When Susanna Haswell Rowson wrote her play “Slaves in Algiers” in 1794, many people in America and Europe were fascinated by stories about the Orient. The exotic tales from faraway countries with strange animals, hot deserts, magnificent palaces, and captured sailors attracted many readers. It did not matter if the described events were true or not, as long as they provided an exciting story with Oriental scenery. Writers then created their own picture of the Orient, often with exaggerating fantasy. The interesting aspect of Rowson’s play is therefore her view of the Oriental people and their culture in contrast to the American people and their culture. She creates a specific picture of the Arabic culture and its people to show the advantages of the American values. It is also notable how she describes the difference of the sexes and their struggle for liberty in a foreign land. Rowson describes in “Slaves in Algiers”, with the help of the characters, her opinions on liberty, emancipation, and white slavery in the Orient. Rowson’s description of the Orient and the Arabic culture in the drama is her device to show the superiority of American values and the importance of liberty in every society. The historical context and the definition of Orientalism serve as a basis to understand her opinions.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Historical Context
3. White Slavery
4. “Slaves in Algiers”
5. Orientalism
6. Oriental Architecture and Symbols in “Slaves in Algiers”
7. Characters and Stereotypes
7.1. The Dey
7.2. The Oriental People
7.3. Ben Hassan and the Veil
8. Liberty
9. Gender Relationship
10. Conclusion
11. Works Cited
Research Objectives and Themes
The research paper examines how Susanna Haswell Rowson utilizes the concept of Orientalism within her 1794 play "Slaves in Algiers" to advocate for American values of liberty and gender equality. It explores the interplay between the fictionalized, negative portrayal of the Orient and the perceived superiority of the American democratic ideal, arguing that the author employs the exotic setting as a critical device to promote her feminist and patriotic perspectives.
- The historical impact of the Barbary Coast piracy on early American national identity.
- The construction of "Orientalism" as a literary device to contrast Eastern tyranny with Western freedom.
- The use of character stereotypes, such as the despotic Dey and the veiled villain, to reinforce colonial narratives.
- The role of American female characters in promoting liberty and challenging patriarchal structures.
- The ideological intersection between political liberty and sexual autonomy in Rowson's work.
Excerpt from the Book
7. Characters and Stereotypes
Rowson expresses her orientalist view of the Arabic people through her characters. Most of these characters are stereotypes, which means that they have easily observable typical characteristics: “The oriental despot ruling with arbitrary power, the innocent young maiden as the object of his sexual desire, the valiant young man who hopes to rescue the damsel in distress, the greedy Jew, the quixotically comic Spaniard, are only the more strikingly conspicuous of the stereotypical dramatis personae” (Schöpp 293). The audience was therefore able to see immediately which character played which role. It made it easier to distinguish between the heroes and the bad guys.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Presents the fascination with the Orient in 1794 and states the thesis that Rowson uses the play to argue for the superiority of American values.
2. Historical Context: Describes the real-world situation of the Barbary states and the threat posed by pirates to American sailors.
3. White Slavery: Examines the reality and the narrative perception of white captives in North Africa during the 17th and 18th centuries.
4. “Slaves in Algiers”: Introduces the plot of the comedy-melodrama and its focus on American captives seeking freedom.
5. Orientalism: Defines Orientalism based on Edward Said’s theories and explains how it functioned as a tool for Western cultural superiority.
6. Oriental Architecture and Symbols in “Slaves in Algiers”: Analyzes the vague stage directions and symbolic elements used to construct a foreign, exotic environment.
7. Characters and Stereotypes: Discusses the function of stock characters in simplifying the moral conflict between East and West.
7.1. The Dey: Analyzes the portrayal of the pasha as a weak, despotic figure eventually forced to submit to American ideals.
7.2. The Oriental People: Explores the negative, dehumanizing depictions of Arabic characters compared to their Christian counterparts.
7.3. Ben Hassan and the Veil: Investigates the use of the veil not as a symbol of female secrecy, but as a deceitful disguise for a male villain.
8. Liberty: Examines the central theme of freedom and the author's push for universal liberty through the eyes of the American captives.
9. Gender Relationship: Details how the play advocates for women’s independence and their role as powerful agents in the struggle for liberty.
10. Conclusion: Summarizes how the play serves as a medium for Rowson to assert American imperial ideology and feminist aspirations.
11. Works Cited: Lists the academic sources used to support the analysis of the play and its historical context.
Keywords
Susanna Haswell Rowson, Slaves in Algiers, Orientalism, American Values, Liberty, Barbary States, Captivity Narrative, Feminism, Gender Roles, Stereotypes, The Dey, Colonialism, Enlightenment, Western Superiority, Dramaturgy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this research paper?
The paper focuses on the interplay between Orientalism, the representation of American values, and the struggle for liberty in Susanna Haswell Rowson's 1794 play "Slaves in Algiers".
What are the primary thematic fields addressed in the work?
The main themes include colonial narratives, the cultural construction of the "Other", the political ideal of American freedom, and the role of women in challenging social constraints.
What is the primary objective of the research?
The goal is to demonstrate that Rowson uses the Oriental setting as a rhetorical device to showcase the superiority of American values and to advocate for women's rights.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The author uses a literary and cultural studies approach, drawing on historical context and post-colonial theory, particularly the framework established by Edward Said.
What topics are discussed in the main body of the paper?
The body chapters cover the historical context of the Barbary wars, the concept of white slavery, the analysis of specific character archetypes, and the symbolic use of symbols like the veil and the city landscape.
What keywords characterize the study?
Key terms include Orientalism, Liberty, American Values, Captivity Narrative, Gender Roles, and Feminism.
How does Rowson portray the Oriental characters in the play?
Rowson depicts them predominantly as negative stereotypes, characterized by cruelty, irrationality, and oppression, which serves as a dark contrast to the "noble" American heroes.
What significance does the author attribute to the veil in the play?
Unlike its traditional cultural association with women, Rowson uses the veil as a disguise for a greedy male character, symbolizing deceit and the eventual triumph of Western clarity over Eastern shadows.
What is the author's stance on the depiction of female characters?
The paper highlights that Rowson portrays female characters as the driving force of the play, using the "exotic" setting to navigate around traditional 18th-century restrictions on writing about women's issues.
Does the paper consider the historical accuracy of the play?
Yes, it notes that Rowson had no personal experience with Algiers, and the play's depiction of the Orient is a stylized, fictionalized version influenced by popular narratives of the time.
- Quote paper
- Wolfgang Bürkle (Author), 2005, Orientalism in Susanna Rowson's "Slaves in Algiers", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/39622
