Genre
Explanation and Analysis:
"The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg" is a work of short fiction and satire. As a satire, the story presents an account of the downfall of Hadleyburg, "the most honest and upright town in all the region around about," along with its nineteen prominent citizens, in a dramatic, humorous, and often ironic fashion—the moment the town's Nineteen find themselves with a compelling reason to lie. In this way, Twain uses satire to expose and critique the human propensity toward temptation and greed, even at the expense of any semblance of virtue, when presented with the promise of great wealth.