Jane Ftacnik
Lit 5535
24 September 2000

Individualism

As we watch the Olympics, the aspect of individualism is reflected in every athlete. The hopes of an entire nation are often pinned on an individual. The track runner or swimmer must rely upon their muscles, mind, and soul in order to succeed. Whether we witness individualism in sports, movies, or books, the definition of individualism includes the ideas of self-determination, self-direction, and independence. The characters in American romanticism are independent and willing to take risks in order to survive. Some of the traits exhibited by the individualists in American Romanticism include courage, determination, and audacity. We will discuss how some of the characters exemplify individualism in the works of Rowlandson, Rowson, Smith, and Cooper.

We begin our discussion with the story A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Rowlandson by Mary Rowlandson. Within the first pages, Mary demonstrates her individualism by relying upon her inner strength to survive the attack from the Indians. She survives the attack on her house and has the courage to come out and face the weapons of the Indians. As she narrates, "But out we must go, the fire increasing, and coming along behind us, roaring, and the Indians gaping before us with the guns, spears, and hatchets to devour us" (Baym 149). She becomes a captive of the Indians, and when her child dies, she does not react in a way that would place her in further peril. As she describes, "I have thought since of the wonderful goodness of God to me in preserving me in the use of wicked and violent means to end my own miserable life" (Baym 153).

Mary faces many more threats to her life from the Indians, and she says that the "…answer from them than this: that it would be no matter if my head were off too." She survives her captivity with the Indians, and in the end of the narrative, discloses her thoughts to the reader. This admittance represents the spirit of individualism because she reveals her innermost thoughts. In Romanticism, the individual’s ideas and emotions are valued above all else. As she states, "Before I knew what affliction meant, I was ready sometimes to wish for it….Affliction I wanted and affliction I had, full measure (I thought), pressed down and running over" (Baym 164). She expresses thoughts that may not have been well-received by her readers. Instead of merely stating how glad she was to be alive, she tells us that she wanted some type of hardship, and that she has learned from her experience.

Next, we will examine the character of Charlotte in Charlotte: A Tale of Truth. Many may argue that Charlotte is not an individual because she conforms to the expectations of everyone around her. But Charlotte goes against her parents and eventually takes off for a foreign land with acquaintances. She first goes against her parents by reading a letter from a man. As she describes, "…my mother has often told me, I should never read a letter given me by a young man, without first giving it to her" (Baym 377). She reads the letter, and then begins to secretly meet the man every night. She expresses the desire to conform to her parents’ expectations when she is asked by Montraville if she loves her parents more than she loves him. She answers, "I hope I do, I hope my affection for them will ever keep me from infringing the laws of filial duty" (Baym 383). She continues to meet Montraville, and she acknowledged that it might be wrong, as Rowson writes, "…in her heart every meeting was resolved to be the last; but alas!…that treacherous heart betrayed her; that Charlotte was unable to resist"(Baym 383). She follows her own emotions instead of the rational instruction from her parents.

Charlotte tells Madam Du Pont that "you do not renounce a tender father and mother" (Baym 384). Still, she does not attend her birthday party and instead goes to the meeting place where Montraville was waiting to carry her off to America. It might be argued here that if she really intended not to go with Montraville to America, she should not have gone to bade him farewell. She ignores the invitation from her parents, and meets with Montraville. < She goes into the chaise with Montraville, and heads for America. It can be acknowledged that some may argue that Montraville persuaded her into taking this action, but it can be refuted that Charlotte could have stopped meeting Montraville, and attended the party. She could have told her parents what was happening and appealed to them for help. Thus, Charlotte acted independently and boldly went off with a man to a strange land.

Likewise, we see courage and determination in the characters of Captain John Smith and Pocahontas in the story From the Third Book from Chapter 2, What Happened till the First Supply. Captain Smith was on an island and was confronted by more than two hundred Indians. He describes this as "beset with two hundred savages, two of them he slew, still defending himself with the aid of a savage his guide…" (Baym 43). Furthermore, after he was captured, it is stated that he "… so demeaned himself amongst them…procured his own liberty…that those savages admired him more than their own Quiyoughkasoucks" (Baym 43).

The Indians still decided to kill Captain Smith, and so he was lead to the area where he would be beat to death. Pocahontas, the king’s daughter, steps in and lays her head on his so that he would not be killed. As Smith writes, "laid hands on him, dragged him to them, and thereon laid his head and being ready with their clubs to beat out his brains, Pocahontas, the king’s dearest daughter, when no entreaty could prevail, got his head in her arms and laid her own upon his to save him from death" (Baym 47). Pocahontas demonstrates her audacity by taking action that might have put her life in danger.

Finally, we conclude our discussion of individualism with an analysis of the character of Cora in the Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper. Cora’s background makes her different, and shapes her character. She is a descendant of Africans and Europeans, and so she can act differently than wealthy Europeans would in her situation. She shows her intelligence and fortitude, and Cooper makes her a believable character by giving her a background that allows her to act this way. Cora is an individual who expresses her thoughts, which makes her different than most other women during her time. For example, in the beginning, she asks the men in reference to Magua, "Should we distrust the man, because his manners are not our manners, and that his skin is dark" (Cooper, 21) She goes on to tell the men that they can survive, and suggests an alternative to their ideas. As she asks, "Why die at all?…go brave men…why linger to add to the number of the victims of our merciless enemies…" (Cooper 78)

When she is a captive, she tries to mark the trail by bending twigs and even drops her glove. She faces the evil Magua, and during a conversation with him, maintains her dignity with him. As Magua is telling Cora about his terrible life, she responds by asking him why should she be responsible for the behavior of men whose skin color may be like hers. She asks Magua, "And am I answerable that thoughtless and unprincipled men exist, whose shades of countenance may resemble mine" (Cooper 103). She resists his temptations to anger or make her emotional. She demonstrates her courage by maintaining her dignity during the confrontation with Magua. It probably would have been more appropriate for her to scream for help during this ordeal.

In the final battle scene of the Last of the Mohicans, Cora and Magua are together and Cora finally stops and tells Magua she will not climb any higher. She cries, "Kill me if thou wilt, detestable Huron, I will go no farther" (Cooper 336). At this point, Magua offers Cora the choice of being his wife or dying by his knife. As Magua forces her to choose, Cooper describes Cora’s eye as "serene and beaming" (Cooper, 337). She demonstrates her courage in the face of certain death. The character of Cora best represents individualism in the spirit of Romanticism as she wields the weapons of courage and strength in order to combat the evil Magua.

All of the characters above exemplify individualism in the spirit of American romanticism. With Mary Rowlandson, she survives against great odds. Charlotte is an individual who leaves her parents and changes her life. John Smith goes on a journey and ends up defending his life. Pocahontas takes a chance and audaciously saves the life of Smith. Cora demonstrates her fortitude and grace while endangering her own life in order to save the lives of her loved ones. We will continue to watch the Olympics as the young gymnasts and divers represent entire nations.

Works Cited

Baym, N., The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Ed. Nina Baym. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. 1999

Cooper, James Fenimore. The Last of the Mohicans. New York: Penguin Books, 1826