In “The ¬£1,000,000 Bank-Note,” why is…

English Questions

In “The ¬£1,000,000 Bank-Note,” why is it likely that Mark Twain created the character Henry Adams as an American living in England?

Answer

Mark Twain likely created the character Henry Adams as an American in England to facilitate a comparison between the American and British banking systems. Set in Victorian London, Henry is the main character who finds himself destitute after a misadventure in the U.S. Shortly after his misfortune, he is approached by two wealthy brothers who give him an envelope containing a large sum of money. After dining at a modest restaurant, he opens the envelope to reveal the cash inside. Through Henry’s experiences as an American in Britain, Twain highlights the differences and critiques the banking systems of both nations. I hope this clarifies!

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