The beginnings of an independent American prose fiction lie in the post-revolutionary era of the early American republic. In the process of claiming its political freedom from Great Britain and displacing the old patriarchal order, the nation had asserted the principle of individualism. According to the Declaration of Independence, the chief task of a democratic government was to secure each man’s right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. However, despite this stable foundation of revolutionary ideals, the United States faced severe political and social struggles in achieving a balance between the interests of the individual citizen and public welfare. During the 1780s and 1790s, America underwent a remarkable socioeconomical transformation. In the face of an expanding liberal market capitalism, a controversy between agriculture and industry began to develop. A traditional land-based class stood in opposition to a newly emerging liberal, money-based society. Popular interests drifted apart and manifested themselves in the bitter party struggle between Federalists and Republicans. While the first argued for governmental control of individualism and encouraged the growth of commerce and manufacturing, the latter favored an agrarian ideal and aimed at limiting governmental intervention to promote personal freedom and individualism.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- 1. The Creation of a New American Gothic
- 2. The Dichotomy between the Picturesque and the Perilous American Landscape
- 3. Edgar Huntly's Quest for Knowledge of his Inner Self and Mankind
- 4. The Crisis of Epistemology: A Lesson in Ambiguity
- Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This work analyzes Charles Brockden Brown's Edgar Huntly, exploring its depiction of the American individual in a time of significant societal and political change. The novel's use of Gothic elements within an American context, its portrayal of the complex relationship between humanity and nature, and its examination of the challenges to epistemology during this period are central to the analysis.
- The creation of a distinctly American Gothic literary style
- The representation of the American landscape and its impact on the individual
- Edgar Huntly's quest for self-knowledge and understanding of humanity
- The crisis of epistemology in post-revolutionary America
- The tension between individualism and societal order
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This introduction establishes the historical and literary context of Charles Brockden Brown's Edgar Huntly. It highlights the post-revolutionary era's emphasis on individualism alongside the challenges of balancing individual liberty with public welfare. The socio-economic transformations, including the rise of market capitalism and the conflict between agrarian and industrial interests, are discussed as the backdrop against which Brown's novel emerges. Brown's unique position as a professional novelist and the contrast between his darker, more skeptical approach and the didacticism of his contemporaries are also noted. The introduction sets the stage for an analysis of Edgar Huntly as a transitional work bridging Enlightenment rationalism and Gothic romanticism.
1. The Creation of a New American Gothic: This chapter examines Brown's deliberate attempt to forge a uniquely American Gothic style, distinct from its European predecessors. Brown's rejection of traditional European Gothic tropes, such as stereotypical characters and supernatural elements, is analyzed. Instead, the chapter argues that Brown uses the "natural terror" of the American frontier—dark caverns, panthers, and hostile Native Americans—to create a new form of Gothic horror. The wilderness itself, devoid of established social order, becomes a reflection of the chaotic and uncertain human psyche, suggesting a connection between the landscape and the unconscious mind. The chapter concludes by positioning Brown's understanding of Gothicism as prescient, anticipating Poe's later emphasis on the psychological aspects of terror.
2. The Dichotomy between the Picturesque and the Perilous American Landscape: [Summary to be added based on provided text. This section requires more text to produce a 75+ word summary.]
3. Edgar Huntly's Quest for Knowledge of his Inner Self and Mankind: [Summary to be added based on provided text. This section requires more text to produce a 75+ word summary.]
4. The Crisis of Epistemology: A Lesson in Ambiguity: [Summary to be added based on provided text. This section requires more text to produce a 75+ word summary.]
Keywords
American Gothic, Charles Brockden Brown, Edgar Huntly, American literature, individualism, epistemology, post-revolutionary America, American frontier, wilderness, Enlightenment, Romanticism, sleepwalking, identity, political and social change.
Frequently Asked Questions: Charles Brockden Brown's Edgar Huntly
What is this document?
This document provides a comprehensive preview of an academic analysis of Charles Brockden Brown's novel, Edgar Huntly. It includes a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords. The information is intended for academic use, focusing on the analysis of themes within the novel.
What are the key themes explored in the analysis of Edgar Huntly?
The analysis focuses on several key themes: the creation of a distinctly American Gothic literary style; the representation of the American landscape and its impact on the individual; Edgar Huntly's quest for self-knowledge and understanding of humanity; the crisis of epistemology in post-revolutionary America; and the tension between individualism and societal order.
What is the historical context considered in this analysis?
The analysis situates Edgar Huntly within the context of post-revolutionary America, highlighting the emphasis on individualism, the challenges of balancing individual liberty with public welfare, and the socio-economic transformations of the era, including the rise of market capitalism and the conflict between agrarian and industrial interests. The novel is viewed as a transitional work bridging Enlightenment rationalism and Gothic romanticism.
How does the analysis characterize Charles Brockden Brown's creation of an "American Gothic"?
The analysis argues that Brown forged a uniquely American Gothic style distinct from its European predecessors. Instead of relying on traditional European Gothic tropes, Brown utilizes the "natural terror" of the American frontier—such as dark caverns, panthers, and hostile Native Americans—to create a new form of Gothic horror. The wilderness itself is presented as a reflection of the chaotic and uncertain human psyche.
What aspects of Edgar Huntly's character are analyzed?
The analysis explores Edgar Huntly's quest for self-knowledge and understanding of humanity. Further details regarding this aspect of the analysis are pending the addition of the full chapter summaries.
What is the role of epistemology in the analysis?
The analysis examines the crisis of epistemology in post-revolutionary America as reflected in Edgar Huntly. Further details regarding this aspect of the analysis are pending the addition of the full chapter summaries.
What are the chapter summaries?
The document includes an introduction summarizing the historical and literary context of Edgar Huntly. A summary of the chapter exploring the creation of a new American Gothic style is also included. Summaries for the remaining chapters (The Dichotomy between the Picturesque and the Perilous American Landscape, Edgar Huntly's Quest for Knowledge of his Inner Self and Mankind, and The Crisis of Epistemology: A Lesson in Ambiguity) are to be added based on additional provided text.
What are the keywords associated with this analysis?
Keywords include: American Gothic, Charles Brockden Brown, Edgar Huntly, American literature, individualism, epistemology, post-revolutionary America, American frontier, wilderness, Enlightenment, Romanticism, sleepwalking, identity, and political and social change.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Natalie Lewis (Autor:in), 2004, Charles Brockden Brown's Edgar Huntly: The American Individual in an Age of Transition, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/56035
