time, yet maintained a unique style of humor and wit, bringing both laughter and emotion to readers. Mark Twain is hailed as the father of American literature, greatly contributing to the development of modern American literature. His works have been translated worldwide and are beloved by many, continuing to exert great influence today. His literature provides timeless, profound reflections on human nature and social issues.