This character allows for a more complex psychological study of societal issues and allows Twain to examine the American mind with more complexity than earlier Southwestern humorists. Although some portions of Twain's work are considered violent by contemporary readers, his emphasis on brutal behavior is greatly diminished when compared to the work of early Southwestern humorists. An audience consisting of many female readers may be one factor in this change. Early Southwestern humor was predominately circulated through Porter's Spirit of the Times . This nineteenth-century sporting magazine undoubtedly addressed a predominately male audience who typically enjoyed the rough humor of the sketches.
Twain is an American icon.
He is equally familiar to Americans today as in his prime over one hundred years ago. This popularity is due to an appeal which transcends regional boundaries as well as generational changes. Unlike early Southwest humorists, Twain is not a vehement Southern secessionist nor a passionate literary advocate for a particular political party. On the contrary, Twain grapples with the problematic issues relevant to all regions of the country in his time and ours.