Jennifer Matus

Pieces to the Puzzle of History through Literature

          This semester in Early American Literature a whole new realm of literature was exposed to me. Not only was I introduced to literature that I had never read, but I learned more about the history of our country than I have ever learned in any history course. Reading literature from the early years of the United States provides the reader with a greater understanding of the birth of our great nation. Many of the stories written are non-fiction and provide a greater insight of life during these times. Unbeknownst to me, it was relatable to the time period we live in now. This semester clarified the meaning of what history to teach to future generations through knowledge gained in the study of the creation stories and the historical periods we studied. At the same time, some of the texts we read, while educational, were difficult to read, particularly the texts from the Enlightenment period.

          The beginning of the semester we studied the creation stories which many would consider to be the story of God creating the world and Adam and Eve. However, it was interesting to have the opportunity to study the creation stories of the American Indians. This was also what I emphasized on in my first research post. In studying how the Columbus’ letters compared to the Biblical creation story I found one of my favorite stories of the semester, “Handsome Lake” or “How the White Race Came to America”. It was intriguing to read an opposing story to that of which is taught from a young age. Growing up, it seemed as if the Indians had no opposition to the English coming over and settling in their territory and the first Thanksgiving created peace overall. “Now all this was done and when afterward he saw the havoc and the misery his work had done he said, ‘I think I have made an enormous mistake for I did not dream that these people would suffer so.’ Then did even the devil himself lament that his evil had been so great.” The Indians saw the white settlers as ruining them and they wrote as if the white man felt sorrow for what he had done. They also viewed this as doings of the devil which I found interesting. Between the reading of Handsome Lake and the poem, “A New Story” by Simon J. Ortiz, I developed a new perspective and appreciation of the American Indians. They are often shoved to the side in history when in fact; they have a history just as the white settlers which I feel should be taught before college. I find it misleading to leave this large chunk of history out of the education of America.

          The viewpoint of the Indians in regards to their new neighbors resembled that of the Africans. I found many similarities between “Handsome Lake” and Phyllis Wheatley’s “On Being Brought From Africa to America”. Wheatley’s poem seemed familiar and it is possible I had read it before, but the meaning did not strike the same as it did after studying the thoughts of the American Indians. Both races were placed into the same situation, neither had control of the powerful white race. In accordance with other African authors of the time period, Wheatley’s poem had a double meaning through the use of subtle sarcasm. “Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan land…” she wrote as if it was a blessing she was able to escape Africa. Through our class discussions I learned that some African writers brought to America wrote as if it was a blessing while inserting sarcasm due to their forced situation. She wrote how God was on her side and her faith in Him would get her through. After reading of these two races, it would be interesting to read of how another race, such as the Asians felt coming into America.

          Adjusting to life in a new country was not only an adjustment for the Indians and Africans, but for the white race as well. In the country’s early years as a nation, Thomas Jefferson wrote a letter introducing the idea of education for women. “I thought it essential to give them a solid education, which might enable them, when become mothers, to educate their own daughters, and even to direct the course for sons, should their fathers be lost, or incapable, or inattentive.” He was encouraging women to have an education and continued to write of the popularity of reading of the time consisted mostly of fiction novels. He felt that too much time was spent reading the “mass of trash” in which could be turned into useful time reading books that educated the mind. His push for education was something that was never introduced to me and I found refreshing. I remember learning the push for education for women, but did not realize it dated back to Thomas Jefferson. He wanted his daughters educated so they would be able to educate their children; this was one of the luxuries lost in families moving to America. When coming to the New World only the necessities or basic survival needs were brought, but as time continued the need for other materials were necessary in order to establish a country. Education is the future of any generation. Leaders such as Thomas Jefferson were educated and in order to continue to build a nation with strong leaders, education was necessary to its youth.

          In Thomas Jefferson’s letters he mentions music and how “The taste of this country, too, calls for this accomplishment [music] more strongly than for either of the others,” the others being drawing and dancing. Music of each of the different historical periods in which we studied this semester offered another artistic expression or definition of the time. It is arguable to say whether music falls under literature, however, it is a position I personally take in agreement. I find writing music falls under the same art form as writing a novel. A look at the time period is necessary and as we have seen (and heard) this semester music applies to its appropriate time as does the writing. It was pleasing to me we started with Native American music as we emphasized on their history and recognized them as the original population of the land. It was interesting that Jefferson wrote of music since America did not produce any known musicians or art forms until later. Studying the music of each time period lent a better understanding of America’s slow process of disassociating itself with Europe and developing its independence of a nation. In history class it is taught that America is independent from Europe from the winning of the Revolutionary War, however the America was still very much dependent in terms of artistic forms.

          Overall, this class influenced my own thoughts and knowledge of the country I was born and raised in. While I am no longer en route to become a teacher, the literature taught this semester is to not be overlooked or ignored. I hope to share these same stories with my children as they are going through school. We live in a multi-culture nation and the history of each culture is not to be denied because of possibly the guilt experienced by the white race. In a sense my view of the history of our nation has broadened and the knowledge learned is irreplaceable. While some of the texts were difficult to read or bored me at points, when looking back on the bigger picture, each work offered a piece to the overall puzzle. Without one of the pieces, the puzzle would not be complete.