Beginning of Essay
Mark Twain and William Dean Howells are friends and contemporary authors of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. In addition, the authors embrace the similar, yet unpopular, stance of opposing the idealistic philosophy, promoting imperialism, that is ....

Middle of Essay
.... encompassing America's self-proclaimed right of expansionism, and to awaken the idealists' understanding as to the global consequences of their actions. While both stories attempt to challenge the idealistic glory of war and realistically unmask the unavoidable devastation, suffering and death, each author adopts a distinctive literary approach. In "War Prayer", Mark Twain appeals to the moral and religious conscience of the nation, urging the populace to look deeply into the devastation of war. Twain uses a religious congregation to portray the idealistic populace. The congregation expounds on the doctrine of Manifest Destiny and the resulting ....