LITR 4232: American Renaissance
UHCL, spring 2001
Sample Student Paper

Lisa Runnels
Professor White
Literature 4232
19 April 2001

Political Romantics

Romantic persuasion enters all genres of literature. At the time of the American Renaissance romanticism became a prominent aspect of writing. It was a time of change not just in literature, but in the political arena. The political turmoil of the time created a new venue for writers with views of a utopian society. These authors, with their ideals, became a catalyst for the continuing changes of today. This cunning use of language, whether intentional or accidental, continues today. Political change comes not just from thought provoking words, but from gaining the emotions of those hearing the words.

During a time in need of sweeping political change an arena is created which can serve a romantic heart well. Whether this heart is seen as romantic or warrior-like it is the passionate wording that entrances the reader. Elizabeth Cady Stanton's work, while seen as political, speaks not just to the mind, but the heart as well. Choosing her language carefully serves two intents, demanding change and evoking desire in the reader to assist in the changes. It is this ability to create desire that makes Stanton an influential writer. Elizabeth Cady was one of eleven children born into a time in history when women had no voice. After the death of her oldest brother Stanton's father commented, "Oh, my daughter, I wish you were a boy!" (Heath 2031). From this early time she was reminded of her limitations, but refused to accept the restrictions. Stanton went so far as to have the word "obey" omitted from her marriage vows to Henry Brewster Stanton. This formidable personality coupled with an eloquent writing ability led her into politics.

It is Stanton's language that makes her work so powerful and passionate.

The general discontent I felt with woman's portion as wife, mother,

housekeeper, physician, and spiritual guide, the chaotic conditions

into which everything fell without her constant supervision, and the

wearied, anxious look of the majority of women impressed me with

a strong feeling that some active measures should be taken to

remedy the wrongs of society in general, and of women in

particular. (Heath 2033)

The strong imagery of daily life fills women with sympathy and understanding. Contrary to this Stanton's words and actions filled men with fear and caused an onslaught of written and verbal attacks. Using everyday depictions paired with words such as struggle, overcome, courage, sacred and tempest-tossed she is able to romanticize the strenuous efforts she and others faced.

Robbed of her natural rights, handicapped by law and custom at

every turn, yet compelled to fight her own battles, and in the

emergencies of life fall back on herself for protection·. (qtd.

in Lerner 492)

What woman would not be moved to action by such a depiction? Portrayed as a warrior woman, fighting the injustices of a patriarchal government each woman becomes a welder of the sword of equality. Stanton refers to Emerson quoting, "A healthy discontent is the first step to progress." (Heath 2033) The discontent that plagued the women's struggle came from inequality, a fight that Emerson never faced, but seemed to understand.

In contrast to Stanton, Emerson never faced the issue of inequality, but rather a desire to inspire readers. His struggle was to reconnect people to nature and away from too much industrialization, "when the sluggard intellect of this continent will look from under it's iron lids, and fill the postponed expectation of the world with something better than the exertions of mechanical skill." (Heath 1610) This bleak picture of a mechanized society is painted through the well-chosen language. Without demeaning the advances made by man Emerson's reminder to society is that every man and woman needs to continue thinking for themselves. Again the romanticism reaches out through the eloquent language and ideas. The cry is for change in the way that the world is viewed. Reconnection to nature and an independent way of thought are the lessons that Emerson tries to teach through the welding of his pen.

In contrast to both Stanton and Emerson, Margaret Fuller's objective seems to be opening the eyes of the advisory in whatever way is necessary. She writes in a more direct manner and leaves no room for interpretation as to her meaning. Fuller, although straightforward, understands the need to illicit the passions of her reader.

We would have every arbitrary barrier thrown down. We would

have every path laid open to Woman as freely as to Man. . .then

and then only will mankind be ripe for this, when inward and

outward freedom for Woman as much as for Man shall be

acknowledged as a right, not yielded as a concession. (Flexner

and Fitzpatrick 62).

With intellectual prowess and impassioned ideas Fuller gains footing as the one thing male authority fears, the thinking female. Speaking to every woman Fuller reminds them that equality is a right not because of gender, but because of birth. The language of romanticism fills her ideas by portraying the inalienable right of equality as a quest. A quest that is fraught with barriers, but a prize worth the struggle. Romanticism paints a picture for the onlooker with carefully chosen words and high-minded ideas.

These ideas echo through the articles and essays written by Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Like others who fought against the close-minded male authority, Stanton endeavored to enlighten the female mind. Through her ardent words Stanton pierces the womanâs sphere breathing in new air.

The talk of sheltering woman from the fierce storms of life is the

sheerest mockery, for they beat on her from every point of the

compass, just as they do on man, and with more fatal results,

for he has been trained to protect himself, to resist, to conquer. . .

(qtd. In Lerner 492)

The romantic image of the womenâs struggle bleeds into the minds and hearts of all who read these words. Stanton knew her audiences, both male and female, supporter and opponent. She wrote to impress on the male authority that she was capable and intelligent, but also writing to the female public with understanding and the strength of convictions. Stanton knew, like most women, that the idea of protecting the female is ludicrous. Women have been carrying the burden of home, family and society for centuries and needed male support to receive what is rightfully hers. This quest, in the eyes of a romantic, is the reason that Stanton wrote.

Romanticism in politics continues today. If the politician can sway the public with emotional appeals it goes in his favor. To relate to the masses with common goals and interests bodes well for him or her at the polls. Stantonâs work not only encompassed womenâs rights, but also those of the African American slave. Though indirectly her words could be carried into the arena of slavery. In recent decades these struggles have continued because the work started then is not finished. Descendants of slaves who fought to be free persist in the fight when, after nearly a century, are still oppressed. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke with the same eloquence about the burden of the African American people. His power of speech and mastery of language effects even those unwilling to agree with his views. It is impossible to listen to Dr. King's words without feeling something passionately.

I have a dream that one day, on the red hills of Georgia, sons of

former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to

sit down together at the table of brotherhood. (Washington 217-

220)

Turning away from such a powerful image with so much intensity is not feasible. His words ring in the hearts and minds of anyone that has felt oppression or empathizes with those people that have.

Like those who came before him, Stanton, Fuller, Emerson and more, Dr. King gives the reader not just words, but emotions to cling to. And like those before him, Dr. King, welds the sword of justice with persuasiveness. The rights of the oppressed are a war still being waged. Those of us reading or hearing the words pause to care. Even if for just a brief moment in the fast paced world of today the romance of the ideas we hear or read are effective. With the right phrase a speaker can become memorable enough to be quoted for generations after. Romanticism lives in the perception of the reader.

And when this happens, and when we allow freedom to ring, when

we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state

and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of

God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles,

Protestant and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the

words of that old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! Free at last! Thank

God almighty, we are free at last!" (Washington 217-220)

Amen, Dr. King.

Works Cited

Flexner, Eleanor, and Fitzpatrick Ellen. Century of Struggle: The Woman's

Rights Movement in the United States. Cambridge: Belknap Press of

Harvard University Press, 1996.

King, Martin Luther. "I Have a Dream." A Testament of Hope: The Essential

Writings of Martin Luther King, Jr. Ed. J. M. Washington. San Francisco:

Harper & Row, 1986. 217-220.

Emerson, Ralph Waldo. "The American Scholar." The Heath Anthology of

American Literature Third Edition. Ed. Paul Lauter. Boston: Houghton

Mifflin Company, 1998. 1610.

Stanton, Elizabeth Cady. "from Eighty Years and More: Reminiscences." The

Heath Anthology of American Literature Third Edition. Ed. Paul Lauter.

Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1998. 2031-2033.

Stanton, Elizabeth Cady. "The Solitude of Self." The Female Experience: An

American Documentary. Ed. Gerda Lerner. New York: Oxford University

Press, 1977. 490-493.