Human Nature in the American Literature - Essay Example

Literature Sarah Grimke and Elizabeth Cady Stanton Sarah Grimke’s Letters on the Equality of theSexes and the Condition of Women describes the level of inequality and discrimination that women faced in the society. Unlike Franklin’s Dream that cited a bright future for all Americans, Grimke recalls that women during her time were only allowed to remain in the house and their voices could not be heard. Women suffered the fate of being isolated economically, socially, emotionally and even politically in the society. Grimke declares “that where any mental superiority exists, a woman is generally shunned and regarded as stepping out of her ‘appropriate sphere,’” which in this case was only to look desirable to men. Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s popular autobiography Eighty Years and More cites the struggles she had to undergo because of gender discrimination. In the book, Stanton tells of how cold and isolated she felt after being left alone with sick children and no one was present to give her support. Here she argues, “But so pronounced was the popular voice against us, in the parlor, press, and pulpit, that most of the ladies who had attended the convention and signed the declaration, one by one, withdrew their names and influence and joined our persecutors.” Stanton claimed that every effort the women made to try and participate in the national or social matters were disregarded with contempt (Jabbar). In the time of the writers Sarah Grimke and Elizabeth Stanton, the concept of freedom and equality did not exist. From the notes, it is clear that women were deprived of the ability to better themselves as individuals through education, jobs, and even in social spheres. The role of the woman was only in the household without any support from the husband or brothers. Grimke describes that interrupting a woman doing her daily chores such a cooking was seen as a violation as opposed to distracting her when she is studying. Additionally, in Stanton’s era she cites that any woman who tried to defend the rights of equality received criticized and ridicule from the press. The event concludes that women were set as inferior to men and any effort to enhance their situation received a backlash (Jabbar 215). Anne Bradstreet and Phyllis Wheatley Anne Bradstreet dazzling poem The Prologue, describes how being a woman in the Puritan society is demeaning. She uses a meek sound to declare that men are superior to women by asserting, “Men can do best, and women know it well.” Bradstreet accepts that gender inequality is an accepted norm as women responsibility is only to remain in the house. She gently agrees that, as a woman she has no power “A Bartas can do what a Bartas will, But simple I according to my skill” but a man can do whatever he likes. She changes tactics and advocates for the recognition of women potential in the society. Bradstreet asserts, “Yet grant some small acknowledgement of ours” to call for the appreciation of the work that women accomplish (Jabbar 115). On the other hand, Phyllis Wheatley in the Letter to Samson Occom, comes out forcefully to demand an end to the discrimination against the black people. Phyllis felt that the natural rights of freedom should apply to everyone whether black or white. She writes, “in every human breast God has implanted a principle, which we call love of freedom” to declare that people are born free as willed by God. She criticized the American people for denying African American freedom while they were also fighting against the British rule. Her resolve, “How well the Cry for Liberty, and the reverse Disposition for the Exercise of oppressive Power over others agree” is that the American people are hypocrites (Jabbar 146). Wheatley and Bradstreet both agree that inequality exists in the society and it needs to be stopped. Wheatley sees racial inequality against the black community while Bradstreet claims that gender inequality oppresses women. The that is notable from the two authors is that Bradstreet comes out meekly and humbly to express her views of inequality, but Wheatley lashes out forcefully to the American people for enslaving the black people (Jabbar 115). Mary Rowlandson and William Apess Mary Rowlandson after being captured by Indians, she viewed them as savages and barbaric. In refusing to accept the English way of life, Rowlandson feels that Indians are uncivilized and lacking culture. When the Indians begin to celebrate their triumph over the white people, Rowlandson feels, “Oh the roaring and singing and dancing, and yelling of those black creatures” which defines the savage behavior of the Indians. She describes them as “black creatures” to emphasize that they are inhumane and ignorant people who do not deserve respect (Jabbar). In the work An Indians Looking Glass for the White Man, William Apess differs with Rowlandson on the savage nature of the Indians. Apess feels that the white people came with their new ways and assumed they were better than all others races. He declared that the white people did not try to live in peace with the natives but instead discriminated against them. Apess cites that all people are equal regardless of their color or genetic makeup and should be treated as such. He says, “Did you ever hear or read of Christ teaching his disciples that they ought to despise one because his skin was different from theirs?” (Jabbar). Apess argument is stronger because it embraces the issue of equality that should be accorded to all people. He believes that even though one race may be intelligent than the other, people are equal and should be treated with respect. Even though Rowlandson claims that the Indians captured her and treated her badly, they were fighting for their own land which the white people had taken. In essence, Apess idea of living in agreement and respecting all people regardless of skin color is stronger (Jabbar). Hannah Webster Foster and Harriet Anne Jacobs In Harriet Anne Jacobs’ story Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, the problem Jacobs faces is sexual exploitation of female slaves. Her story touches how slavery is bad for all but even worse for women. Jacobs suffers sexual harassment and violence from her master because she is a woman and this makes her situation worse than enslaved men. Jacobs cries, “Slavery is terrible for men; but it is far more terrible for women.” On the other hand, on The Coquette Eliza enjoys sexual attention she gets from men like Major Sanford who sees women as sex objects. Her problem is the lack of freedom for women to explore sexuality just like men. She refused to get married honorably to a respectable man and chooses to have an affair with a married man. Eliza argues, “Marriage is the tomb of friendship” because she equates marriage to a death sentence (Jabbar). Eliza approaches her problem by fighting against the social norms that require women to get married and settle down. She seeks freedom and exposure of the real world and wishes to make her own choices. She rejects Mr. Boyers’ marriage proposal and decides to see a liberal relationship with a married man. Jacob’s approached her problem by resting sexual encounters from her master in return for her freedom. She does not want to be used as a sexual object and instead decides to run away from her master. Jacobs states, “When he told me that I was made for his use, made to obey his command in every thing; that I was nothing but a slave, whose will must and should surrender to his, never before had my puny arm felt half so strong” (Jabbar). Eliza failed because she had done things that were considered against the social norm. When Eliza decided to sleep with a married man and got pregnant, she suffered embarrassment and humiliated that left her isolated. On the other hand, Jacobs succeeds because she was fighting for freedom that she knew as a human being she deserved. She wanted to get rid of the chains of slavery and escape the harassment that fellow human beings had imposed on her (Jabbar). Harriet Beecher Stowe and Frederick Douglass In Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin, the story revolves around Tom who fights the pangs of slavery through honesty and partnership. Stowe describes how Tom remained honest and truthful to his masters regardless of the pain and suffering of slavery. The story describes how partnerships from sympathetic white supported the liberation of blacks. In essence, may white people in the story assisted blacks to escape from their cruel masters to the North. Even though Tom died in the end, the two women he helped in the end were able to get sympathy from a white man who secured their escape (Jabbar 26). From the Narrative on the Life of Frederick Douglas, it describes the brutality of the slavery and how slaves opted to escape. In Uncle Tom’s Cabin, the slaves depended on honesty and compassion of white sympathizers to get their freedom. However, in Douglass narrative slaves escaped forcefully from their masters and rebelled against them. Additionally, the slaves fought with their masters to secure their freedom even though it was a dangerous undertaking (Jabbar 27). Uncle Tom’s Cabin that describes the story of Tom is more effective that Douglass forceful nature. Tom depended on honesty and obedience of his masters regardless of the conditions. The slaves in the narrative depended on sympathetic whites to offer them a way of escape from their cruel masters. The approach used by Douglass is not efficient because there were many dangers of recapture that would result in prison or even death for the escapee (Jabbar 26). Henry David Thoreau Henry David Thoreau in his book Where I Lived and What I Lived For, touches on the spiritual and free-will of being in touch with nature. Thoreau feels that the American society focuses too much on material possession and wealth instead of spiritual growth. People spend days and hours working to enlarge on their wealth without having time to expand on the spiritual growth. He also criticizes Americans for concentrating on physical or bodily well-being instead of centering on mental development. He advises people to stop reading newspapers that have cheap gossip and buying the latest fashion, and instead concentrate on reading ancient material that has a wealth of information. Thoreau asserts, “While civilization has been improving our houses, it has not equally improved the men who are to inhabit them” as he criticizes the society for depending on material things and abandoning self-growth. He points out that, “That man who does not believe that each day contains an earlier, more sacred, and auroral hour than he has yet profaned, has despaired of life, and is pursuing a descending and darkening way” (Jabber 24). Thoreau promotes the idea of simplicity and being in touch with nature’s goodness compared to material possessions. I agree with the notes that Thoreau advocates for self-improvement through spiritual nourishment and abandoning material success. He believes that, through familiarization with nature, a person not only find him/herself but also discovers God. It would be beneficial for a person to become aware of the things around the nature because they enhance inner growth, which is more important than money (Jabber 24). Harriet Anne Jacobs In Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Jacobs’ decision to become pregnant with Mr. Sand a white man generated some pros. One advantage is the possibility of the children being born from this union being freed by a man who appeared compassionate. In essence, Jacobs felt that once Mr. Flint found out that she is having a child with another man he would sell her. This scenario would have led to the end of constant sexual harassment that faced from Mr. Flint. In addition to protecting her children, Jacobs would have been able to avoid hatred and persecution from Mrs. Flint. The disadvantage of getting pregnant with Mr. Sand is the possibility of losing her self-respect because she was not in love with him. Jacobs was in love with a free African American suitor, but she had to leave him in favor of Mr. Sand. Her relatives did not support the plan to have a relationship with a white man and therefore, she risked losing her family (Jabber). Jacobs’ story in Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl recounts the horrors the African American women had to face under the slave masters. It became apparent that many women slaves were sexually harassed by their masters in addition to being treated as inferior beings. The wives of these masters loathed black women slaves because their husbands had relations with them. From the notes, it is also clear that Jacobs wished to address on the plight of not only black women but also the pain the white women suffered (Jabber). Nathaniel Hawthorne Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, chapter 1-8 opens with Hester Prynne who has to bear the burden of carrying an encryption of letter “A” on her chest which denotes an adulterer. Prynne has a child named Pearl from her affair and she refuses to confess his name. Hester decides to remain in New England even after she is freed from prison because the land offers an attachment to her tribulation. She has a deep attachment to Pearl’s father and leaving would mean abandoning her love forever. Hester remains steadfast and patient even as the town’s people insult and alienate themselves from her. She portrays a symbol of strength and fortitude in living her life even when circumstances seem dire (Jabber 141). In The Scarlet Letter, from chapter 9-12, Hawthorne describes the burden of adultery and it implication in the Puritan society. Any person found to have committed adultery has to be put to shame in front of the whole community and goes to jail or even suffers a death penalty. From the notes, the ministers control the community and Reverend Dimmesdale who fathered Hester’s child does not come out to confess his sins. The concept of the story shows the hypocrisy of the Puritan people and also the primitive nature of subjecting citizens to unattainable moral standards (Jabber 141). Chillingworth decides to exert revenge on the man who had an affair with his wife Hester. Revenge clouds his mind each day as he lives with Dimmesdale whom he suspects to be the guilty party. Chillingworth tries to get Dimmesdale to confess his sins, but he refuses. In extending his revenge, Chillingworth sneaks on Dimmesdale one day while he is sleeping and places his hand on his chest and discovers his secret. On the other hand, Dimmesdale handles his problem by feeling a huge guilt and remorse for what he has done. The extent of his sins makes him feel vulnerable and afraid that people would find out. The guilt and remorse led him to make powerful sermons stating, “The whole human brotherhood in the heart’s native language” which indicates he understands human weaknesses. Dimmesdale suffers in secret even causing bodily harm on himself because of the guilt he suffers. The relationship between Chillingworth and Dimmesdale is intense because they both have a secret they are keeping from one another (Jabber 141). From the note, it becomes clear the Chillingworth decides that revenge presents the most effective method to deal with the man who had an affair with his wife Hester. Chillingworth tries to get Dimmesdale to confess and when this does not work, he sneaks on him while he sleeps and discovers the secret scarlet “A” he wears under the shirt. While Chillingworth represents a dark force, Dimmesdale suffers in guilt for the sins he committed. He deprives himself of food, water, and even causes bodily harm on himself to try and deal with his problem. I agree with the notes that Dimmesdale represents a man torn by guilt and ended into self-destruction (Jabber 142). From The Scarlet Letter chapters 13 –19, Hester has changed in a positive way because of her strength and character. She has interacted with many townspeople helping the needy and people have begun associated the letter “A” on her chest with “Able” instead of an adulterer. It is revealed that the elders of the town have even resolved to have her remove the scarlet letter “A” from her clothing to be a free woman. Dimmesdale has also changed positively after learning Chillingworth is Hester’s husband and plans to leave with her to another country. He feels rejuvenated and ready to begin a new life after forgiving Hester for lying to him about Chillingworth (Jabber 103). Hester has not only changed in her physical appearance, she has also changed as a person who exhumes strength. People in the community now accept her as a person who is able and determined than an adulterer. From the notes, Dimmesdale appearance appears frail and he is still suffering from guilt of keeping the secret of being Hester’s lover. After speaking with Hester and finding out that Chillingworth is her former husband, he forgives her and has a personal transformation. He feels anew and even plans to leave the town with Hester to begin a new life. Chillingworth is represented as a darker person who is consumed by vengeance. He does not take responsibility for his actions and still blames Dimmesdale for all his problems (Jabber 103). Edgar Allan Poe Edgar Allan Poe in The Raven has created a “single effect” that touches on the grieving of a lost love. The protagonist in the poem focuses on the loss and grieving which seems to cloud his mind. The poem features hopelessness as well as despair, which the narrator suffers and the pain that will remain with him forever. He asks if he will be reunited with his lover “is there balm in Gilead?” and the Raven replied “Nevermore.” The word “Nevermore” repeats in the story to show the single effect of despair, hopelessness, and ineptness that is unending (Jabber 28). From the notes, the poem takes place in a cold night where the narrator is in pain and grieving the loss of a loved one. The mood of the narrator corresponds to the cold, dark night which adds to the loneliness and despair in the story. The theme that clears comes out from the poem is the hopelessness that is depicted further by the appearance of a raven. In ancient days, ravens were associated with bad omen and its presence adds to the gloomy and somber mood that the narrator faces. I agree with the notes that the symbolic meaning of the raven as it repeats “Nevermore” represents the narrator’s inner grief that will remain with him forever (Jabber 28). In Edgar Allan Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher, the story reflects on the altered consciousness mind of the narrator. The narrator cites, “upon the vacant eye-like windows” which describes the state of the human mind. The narrator claims “I shall ever bear about me a memory of the many solemn hours I thus spent alone with the master of the House of Usher” to describe his conflicted mind and body. In the story, Usher represents the mind, and Madeline represents his body that dies, but survives after fighting back. In claiming, “Of a mental disorder which oppressed him” the narrator states how his mind was tormented and in darkness that was pulling him down physically and emotionally (Jabber 29). I agree with the motes, the narrator in The Fall of the House of Usher represents the narrator fighting with his deepest fears. The narrator is facing physical decline and mental depression that exhausts him with taunting as well as agitation. The narrator has the self-awareness to realize that he needs to escape his mental and physical torment or risk death (Jabber 29). Work Cited Jabbar, Wisam. A Preface to Colonial American Poetry: A Study in the Poetry of the Age in Relation to American History and Literature. Bloomington, Indiana: iUniverse, 2005. Print. Read More