What classifies her as an American poet are many uniquely American themes in her work. In her poems readers see historical events and circumstances that are only typical for the Americans, similarly readers can notice American philosophy and the faith in God that also are the things which define American literary tradition. In her poem ’’On Being Brought from Africa to America’’ it is clear from the very first line that it is about an event from her life. ’’Twas mercy brought me from my pagan land’’ She is telling how she came to America. Word ’’mercy’’ here indicates her belief in God and how God was involved in her journey.
She tries to gain sympathy for what she has been through. The largest difference between the three stories is the audience. The quote I chose is the quote from Jacobs; it reads “I would rather drudge out my life on a cotton plantation, till the grave opened to give me rest, than to live with an unprincipled master and a jealous mistress” (Jacobs 84). I decided to change the audience to white men of the time period; as they believed that slaves were their “property”. Many slave masters were also sexists.
A woman lacking these virtues is severely looked down upon by society, and is considered a “fallen angel”. Mary Eliza Herbert advocates True Womanhood values in her story, “Light in the Darkness: A Sketch from Life.” She does so by presenting two women, Ms. Dormer and her daughter Blanche, whom each posses these four virtues, therefore representing idealistic women of the mid 1800’s. The first virtue of True Womanhood is piety or religion, which Welter describes as the core of women’s virtue, and the source of her strength (152). A woman who is religious, participates in church activity, and follows the bible is assumed to lead a happy, sensible life. Ms. Dormer has a strong pious virtue, as she has a strong relationship with God which gives her strength and hope, and believes that God will provide for her and her family even at the hard times when she is without a husband.
Novels like The Feminine Mystique during this time launched the future women’s movement that called for political and social rights for women. African-Americans suffered from segregation especially in the South but during the Eisenhower era, decisions like Brown vs. Board of Education helped to alleviate the discrimination and acted as an impetus to start the black civil rights movement. During this time, people like MLK, Jr. emerged to support this movement. The Americna culture was standaridized with the advent of television, exposing millions of Americans celebrities like Elvis, Marilyn Monroe and televangelists like Baptist preacher Billy Graham. Thus, the Eisenhower era witnessed not only conservatism and caution against communism but also drastic economic, social and cultural transformation.
Whites are called "a miracle of affliction" and otherwise are virtually ignored. Essentially Walker focuses on blacks, particularly black women, and how they interact with one another. She has declared, "I am preoccupied with the spiritual survival, the survival whole of my people. But beyond that, I am committed to exploring the oppressions, the insanities, the loyalties, and the triumphs of black women."... Walker's major interest is whether or how change can occur in the lives of her black characters.
A ROSE FOR EMILY In almost every story, authors try to subtly employ ideologies throughout to give their readers something think about and figure out while they are reading. Such is the case in William Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily.” Faulkner uses hints of post-colonialism, Marxism, and symbolism throughout “A Rose for Emily” in order to criticize the South. One way in which Faulkner shows his criticism for the South is through his use of symbolism. Faulkner’s main character, Emily Grierson, seemingly represents the South. Emily’s decline throughout the story, both physical and societal, parallels the decline of the South after the Civil War (Dilworth 111).
The phenomenon that Wheatley became in her day is indicative of the debates over human’s natural rights versus nature’s placement of them. Gates argues that the historical treatment of Wheatley’s work has “determined the theory of criticism of the creative writings of Afro-Americans from the eighteenth century to the present time” (229). The Spiritual Scheick suggests in Authority and Female Authorships in Colonial America that Phillis Wheatley consciously used biblical allusions to create a second narrative. One example is her famous poem “On Being Brought from Africa to America” in which the surface meaning seems to be Wheatley’s gratitude for receiving religion and consequently salvation from her white captors. Yet her use of biblical allusions seems to criticize her white counterparts for not practicing the equality that they preach (Levernier 26).
This poem cries out with the hurt that African-Americans, throughout history, suffered with. To be able to endure this daily persecution, these people had to draw on their inner strength. It is obvious of the agony felt and of how a smile is sometimes worn in order to camouflage one's true emotions. A deep, religious faith was a saving grace to our people as a whole. One's spirituality can carry them through even the most dreadful situations.
This southern romanticism with Scarlett fashions part of the Southern Confusion Syndrome. Her epic beauty, fiery attitude, and determination, continues to guide people into this cliché of the Southern woman. The reality of this situation is that Scarlett O’Hara embodies only one type of Southern woman. Gender-analysis literature argues that many different components aid in the making of a Southern woman. Gender roles between women and men go hand-in-hand, especially in the South.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is, first and foremost, a literary exploration of the human soul. The primary focus of the novel is undisputedly the ethics and the morality of the characters. Although Twain concentrates mostly on the flaws of mankind, he also introduces a few kind and selfless characters, who are certainly the minority. A secondary theme is the state of Southern society in that time period, but that theme ties back into the general idea of integrity versus malevolence. Mark Twain, although a humanitarian, greatly emphasizes the extent to which prejudice and racism was ingrained in Southern culture, almost irreversibly.