American Romanticism Essay Example

In the second Introduction to American Studies lecture from period two, it was emphasized that one should search for symbolism when reading Hawthorne's work as it aids in interpretation. Young Goodman Brown presents an instance of symbolism: "He had taken a dreary road, darkened by all the gloomiest trees of the forest, which barely stood aside to let the narrow path creep through, and closed immediately behind" (Hawthorne, 606). Through the use of symbolism, Hawthorne establishes a somber atmosphere.

Symbolism is a common device in prose and poetry, particularly in Romanticism, where it is often associated with nature or dark places. Edgar Allan Poe also employs various symbols in his poem "The Raven." Notably, there is a presence of sound symbolism in "The Raven," which is absent in Nathaniel Hawthorne's prose. The poem begins: "Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore, While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door –"

Only this and nothing more. " (Poe, 675) The final aspect of American Romanticism being addressed in this text is escapism and the search for truth. This leads to literature that focuses on the various places the writer or poet has sought refuge in, such as the past, exotic locations, nature, and the abnormal. This may be a result of the challenges and difficulties the writer or poet faced in their daily lives. Individualism is closely connected to this element because it is through their individual thoughts, emotions, and imagination that they may find their ordinary existence difficult to endure.

All

three authors discussed escapism in their writings. Emily Dickinson escaped from her isolation through her poetry, while Nathaniel Hawthorne and Edgar Allan Poe escaped into the abnormal, where they discovered a different world.

Works Cited

Dickinson, Emily. “I’m Nobody! Who are you? ” The Norton Anthology Of American Literature. Shorter seventh edition. Ed. Baym, Nina and Levine, Robert S. W. W. Norton ; Company, 2004. 1204.

“Emily Dickinson.” Poets.org. Web. 2 January 2011.

Hampson, Thomas. “Romanticism.” I Hear America Singing (IHAS). Web. 2 January 2011.

Hawthorne, Nathaniel. “Young Goodman Brown. ” The Norton Anthology Of American Literature. Shorter seventh edition. Ed. Baym, Nina and Levine, Robert S. W. W. Norton ; Company, 2004. 605-614.

Levine, Robert S. “Nathaniel Hawthorne. ” The Norton Anthology Of American Literature. Shorter seventh edition. Ed. Baym, Nina. W. W. Norton ; Company, 2004. 589-592.

Levine, Robert S. “Edgar Allan Poe. ” The Norton Anthology Of American Literature. Shorter seventh edition. Ed. Baym, Nina. W. W. Norton ; Company, 2004. 671-674.

Levine, Robert S. “Emily Dickinson. The Norton Anthology Of American Literature. Shorter seventh edition. Ed. Baym, Nina. W. W. Norton ; Company, 2004. 1197-1200.

Poe, Edgar Allan. “The Raven. ” The Norton Anthology Of American Literature. Shorter seventh edition. Ed. Baym, Nina and Levine, Robert S. W.W.Norton ; Company, 2004. 674-678.

“The Declaration of Independence.” US History.org. Web. 2 January 2011.

Nature and American nationhood Nature plays a significant role in American society as it is often utilized by American artists to highlight the distinctiveness of the United States and its society.

The texts used to illustrate this are Frederick J. Turner’s The Significance of the Frontier in American History and Washington Irving’s Rip Van Winkle. Additionally, Albert Bierstadt’s painting The Oregon

Trail will be the third and final material utilized. The Significance of the Frontier in American History aligns with the American frontier theory and elucidates the crucial role of natural boundaries in shaping the American nation: “The frontier is the line of most rapid and effective Americanization."

The idea that "The wilderness masters the colonist" (Turner, 1854) implies that when European colonists moved away from civilization and encountered the wilderness, they underwent a transformation resulting in the creation of "a new product that is American" (Turner, 1855). In other words, the American people were shaped by the unique natural circumstances found in the New World. They faced an unknown and untamed wilderness, which they had to navigate and adapt to until they became true Americans. Turner is not alone in emphasizing the significant role of nature in the development of the American nation.

In Washington Irving’s Rip Van Winkle, the Catskill mountains play a significant role, showcasing the merging of nature and American history. As Rip spends a night with the Dutch colonists in the mountains, he is unaware that years have passed upon his return, perceiving it as merely a night's sleep. The story portrays the mountains (and nature overall) with an otherworldly and enchanting quality. Despite all the changes that have taken place during Rip's absence, the natural features of the landscape remain unaltered, implying that nature holds more power than time itself. This aligns with Turner’s perspective that nature possesses transformative capabilities on individuals and will endure indefinitely.

In conclusion, Albert Bierstadt's painting The Oregon Trail showcases a journey to the west, depicting nature in great detail with a specific significance. On the right side

of the painting, there is a depiction of mountains that likely symbolize the Appalachians, the initial major natural barrier faced by colonists as they pushed further westward. The sky above these mountains appears dark, while on the west side it is bright. Bierstadt likely did this intentionally to emphasize the importance of nature in the formation of the United States.

The painting, Turner's texts, Irving's texts, and Bierstadt's texts all convey the notion that nature has played a significant role in the formation of America and its people. The east is symbolized as representing the old and suppression, while the west is depicted as a brighter and desirable destination. Additionally, it is evident that the colonists transitioned from Europeans to Americans due to their exposure to nature.

Based on the text, it can be inferred that anyone has the opportunity to become an American, as long as they go through the same natural circumstances as the first Americans who were colonists. This concept is particularly intriguing when considering America as a nation formed by immigrants.
Works Cited
Bierstadt, Albert. The Oregon Trail. 1869. Kennedy Galleries. New York. Christies. Web. 10 January 2012.
Irving, Washington. “Rip Van Winkle.” The Norton Antology Of American Literature. Shorter seventh edition. Ed. Baym, Nina and Levine, Robert S. W. W. Norton & Company, 2004. 453-466.

Turner, Frederick J. “The Significance of the Frontier in American History. ” The Norton Antology Of American Literature. Shorter seventh edition. Ed. Baym, Nina and Campbell Reeseman, Jeanne. W. W. Norton & Company, 2004. 1852-1857.

Representations of Racism and Slavery

Racism remains a blemish on America's idealized image, although progress has been made in how people of different colors are treated. Nonetheless, the

presence of racism persists, despite improvements. It is important to recognize that America has endured even worse days of racism, particularly during the era of legalized slavery.

The text below discusses slavery and racism towards black people in the past. It includes the works: "On Being Brought from Africa to America" by Phyllis Wheatley, "Ain't I a Woman?" by Sojourner Truth, and "Huckleberry Finn" by Mark Twain. Each of these materials will be explored. First, we will focus on "On Being Brought from Africa to America," a poem written by Phyllis Wheatley. Wheatley was born in Africa and later brought to America as a slave. One line from the poem reads: "Twas mercy brought me from my pagan land, Taught my benighted soul to understand."

Wheatley discusses her discovery of Christianity after being brought to America as a black person from Africa. She realizes the existence of God and a Savior, who can forgive past sins for those who become good Christians. Wheatley believes that American Christians should also forgive and abolish slavery, as all Christians are equal in God's eyes regardless of their color. It is worth noting that the following text is from another black woman named Sojourner Truth, who has a contrasting viewpoint.

Where Wheatley and Truth both share the belief that slavery is wrong, Truth also addresses the discrimination faced by women, both black and white, in her speech. She questions the illogicality of denying women rights based on gender, citing the fact that Jesus Christ himself was born of a woman. Truth's powerful speech gains recognition, including from Harriet Beecher Stowe. So far, we have explored the opinions on racism and slavery of

two women. Now, it is time to delve into the perspective of a man, specifically Mark Twain. While his novel The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn may not be explicitly feminist due to its limited portrayal of female characters, it does tackle the crucial issue of slavery. Twain examines the moral dilemma faced by white individuals, exemplified by his main character Huck, who assists a slave named Jim in his quest for freedom.

In the text, it is conveyed that Huck has been taught that black people are owned by white people and should therefore be returned to their rightful owners. However, Huck has formed a friendship with Jim and opts not to disclose his whereabouts when given the opportunity. Huck reflects on his struggle to speak up, admitting his lack of courage: "I tried to, but the words wouldn’t come...I just give up trying." Ultimately, Huck states that Jim is white. (Twain, 1339.)

Huck's decision not to betray Jim, despite his conflicted feelings, indicates that he considers Jim to be his friend. This aspect of Twain's novel serves as a critique of slavery, as it suggests that true friendship can only exist among equals.

Works Cited

Campbell Reeseman, Jeanne. “Mark Twain.” The Norton Antology Of American Literature. Shorter seventh edition. Ed. Baym, Nina. W. W. Norton & Company, 2004. 1270-1273.

Gura, Philip F. “Phyllis Wheatley.” The Norton Antology Of American Literature. Shorter seventh edition. Ed. Baym, Nina. W. W. Norton & Compnay, 2004. 419-420.

Levine, Robert S. “Sojourner Truth.” The Norton Antology Of American Literature. Shorter seventh edition. Ed. Baym, Nina. W. W. Norton & Company, 2004. 761.

Truth, Sojourner. “Ain’t I a Woman?” Feminist. 11 January 2012.

Twain, Mark. “The Adventures

of Huckleberry Finn.” The Norton Antology Of American Literature. Shorter seventh edition. Ed. Baym, Nina and Campbell Reeseman, Jeanne. W. W. Norton & Company, 2004. 1277-1463.

Wheatley, Phyllis. “On Being Brought from Africa to America.” The Norton Antology Of American Literature. Shorter seventh edition. Ed. Baym, Nina and Gura, Philip F. W. W. Norton & Company, 2004. 420-421.