My perspective on American Literature

English 201 has provided me with a more extensive knowledge of early American Literature. Until I started this class my experience with literature was more focused on works of fiction, mostly from the late 19th century forward. I now have a greater appreciation for the writing of some of our earliest settlers.

Out of all of the readings we were assigned, I have to say my favorite would probably be the works of Benjamin Franklin. I was so pleasantly surprised that he was such a prolific and intelligent writer. I had always associated Franklin with science and politics, and never realized he had such success in writing. I found his autobiography fascinating, but I really enjoyed Poor Richard's Almanac. The humorous style, reminiscent of a child's nursery rhyme, made his advice about finances much more interesting. The rhyming quality made his words of wisdom much easier to remember and quote. The points he makes about saving and spending could be used by many in today's society, especially not using credit. I will probably read Franklin's works again.

I also really enjoyed reading the works of Edgar Allen Poe. The amazing way that he uses language to create a mood has always impressed me. Poe has a way of drawing the reader into the life of mental illness that is experinced by the characters. I have read The Tell-Tale Heart and The Black Cat before, but I still enjoyed them as much as the first time I read them.

There really weren't any of the readings that I didn't like. Some of them were easier to read than others, but I honestly found them all interesting in one way or another.
Reading has always been one of my favorite hobbies, so I really enjoyed spending time reading these new selections of American Literature.

English Analysis Essay 1

This was my most challenging essay because it was the first of the semester and I wasn't sure what was expected. I had trouble fully expressing my ideas and providing personal insight about what I read. I also had trouble with the MLA style since it is not a style that I have used extensively in the past.

Analysis Of Roger Williams’ A Key Into the Language of America

In Roger Williams’ A Key Into the Language of America we see a different perspective of life in the New World than that written about by Bradford, Morton, and others. Williams goes against the societal and religious expectations of the Puritans and attempts to educate his readers about interracial relations between the Narragansett people and themselves. Williams expressed ideals of personal freedom that still apply in today’s society.

As we read Williams writings today, we are able to appreciate his thoughts on religious tolerance and individual freedom. However, in the 1600s his revolutionary beliefs caused him to be labeled as a heretic. Anyone who challenged the established Puritan mission was viewed as a threat to that mission, and was immediately cast out. For Williams, this provided him with the opportunity to live among the Narragansett people, and conduct an in-depth study of their culture and religion. He hoped that the Key would provide a new perspective on his adopted land: “This Key, respects the Native Language of it, and happily may unlocked some Rarities concerning the Natives themselves, not yet discovered” (349).

A Key Into the Language of America reveals Williams’ interest in the Native American culture and language, which he examined with open-mindedness that made him a powerful voice for the Narragansett people. Although Williams believed that only Christianity could save your soul, he was impressed by the values of the natives, and sometimes found their conduct more admirable than his fellow Christians: “I could never discerne that excesse of scandalous sins amongst them, which Europe aboundeth with. Drukennesse and gluttony, generally they know not what sinnes they be; and although they have not so much to restraine them (both in respect of knowledge of God and Lawes of men) as the English have, yet a man shall never hear of such crimes amongst them of robberies, murthers, adulteries, &c. as amongst the English” (364). Williams shows that the native people seem to have a moral code that does not relate to the Christian religion, however, they have created a society that is without much of the crime and sin that the English have. They are simple and uncorrupted people. Williams is able to show even modern day readers how it is possible to appreciate a culture, even if you do not completely support all of its beliefs. This tolerance is a concept that needs to be put into practice more often in today’s precarious political environment.

A Key into the Language of America also serves as a written record of a culture that may have been completely forgotten without Williams. The time and care that went into recording the language and translations of the Narragansett people has left us with an invaluable resource for study. The Native American history is traditionally passed from one generation to the next by oral means, and very few written texts exist from the early colonial period that have the detail that Williams’ has. It is impressive to imagine the time and effort that it took for Williams to detail such an unusual language. He manages to portray the natives not as the barbarians many believed, but as a civilized, organized society. Williams makes an effort to cast the natives in a favorable light, so that new colonists will not fear them: “I have heard of many English lost, and have oft been lost my selfe, and my selfe and others have often been found, and succoured by the Indians”(352)

A Key Into the Language of America is a work that was ahead of its time. It only came to be truly appreciated many years later, for its philosophy of tolerance and personal freedom. In today’s strained political and social climate it is important to remember that we should all have the ability to search for our own truth, and the right to pursue our religious beliefs in a peaceful manner without fear of persecution.

Works Cited

Williams, Roger. A Key Into the Language of America. The Heath Anthology of American Literature. Vol. A. Ed. Paul Lauter. 5^th ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2006. 347-367.

English Analysis Essay 2

I think this is probably my best piece of work. I was still having trouble with the MLA style but I was able to provide a better analysis of the work. Expressing my thoughts was easier on this essay than on the first essay. I also enjoyed reading Benjamin Franklin's work, so that made it much easier to find topics to write about. I found that his ideas about getting and maintaining wealth were applicable even today.

Literary Analysis of Benjamin Franklins’

The Way to Wealth

Benjamin Franklin is known to most as a scientist and inventor, possibly even as a politician. What most people probably are not aware of, however, are Franklin’s contributions to the literary world. His unique views and intellect provided his generation and ours with a different perspective on society and political events. In his writing “The Way to Wealth” Franklin showed how he was able to step outside the expected “norm” to share his unique perspective on wealth and spending.

In “The Way to Wealth” Franklin explores the topic of wealth and how to achieve it. In his era it was common amongst the upper classes to flaunt their wealth through their purchases, and most of them lived very extravagant lifestyles. The wealthy spent considerable sums of money on their clothing and homes. They wanted all of their friends to be able to see how much money they had, and it was a competition to have the most extravagant lifestyle. It was not considered appropriate for someone with wealth to live modestly while saving money. Many went into great debt to maintain their lifestyle. Franklin went against this tradition and extolled the virtue of saving and investing wisely.

Franklin created a fictional character that he called Poor Richard, who wrote helpful advice in Poor Richard’s Almanac. The Way to Wealth was written as the preface for the twenty-fifth anniversary edition of the Almanac. In it Franklin emphasized the need for society to control their spending and maintain their wealth. The Way to Wealth is written from the perspective of the humorous Poor Richard who was quoting a so-called reader of his work named Father Abraham. By using a secondary source that was extolling the wisdom of Poor Richard, Franklin was lending an element of validity and importance to his work.

Through the voice of Father Abraham, Poor Richard disparages laziness and sloth. He tells his audience that laziness will lead to poverty: “Laziness travels so slowly, that Poverty soon overtakes him” (809). It is evident that Franklin believed strongly in hard work and thought that all men should work hard to succeed. Laziness and idleness were felt to be the downfall of men and women:

“Many Estates are spent in the Getting,

Since Women for Tea forsook Spinning and Knitting,

And Men for punch forsook Hewing and Splitting”(810)

Franklin is indirectly attacking the upper class society that spent more time socializing and flaunting their wealth than doing actual work. The humorous way in which Franklin makes his points, like using rhyming words and a style reminiscent to a nursery rhyme, takes away much of the negative connotation that could have been associated with them.

Franklin also felt that too many people were focused on accumulating items that were not necessary. Father Abraham tells his audience that going into debt is like giving control of your life over to another: “think what you do when you run in Debt; You give to another Power over your Liberty” (812). This is a very similar problem in modern society. Many people today still have the problem of going into debt to live a certain lifestyle. We have mixed up our priorities and confused necessities with extravagances. Father Abraham makes a good point when he says:

“And after all, of what Use is this Pride of Appearance, for which so much is risked, so much is suffered? It cannot promote Health, or ease Pain; it makes no Increase of Merit in the Person, it creates Envy, it hastens Misfortune.” (812)

This quote says so much about what is important in life and what is not. Poor Richard writes about how the audience heard what Father Abraham said, and even agreed with what he was saying. However, they ignored it and continued to spend money they didn’t have.

Franklins’ ideas were revolutionary in his time and showed how Franklin was an independent freethinker that was open to new ideas. His thoughts have withstood the test of time and still speak to us on topics that are relevant to our lives. In our society today many people, especially young people, are going into debt to live above their means. It would be wise for us to read Benjamin Franklins The Way to Wealth, and learn from his advice.

Works Cited

Franklin, Benjamin. The Way to Wealth. The Heath Anthology of American Literature. Vol. A. Ed. Paul Lauter. 5^th ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2006. 808-813.

Literary Research Paper

If I could do this paper over I would change a lot. I saved my original essay on my USB and later found out that it was gone. Everything on my USB was deleted. I then had to go back and retype it, but I had made changes to my written draft. I am not really happy with the final product. When I read it again, it seemed a little under-developed. I went into writing this piece with a lot of thoughts and opinions on the subject of women's rights and the contributions of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, but I don't think my thoughts effectively.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton and the Women’s Rights Movement

On July 11, 1948, an advertisement appeared in the N.Y. County Courier announcing a Women’s Rights Convention. This convention was designed “to discuss the social, civil and religious condition and rights of women.” This convention served as the basis for the Women’s Rights Movement and launched the political career of Elizabeth Cady Stanton. In a time when women were expected to stay home and attend to the home and children, Elizabeth Cady Stanton broke down barriers for women and set into motion events that shaped the future for women in this country.

Born in a time ruled solely by men, Stanton learned early that there was more value placed on males than on females. After the deaths of all her brothers, her father told her that he wished she had been born a male, and from that time forward Elizabeth questioned the role of women in society as dictated by men. Even in her marriage Elizabeth sought an equality that was unheard of in her time; she struck the word obey from her marriage vows and kept her maiden name. Her early-married life exposed her to a wide variety of inspiring people that encouraged her to formulate new ideas and push the bounds of societal rules. On a trip to London shortly after her marriage, Elizabeth and her husband Henry Brewster Stanton attended an antislavery convention where she met Lucretia Mott. Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton were outraged to learn that the women delegates would not be allowed to speak at the convention and were forced to sit behind a screen segregated from the men. Mott and Stanton pledged to hold a convention and start a society for advocating the rights of women upon their return to the U.S.

The Women’s Rights Convention held in Seneca N.Y. on July 10^th and 20^th 1848 was the fulfillment of the pledge made by Mott and Stanton. The first day of the meeting was to be for women only and the Declaration of Sentiments was presented to the assembly. This declaration, which was modeled after the Declaration of Independence, was read aloud by Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Some changes were made before it was presented the next day in front of more than 300 men and women from all walks of life. A major point of contention was the resolution calling for the right of women to vote. Elizabeth was bold to suggest such a resolution, and even Elizabeth’s husband and Lucretia Mott questioned the wisdom of adding it to the Declaration for fear that it would cause readers to dismiss the entire document. Her best support came from the former slave and abolitionist orator Fredrick Douglas. Douglas spoke to the assembly, pushing them to accept the idea of women having the vote, because without it women would always be powerless against the men. His speech inspired the attendees to pass all of the resolutions, and at the end of the convention, 68 men and 32 women had signed the Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions.

The Declaration of Sentiments served as a form of rebellion against the laws and customs of society at the time. Modern readers may be surprised at some of the items contained in the document, but as the Declaration says, “The history of mankind is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations on the part of man toward woman”. This statement emphasizes the importance of the entire movement. The Declaration of Sentiments provides support for the above statement and includes examples of the inequality of women that it hopes to rectify, especially those focused on women achieving the same voting rights as men:

“He has never permitted her to exercise her inalienable right to the elective franchise.

He has compelled her to submit to laws, in the formation of which she had no voice.

He has withheld form her rights which are given to the most ignorant and degraded men – both natives and foreigners.

Having deprived her of this first right of a citizen, the elective franchise, thereby leaving her without representation in the halls of legislation, he has oppressed her on all sides.”

Without the right to vote, women would always remain under the control of men. It was not enough for the men to agree to grant the women certain considerations relating to property and wages; the ultimate goal was for women to vote. Some did not seem to support this notion, but Elizabeth Cady Stanton, with help from Susan B. Anthony, worked to secure the right of women to vote.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton was quoted in a speech in 1894 as saying,

“The isolation of every human soul and the necessity of self-dependence must give each individual the right to choose his own surroundings. The strongest reason for giving woman all the opportunities for higher education, for the full development of her faculties, her forces of mind and body; for giving her the most enlarged freedom of thought and action; a complete emancipation from all forms of bondage, of custom, dependence, superstition; from all crippling influences of fear - is the solitude and personal responsibility of her own individual life. The strongest reason we ask for woman a voice in the government under which she lives; in the religion she is asked to believe; equality in social life, where she is chief factor; a place in the trades and professions, where she may earn her bread, is because of her birthright to self-sovereignty; because, as an individual, she must rely on herself.”

These powerful and passionate words summarize the goal of the Women’s Rights Movement. Women were the property of their fathers and husbands they were basically slaves. Although not always suffering the same abuses as a slave, they didn’t have any more rights. Men were drafting laws that were expanding the rights of Negroes and immigrants but still subjugating women. Women like Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony spoke out against male-dominated society, and were not afraid to stand up to the criticism and ridicule that they faced. Elizabeth especially wanted her daughter to have a future where she was responsible for her own destiny. Her courage led to the formation of societies across the nation that pushed for equality for women.

In 1869 Elizabeth joined Susan B. Anthony in forming the National Woman Suffrage Association. This organization became active in both Negro and woman suffrage and later combined with the American Woman Suffrage Association to form the National American Woman Suffrage Association. The work of Elizabeth Cady Stanton had long reaching and lasting consequences on American women. There would not be a history of women in the 19^th century if it weren’t for her efforts. She and the other members of the association managed to change laws regarding the rights of women to own property and share custody of their own children. Elizabeth also pushed for easier divorce and equality of employment and pay. She felt that it was necessary for women to have the ability to leave abusive marriages and support themselves. She was probably one of the earliest domestic violence opponents. Elizabeth Cady Stanton continued her fight for women until her death in 1902. Unfortunately, she did not live to see the day in 1920 when 8 million women were allowed to vote.

Instead of being resigned to the life that was being created for her by men, Elizabeth fought for her own voice and therefore for the voices of women today. Considered unladylike and bold in her time, she is looked upon today as a hero. American women have come far since Elizabeth Cady Stanton started the Women’s Right Movement, but there are still areas of the world where women still live under the control of men. Elizabeth’s remarkable accomplishments need to be remembered as we continue to fight for the equality of all people, regardless of sex, color, and religion.

Works Referenced

Murphy, John Patrick Michael. "ELIZABETH CADY STANTON (1999)." 1999. 29 Nov 2006. .

Stanton, Elizabeth Cady. “Declaration of Sentiments.” Heath Anthology of American Literature. Vol. B. Lauter, Paul. 5th ed. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin, Co., 2006.

"The Elizabeth Cady Stanton & Susan B. Anthony Papers Project." 29 Nov 2006. .

US National Parks Service. "Elizabeth Cady Stanton." Malone, David, Park Ranger. 29 Nov 2006. . Simkin, John. "Elizabeth Cady Stanton." 29 Nov. 2004. .