America and Its Literature in Six Novels

Richard C. Burke / Ivanovo State University / October 2013

American Literature
a panoramic view from six novels:

The Scarlet Letter Adventures of Huckleberry Finn The American The Great Gatsby Catch-22 Beloved

Things to know about America

a young country a new land emphasizes freedom values self-reliance pragmatic values wealth / money emphasizes religion
insular, a nation of immigrants, and racist

and three more:

A young country
1776: Declaration of Independence = 237 years old good American literature less than 200 years old

A new land
the New World land of opportunity Gazing at the fresh, green breast of the new world [man] must have held his breath . . . face to face for the last time with something commensurate to his capacity for wonder. (The Great Gatsby, 1925)

Emphasizes freedom
defining freedom is a challenge escape from oppressive laws and prejudices of life in Europe myth of the frontier cowboy as our mythic figure still the single greatest value in U.S.

Values self-reliance
We can do it! take care of yourself dont ask for or expect help self-made man

Pragmatic
Ben Franklin as model necessary in a new land little time, money, inclination for intellectual and cultural pursuits we have valued education

Values wealth / money

no traditional aristocracy money = power money is proof of success

Religious
New England colonies, beginning in 1620 churches create community necessity of being (or appearing) religious religious = Christian = Protestant the New Jerusalem

The Scarlet Letter

Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864)

(1850)

colonial past: nations social origins themes:

sin guilt redemption duty

 . . . the point which drew all eyes, and, as it were, transfigured the wearer,so that both men and women, who had been familiarly acquainted with Hester Prynne, were now impressed as if they beheld her for the first time,was that SCARLET LETTER, so fantastically embroidered and illuminated upon her bosom. It had the effect of a spell, taking her out of the ordinary relations with humanity, and inclosing her in a sphere by herself.

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

(1885)

Mark Twain [Samuel L. Clemons] (1835-1910)

All modern American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called Huckleberry Finn. Ernest Hemingway, 1935.

thoroughly American popular

 after writing a letter to Jims owner, telling her where she can find him: I was a trembling, because Id got to decide, forever, betwixt two things, and I knowed it. I studied a minute, sort of holding my breath, and then says to myself: All right, then, Ill go to helland tore it up. It was awful thoughts, and awful words, but they was said.

The American
Henry James (1843-1916)

(1877)

story of Christopher Newman (new man)

New World Old World

innocent, energetic, self-made, restrained by moral scruples corrupt, parasitic, proud, immoral

 Mme. de Bellegarde tells Newman, We have no ill-will towards yourself. . . . it is not your disposition that we object to, it is your antecedents. We really cannot reconcile ourselves to a commercial person. . . . you were forewarned. I told you we were very proud. Newman responds, You are not proud enough.

The Great Gatsby

F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896-1940)

(1925)

corruption and emptiness of the American Dream

 Nick Carraway, the young narrator, tells Gatsby, Theyre a rotten crowd. . . . Youre worth the whole damn bunch put together.
"Ive always been glad I said that. It was the only compliment I ever gave him, because I disapproved of him from beginning to end.

Catch-22
Joseph Heller (1923-1999)
Catch-22: a problem for which the only solution is impossible because of 1) a circumstance that is part of the problem or 2) a rule

(1961)

Is Orr crazy? He sure is, Doc Daneeka said. Can you ground him? I sure can. But first he has to ask me to. Thats part of the rule. . . . Let him ask me. And then you can ground him . . . No. Then I cant ground him. You mean theres a catch? Sure theres a catch. . . . Catch-22. Anyone who wants to get out of combat duty isnt really crazy. . . . Thats some catch, that Catch-22.

Catch-22
explores
patriotism commitment leadership institutions rules and conformity obedience money bureaucracy mortality liberty . . .

Catch-22 and American Values

young country
new land emphasizes freedom values self-reliance pragmatic

values wealth / money

religious

Beloved
Toni Morrison (1931 )

(1987)

deals with Americas single worst historical evil and single worst problem shows American values and virtues in marginalized people

 . . . anybody white could take your whole self for anything that came to mind. Not just work, kill, or maim you, but dirty you. Dirty you so bad you couldnt like yourself anymore. Dirty you so bad you forgot who you were and couldnt think it up. And though she and others lived through and got over it, she could never lit it happen to her own [children].

Beloved and American values

young country
new land emphasizes freedom values self-reliance pragmatic

values wealth / money

religious

Summing up
Sin and redemption
Moral clarity Youthful energy and navet Corrupt and empty dreams Madness of social order Savagery of racism and the past

Last Word: Greatest American Novel

Moby-Dick
by Herman Melville
written 1851