Magic vs. Technology in A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain

Magic vs. Technology A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain met with mixed reviews when it was published in 1889. The British especially took offense at the novel, feeling that it may damage their history and culture and dishonor the ideals of King Arthur and his Round Table. Others called it a triumph, full of genuine insight and sensitivity to social injustices throughout the ages. Many critics call attention to the cynical ending …

…an old woman Merlin successfully enters the dugout of Hank, Clarence and the army that fought against the knights. A miracle or luck brings Merlin to the first magic he fulfilled successfully. Thus he puts Hank to sleep for 1300 years. The conviction that technology is more powerful than any supernatural power is today's view. Nonetheless, the ending of the novel makes us revise this belief and ask the question "Is technology really greater than magic?"