 |
|
|
In an effort to fill the spaces left empty by his wife and daughter's deaths, Twain formed a group called "The Aquarium," a "club made up of a coterie of young girls between the age of eleven and seventeen"(Trombley 181). Clemens picked approximately sixteen girls to join the group and would meet with them regularly to play cards or share stories. "In his autobiographical dictation dated April 17, 1909, Clemens discusses the genesis of the the Angelfish. According to Clemens, after Olivia's death he became terribly lonely and believed he was now bereft of family. His daughters had retreated from him into their own lives, and he was left alone"(Trombley 182). Clemens best defends the nature of his relationship with the angelfish when he writes, "No it is a treasure palace of little people whom I worship, and whose degraded and willing slave I am. In grandchildren I am the richest man that lives to-day: for I select my grandchildren..."(Trombley 183). Trombley explains that some critics like Hamlin Hill view the angelfish as an "unhealthy obsession." Trombley disagrees and calls it a lonely substitute for his daughters whom he could "spin tales" off of (Trombley 182). Although controversial and quite frankly, a little too Michael Jacksonesque, Trombley asserts that his interest in the young girls was basically harmless. They served his nostalgic purposes and that was as far as it went.
The Angelfish did not have any influence on any of the characters we are looking at since they did not exist during the time of their conceptions. I only included them because they were very important females in Clemens's life at one point and can be used to observe his on going fascination with youth as well as his need for the attention of a female audience.
|
|
|
 |
