This paper will analyse the perception of North American nature and its landscapes of eighteenth-century writers, explorers, and politicians in three different genres, such as poetry, notes, and travel logs. It will deal with the impressions by Count Buffon from "La Histiore Naturele", Thomas Jefferson’s discoveries in "Notes on the State of Virginia" and Richard Lewis’ self-identification and satire in "A Journey from Patapsco to Annapolis".
The first part of this research paper will explain different theories which are necessary for the analysis of these works. The paper will begin with the creation of meaning which landscapes have in literature. Then it will continue with the theory of landscapes as cultural phenomena which capture human history in their every layer of development with the arrival of a new era. Especially important is the identification of humanity as an inherent part of this construct. Furthermore, the paper will explain the traditional pastoral ideology – a concept which most migrants from the Old World knew from their countries of origins and believed that it would benefit their economic growth and social virtue. American pastoral as an innovation of the New World colonies is essential for this research, as it aims at taming the seemingly virgin landscapes of Americas.
Further, it is important to examine Humboldt’s definition of landscapes as types of space and the role he assigns to humankind in their formation, recreation, and development. Humboldt paid attention to both nature and man perceiving nature as a whole, and humanity as a part of nature, meaning that there is no human free landscape. In addition to that, this paper will present the Eurocentric approach to the natural habitat in the colonies explained by Marie L. Pratt, which works well with the pastoral ideology, and Stilgoe’s theory about the creation of landscapes which necessarily involves human initiative. This theory, to some extent, overlaps with Humboldt’s understanding of landscapes.
This paper will examine the concept of landscape in these three above-mentioned works as a cultural construct, applying these theories. The conclusions will be drawn based on differences and similarities of the respective observation of each chosen author. The question that is to be answered in my thesis is, how authors of travel literature in the eighteenth century perceived and interpreted North American landscapes.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Landscape as a Cultural Construct
2.1. Landscapes and Literature
2.2. Cultural Landscapes
2.3. Pastoral Landscapes
2.3.1. Landscapes in Traditional Pastoral Ideology
2.3.2. American Pastoral
2.4. Alexander von Humboldt’s Landscapes
2.5. M. L. Pratt and J. R. Stilgoe
2.5.1. Pratt – The Imperial Eye
2.5.2. Stilgoe – Shaped Land
3. Landscapes in Literature of the Eighteenth Century
3.1. Count Buffon
3.2 Thomas Jefferson’s Notes on the State of Virginia
3.3. Richard Lewis - A Journey from Patapsco to Annapolis
4. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
The primary goal of this research paper is to investigate how North American landscapes were perceived, interpreted, and constructed by eighteenth-century writers, explorers, and politicians within travel literature, poetry, and scholarly notes.
- The theoretical conceptualization of landscape as a cultural construct rather than just a physical environment.
- The influence of the traditional pastoral ideology on colonial perceptions and the "American Pastoral" innovation.
- Comparative analysis of how specific authors (Buffon, Jefferson, Lewis) integrated human history and utilitarian values into their landscape observations.
- The role of the "imperial gaze" and Eurocentric viewpoints in defining the colonial relationship with the natural world.
- The intersection of personal observation, scientific curiosity, and literary satire in shaping regional identity.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1. Count Buffon
In some selected volumes of Natural History, Georges-Louis LeClerc, Comte de Buffon, explains the theory of American degeneracy. In this volume he compares the ecosystems of the old and the new world. He argued that the animal life in America was ‘shrivelled and diminished’ (Buffon 38: 1797). He, furthermore, argued that due to the fact that the number of animal species was ‘smaller’ and ‘less varied’; and animals as such ‘less active’, they were ‘inferior in size’ as well as compared to their equivalents from the European continent and in general observation (Buffon 27: 1797). Buffon also stated that any attempt to domesticate the animals brought from the Old World lead to them becoming smaller and less (Buffon 15: 1797). He claimed that one of the factors which lead to the degeneration of the animate life was the ecology and that degeneracy would be the result of the colder temperatures and the higher humidity. While the information about the generally colder weather came from other French explorers, his theory about the size of animals residing in such circumstances, was plausible from the biological point of view (Dugatkin 4-5).
The second factor for Buffon, were the Native Americans. According to his observations he assumed that the natives were not able to become attached to other individuals and almost as the earlier described animals, they were few and weak and therefore degenerate (Buffon 464: 1856). He also described them as incapable of improving their own environmental and ecologic surroundings. He labels their landscapes crude and untreated, since he regards them through typical European pastoral ideology of processing and mastering the land and nature inside it. ‘They could have worked to drain the swamps’ (Dugatkin). With his slightly Imperial Eye (see Pratt), Buffon regards the observes areas in a possessive manner which is characteristic for a European person and sets prospects for the future of these territories.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the scope of the study, defining travel literature and the research problem concerning the perception of North American landscapes in the eighteenth century.
2. Landscape as a Cultural Construct: Establishes the theoretical framework, arguing that landscapes are not merely physical, but are shaped by social, political, and ideological lenses.
3. Landscapes in Literature of the Eighteenth Century: Applies the developed theories to specific works by Buffon, Jefferson, and Lewis to analyze their varying interpretations of American nature.
4. Conclusion: Synthesizes the findings, confirming that every writer, regardless of their specific ideology, acknowledges the human factor as an inherent element in landscape formation.
Keywords
Landscape, Cultural Construct, Pastoral Ideology, Travel Literature, American Nature, Eighteenth Century, Imperial Eye, Thomas Jefferson, Count Buffon, Richard Lewis, Colonial America, Human History, Environmental Perception, Utilitarianism, Nature and Humanity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper examines the perception and interpretation of North American nature and landscapes as seen through the eyes of eighteenth-century writers, politicians, and explorers.
Which thematic fields are central to the study?
The study centers on the definition of landscape as a cultural construct, the ethics of the pastoral ideology, and the historical connection between human settlement and environmental transformation.
What is the primary research question?
The central question is how authors of eighteenth-century travel literature perceived and interpreted North American landscapes within their writings.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The author uses a comparative literary analysis, applying theories from cultural studies, environmental history, and landscape theory to evaluate the primary sources.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body analyzes the "American degeneracy" theory of Buffon, the observational and archaeological focus of Jefferson, and the satirical pastoral poetry of Richard Lewis.
How would you characterize the work using keywords?
Key terms include: Cultural landscape, Pastoralism, Imperial gaze, Eighteenth-century literature, and Human agency in nature.
How does the author define the "pastoral" in the context of colonial America?
The author sees the American pastoral as a transformation of "wild" landscapes into controlled, domestic agricultural settings, often involving the displacement of indigenous populations.
How does Jefferson's view of landscape differ from Buffon's perspective?
While both emphasize utilitarian factors, Jefferson approaches the landscape with scientific curiosity and respect for indigenous mounds as historical artifacts, whereas Buffon views the land through a more dismissive, Eurocentric lens of degeneracy.
- Citation du texte
- Anton Schmidt (Auteur), 2020, The Depiction of North American Landscapes in 18th Century Literature, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1324534
