Sunday, September 23, 2012
"Literary Nationalism"
During the early 19th century when these works were written ("Rip van Winkle" and "My Kinsman, Major Molineaux"), America was trying to establish itself as a new nation as opposed to Britain's colony. People have said that during this time, many writers exhibited "literary nationalism", whether it be through their writing as a whole or through a specific character in their writing(s). How do you think these two stories reflect this time period's struggles and/or exhibit "literary nationalism" towards America?
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I think the story "Rip Van Winkle" exhibits "literary nationalism" when Rip goes back to his old town twenty years later and everyone in the town is against the king. This type of writing would probably never be written in England during this time for obvious reasons that the people in England would disagree with it and the king would be pretty upset if he read this. As for "My Kinsman, Major Molineaux", "literary nationalism" is exhibited when Robin is told that he cant go back to the fairy. That he must stay in town and get a feel of this new life. Here he is told he can't leave the colony to travel back home. He must get a feel for the New World and see if he in fact likes it. In my opinion, this kind of says that you should give America a chance and see how good it really is.
ReplyDeleteI think that the story "My Kinsmen, Major Molineux" exhibits literary nationalism at the end of the story. Robin is discouraged and wants to return to his old life. When he ask the gentlemen to point him to the way of the ferry, the gentlemen refuses. The gentlemen suggest that Robin try to make it on his own without the help of his kinsmen. This is like America trying to make it as a new country without the help of England. Hawthorne demonstrates that it is possible to break from the old and create a new life for yourself.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ryan about the literary nationalism in "Rip Van Winkle". I think that this is displayed when he comes back to the town and is seen as an outcast because he still believes in the King as his leader, when everyone else who has experienced the revolution thinks of the King as evil. This shows that the colonies wanted to be separate from England and not even associated with it, and I guess not even thought of as colonies but as "America".
ReplyDeleteHey ya'll. I disagree with all of you. I don't think these stories are supporting this "Literary Nationalism" because neither of the two was praising America as a nation. In fact, both of them are quite critical on the subject of the revolution. "Rip" reflected that the enthusiasm of the revolution was much lower than what we think it was like. There are people like Rip who did not really care about who gives the orders and who collects about the taxes. All they cared about was their livings. It did not really matter whose name they live under. "Major Molineux" would be even more criticizing because the scenes and the ending were not pleasant at all. It was bloody violent (GOOD ONE). Robin was very much terrified by the revolution and he was innocent. He did not repress the people and yet he was treated with traumatic actions. Therefore I think both authors were being criticizing instead of pro-"Literary Nationalism".
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ReplyDeleteI agree with Bruce, I think that both Hawthorne and Irving tried to criticize the revolution. We can see that through the characters of Robin and Rip van Winkle. They both were the unwilling types of characters that nobody would like to see as the main characters. I think the authors chose them as main characters on purpose to show the readers that people were the same before and after the revolution and nothing much changed. At the end of the story "My Kinsman, Major Molineaux" Robin wants to return to his country, we can see Robin as a embodiment of the society not willing to adjust to the changes and willing to go back to the old rules. Then, In the Irving's Rip van Winkle story, the main character returns to the town and sees the inn's sign on the wall was just repainted. The author just made a joke about one George (George III) replacing the other (George Washington). This makes me think that they both were rather criticizing the Literary Nationalism rather than supporting it.
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