Can we trust Clara's comments to something other than the biased perceptions of sibling rivalry? 

On Jun 20, 2014, at 11:31 AM, Hal Bush wrote:

> Thanks for a wonderful thread so far.  I'm very grateful for these helpful
> comments;  that said, a few things I think I currently think (this morning,
> subject to further change, to which I am entitled):
> 
> I think I'll tone down the "favorite daughter" stuff.  Speaking as a past
> offender, perhaps; but also, more simply, it is not a crucial element
> anyway.
> 
> I think parents often do have favorites, though the rhetoric is often more
> about being impartial.  (for teachers out there-- consider your own
> students; don't we have favorites in the classroom, though we often try to
> mask it?).  And there is much language insinuating such a view, by both
> parents.
> 
> I do think children often know who is the "favorite," and there is a
> comment by Clara to that effect, re: Susy.
> 
> I think Linda is right on, about Livy's special bonding with Susy.  There
> was a very very special bond there, not to say very weird.
> 
> I think Judith brings up interesting thoughts about first-borns (or in this
> case eldest living).
> 
> As for comments pre- and post-mortem:  consider the newly-edited "A Record
> of Small Foolishness," which Ben talked about last year at Elmira.  It has
> numerous references to Susy as not unlike Jesus--pretty strong stuff.  Many
> of these show up, 40 years later, in the Autobiography--or something very
> like them.  So yes, there may be some idolatry going on after death.  But
> there are strong statements before as well.
> 
> I'll also mention in passing (though somewhat related)-- Barb Snedecor has
> a wonderful essay in the ALR a couple years ago, about Mark and Livy's
> grief over Langdon, with excellent quotes from the letters, especially
> unpublished ones of Livy.
> 
> thanks again for these many great thoughts and suggestions, this LIST
> should get a place in the Mark Twain hall of fame!! --Hal B.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On Thu, Jun 19, 2014 at 3:43 PM, Kevin Mac Donnell <
> [log in to unmask]> wrote:
> 
>> All true, but I think much of what he says about Susie comes after her
>> death, when both he and Livy realized what they'd lost. I'd separate pre
>> and
>> post mortem comments about Susie and see how they compare to the pre and
>> post mortem comments he made about Jean. You might find similarities. Too
>> bad somebody didn't strangle Clara so we could make comparisons across the
>> board for all three daughters. Hmm... did I just say that last thing out
>> loud?
>> 
>> Kevin
>> @
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>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: [log in to unmask]
>> Sent: Thursday, June 19, 2014 1:59 PM
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Re: Susy as "favorite child"??
>> 
>> I haven't done a line-by-line study of the Autobiography (and don't intend
>> to), but my impression is that he spends about as much time talking about
>> Suzy as he does for the other two girls combined. Besides all of his
>> comments about her "biography" of him, he spends time talking about her
>> tendency to ponder deep questions even at an early age -- and even throws
>> in
>> a quote from someone else (I forget who) about how remarkable a girl she
>> was. It's pretty clear that he was very fond of Clara and Jean too, but I
>> don't think he talks about either of them in the same way.
>> 
>> -- Bob G.
>> 
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Prof. Harold K. Bush
> Professor of English
> 3800 Lindell
> Saint Louis University
> St. Louis, MO  63108
> 314-977-3616 (w); 314-771-6795 (h)
> <www.slu.edu/x23809.xml>

Alan Kitty
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