American Enlightenment and Romanticism: Ideas and Literature
Key Ideas of the American Enlightenment
Tabula Rasa: John Locke used this term to describe the human mind as a blank slate at birth. According to him, all knowledge is imprinted on the mind through sensory experience, making it a very physical process.
Concept of God: Contemplations, like those of Anne Bradstreet, often involved observing nature while acknowledging the presence of God. Careful observation and detailed recording of nature were key. It was believed that through intelligent observation, one could not only describe how nature functions but also discover its underlying laws.
God as Clockmaker: The world was seen as operating mechanically, like a clock. Metaphorically, God became the clockmaker, setting the universe in motion.
Letters from an American Farmer (Letter 3):
Celebrated American society, particularly on the coast and in the “middle zones,” as strong and positive. It highlighted the improvement in society due to the rational capacity to create good laws. In contrast to Europe, where there was a significant gap between the wealthy and the poor, America was characterized by a “pleasant uniformity” among social classes, with a stable middle class that was largely absent in England. This fostered the idea of “the rising glory of America,” a society that could only improve.
Regeneration: Many people left Europe due to poverty and political turmoil. America provided them with a new environment, embodying the Enlightenment ideal that human minds could improve nature and the world. American society was considered the most perfect.
The Melting Pot: This term was used to describe the mixture of cultures and religions in America, which resulted in a supposedly homogeneous and democratic nation. People were believed to forget their origins, finding freedom in their new American identity.
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin:
Franklin’s Autobiography, written for his son and published in England in 1868 (after the Civil War), established several stereotypes. It reflects the Enlightenment mentality with a positive outlook and a degree of irony. It also highlights the defined role of women in the culture and the link between religion and economy. The concept of time is very important. Franklin aims to avoid any specific religious affiliation.
The Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson:
This document depicts women as completely dependent on men, without rights. While happiness was associated with religion for many, others equated it with wealth. Jefferson adapted some sentences from Locke. The Declaration serves as both a justification for independence and an accusation against King George III.
Early American Romanticism and Literary Forms
Washington Irving: A key figure in the development of a national literature.
Identity: Although Americans were proud of their laws and democracy, they often felt culturally inferior. The “melting pot” of nationalities created a somewhat uncomfortable mixture that defined American identity.
“Rip Van Winkle” by Washington Irving:
A work of fiction that explores themes of marriage and the relationship between men and women. It features a man escaping society and the city for nature.
“The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” vs. “Rip Van Winkle”:
Women tended to write realistic novels because of their interest in romance, while men often used fiction to avoid the problems of realistic relationships. “Sleepy Hollow” features an unmarried man in love with a woman, but the conflict arises from another man’s interest. The protagonist does *not* escape into nature.
Graveyard Poets:
This second generation of Romantic poets (emerging around 1814) had a strong influence on American Romanticism. They often reflected on death, as seen in William Cullen Bryant’s “Thanatopsis.” A major concern was confronting mortality.
“Thanatopsis” by William Cullen Bryant:
Written in blank verse (unrhymed iambic pentameter) without stanzas, this poem is rhetorical and complex. It makes no reference to God, focusing solely on human beings and nature. A central idea is that a voice emanates from nature; a good Romantic poet can interpret this voice and convey it in their poetry.
Sentimental Novel:
Explores themes of virtue versus seduction (where man is typically the seducer and woman tries to preserve her virtue), female versus male, lower class versus upper class, and feeling versus intellect. Samuel Richardson, with his novel *Pamela*, is considered the inventor of this genre.
Gothic Romance:
Features conflicts between light and darkness (representing the known world and the world of dreams). An evil force often attempts to seduce a young, attractive, and innocent woman. It often portrays a conflict between the middle class and the upper class (with evil associated with the aristocracy and the church). Explores themes of sincerity versus falseness and the Freudian concept of guilt. Following various revolutions, the rising middle class (in a metaphorical class struggle) feels guilt after symbolically “killing the father” (the ruling class), fearing his return.
Historical Romance:
Characterized by fabulous and adventurous stories with a clear conflict between good and evil. It gained importance with the rise of the Western genre. It served as a form of escapism into a kind of dream world, often set in the past.