How much of Susy's perspective is influenced by her age and the idealized view of her father?
While Susy's writings are undeniably insightful and full of love for her father, it's important to remember she was a young girl when she wrote them. This means:
* Limited Perspective: She might not have fully grasped the complexities of her father's character or the full extent of his flaws.
* Idealization: Children often idolize their parents, especially when they are young. It's natural for Susy to have painted a picture of her father that was more positive than reality.
* Unconscious Bias: Even without intending to, Susy may have been influenced by the image of her father that she wanted to portray.
This doesn't diminish the value of her writing, but it does prompt me to consider what other perspectives might be missing. It would be fascinating to see how other people who knew Twain, particularly his contemporaries, described him.
Would these accounts corroborate Susy's image of her father, or would they offer a more nuanced and perhaps even darker portrait? Understanding these different perspectives would provide a more complete and balanced picture of Mark Twain as a person.