The Concept of Freedom That Inspired Early American Literature

Freedom, always a main concern of Americans and their way of life, was what prompted even the earliest American literature. The Puritans, who fled England to gain religious freedom, wrote about their beliefs and their way of life. To show their beliefs, writers like Jonathon Edwards and John Winthrop wrote things that appealed to the average Puritan, but today we see these beliefs as a little overbearing and controlling. Jonathon Edwards, who wrote Sinners in the Hand of an Angry God, was considered to be the last of the great Puritan preachers, but his hellfire and brimstone approach to writing and preaching led to the decline of Puritanism. As for John Winthrop, he wrote, in A Speech to the General Court, about the civil laws and the courts of the Puritan Era. His Puritan beliefs came through in his belief of obedience when he said that man should submit to civil laws.

The two most contrasting styles of the very earliest American literature can best be represented by John Smith and William Bradford. In Smiths The General History of Virginia his style is very laid back and seems more like an adventure movie that a factual interpretation of things that really happened. Bradford, on the other hand, seems to know exactly whats going on, and he makes sure to explain how it will effect their everyday life. Of Plymouth Plantation is considered to be more accurate than The General History of Virginia, and even though theres not as much embellishment, its still very interesting.

Most writing during this time focused on the everyday life of the people who wrote is and few poets emerged. Of note, though, is Anne Bradstreet who wrote To My Dear and Love Husband. In her poem, Bradstreet expresses her emotions and feeling, and she is generally known for her use of extravagant language.

Although the Puritans portrayed their freedom of religion excellently through their writing, America was still under British rule. The 1700s changed the American way of life through writers like Thomas Jefferson and Thomas Paine. They risked their lives to write things like The Declaration of Independence and The Crisis. In this time of great debate Thomas Paine said, These are the times that try mens souls. Jefferson wrote that there are certain unalienable rights: and that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. To write these things at such a time of change for American proved that we had really become a nation.

In this time of freedom-fighters, Ben Franklin stuck out as a very satirical writer. His style was what caught the readers attention in things like Poor Richards Almanack and The Speech of Polly Baker. The funny things are sometimes what makes the best American writers.

The 1800s were covered with writers of romanticism. The best example of romanticism is The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Romanticism is characterized by long descriptions of nature and impossible situations. Sometimes romantic tales can even seem like soap operas! Hawthornes story about Hester Prynne and her affair with a preacher during the Puritan times definitely falls into the category of romanticism because it idealizes the common man and portrays life as a love of the exotic. As for a love of the exotic, Edgar Allan Poe portrays the exotic and mystical well in The Raven, and is also categorized as a romantic writer.

America likes to bring everything into their homes and poets are no exception. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is known as Americas household poet because of his ability to make the average man a hero His style brought more Americans into the world of poetry. Among other poets of this time period you will also discover James Russell Lowell who wrote The First Snowfall about the loss of his daughter. He brought his pain to the surface when he wrote and related himself to the average man.

A thing called transcendentalism changed many Americans viewpoints during this time period. Transcendentalists believe that the truths of being and the universe lie outside the reach of the senses and are grasped through intuition. Ralph Waldo Emerson and later Henry David Thoreau

were the most well known transcendentalists of the time. They taught intuition through their writing and through their travels. Their style were thought provoking and started to change Americas mind.

Closing the 1800s, Stephan Crane and Mark Twain stepped into the spotlight. Stephan Cranes novel, The Red Badge of Courage, focused on the lives of the soldiers during the Civil War. His styles hid the identities and specific characteristics of the soldiers to make them seem more like just another number in their armies. While Crane wrote about war, Twain wrote satires about the follies of the common man. Twains styles made many people laugh, but also made America take a step back to look at their standards.

In the twentieth century, the Jazz Age left a big impression with works like The Great Gatsby and A Farewell to Arms. F. Scott Fitzgeralds style could be described as a soup made of symbolism. His messages about the decay of society closely mirrored his own life and the hard lessons he had to learn. Ernest Hemingways story of love during the time of war sent the message of the unavoidable face of war, but gave us the image of courage through the worst tragedies.

The twentieth century also saw the publication of many theatrical works. Arthur Miller, Robert Lee, and Alfred Uhry published their plays, all about the strength of Americans. The Crucibletook place during the Salem witch trials and proved that love seems to withstand even the worst of times. Robert Less turned Thoreaus night in jail into a comical portrayal of the famous transcendentalist, and Alfred Uhry taught his readers about the importance of a good friend.

As the twentieth century faded out, Southern literature slowly became accepted as a genre all its won. With such writers as Harper Less and Truman Capote, strong Southern values presented themselves to Americans. Using retrospective monologue, strong family bonds, and the land, Southern literature stepped forward to take a bow.

Although American literature has seen many different periods and faces, one thing has remained constant: the American drive for greatness. Every American writer has made their mark, whether it be through their use of symbolism or their desire for freedom. The American dream hasnt always been portrayed through American literature but with writers like Thomas Jefferson, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Ben Franklin the American ideal seems just a little closer.