American Literature: Romanticism Student Midterm Submissions 2016 (midterm assignment) 3. Web Highlights

Brittney Wilson

Keeping the Ball Rolling

          The three web highlights I chose all keep in-line with the theme of American literature in Romanticism. Lori Wheeler’s “The American Dream: Isn’t it Romantic,” James Simpson’s “Jonathan Edwards & the Ecstasy of Horror,” and Kristine Vermillion’s “Why the General Dislike for American Literature,” all have something different to say about similar topics. That is what initially intrigued me enough to keep the ball rolling and read more from them to see if I was on the same track with their ideas, if there was something to be learned from them, and if what I have taken from this course completely clashes with what they got out of it.

          In Lori’s essay about the American Dream having many comparisons with Romanticism, I found her idea very intriguing because the more I read and thought about it, the more I agreed with her comparison. They are very similar in nature in that they are both characterized by a heroic individual going on a quest and overcoming great odds to accomplish and attain a certain ideal. Lori also brought up the point that the American Dream is too ideal and unrealistic whereas an a more Romantic approach to the American Dream would make it seem more attainable to those seeking to come into America and make a life for themselves and their family. If immigrants heard stories of how things usually happen instead of the rare, ideal journey that goes perfectly, then it might either sway their decision or, at best, better prepare them for what is to come. As Lori put it, “a romantic story is a more honest rendition of the American Dream.” Sometimes in order to achieve their dreams, people have to go through “hellish” situations for a long time but it can definitely pay off.

          Next, I chose to read James Simpson’s essay over Jonathan Edwards. His caught my eye because I have gone over Edwards both in Dr. White’s Immigrant Literature course and again in this Romanticism course. I have a difference of opinion with James toward his thoughts on Edwards and that’s why I chose his—so I could mix it up a little instead of agreeing with everything everyone said. Respecting James’ viewpoint wholeheartedly, I can maybe see why he thinks of Edwards’ fear-mongering rhetoric in his sermon as a quality that people need from a man of God and how he views it as cathartic—considering the time period and that there was a need to bring people back to the church, I can understand how someone lost may have found what they needed in Edwards’ strong speech and ultimatums. Personally, I do not think the use of gothic imagery and fear could ever pull me toward the church but strongly believe that it would push me further. Gaslighting his listeners into coming to church would backfire terribly on him today. Having said that, I think he was a wordsmith and brilliant at writing in such a Romantic way that it probably manipulated not just a few people into joining the church so they didn’t end their lives swallowed up in the fiery pits of Hell.

          While I’ve learned a lesson from Lori’s essay and tend to disagree with James’ piece, there is still Kristine Vermillion’s essay on society’s “general dislike of American Literature” to think about. And what an essay to think about! She admonishes and blames literary criticism for the dislike and distancing from American Literature and here I have to completely agree with this woman as well. She makes a good argument that “the romantic ideals of the Transcendent, the creativity of the Author, the power of the imagination, the importance of individuality, the supremacy of Nature and the overarching emphasis on meaning, have been systematically destroyed by the critical theorists”. These famous critics like Nietzsche, Foucault, and Saussure do take all of the wonder and imagination out of things by questioning the very purpose of everything we read or by making the case that there is no purpose and that everything we read and know to be true is all arbitrary and meaningless. These are the topics that we are going over right now in my Literary Theory course and I have never disliked a course so much simply on the grounds that it feels like its only purpose is to ruin reading for everyone else. American Literature has been sort of dry and bare-bones in this regard—lacking the beautiful narratives that English Literature is so famous for.  Kristine’s entire argument shed light on an issue that I probably would’ve never otherwise thought about but thanks to her making me think on it, I completely agree.