American Romanticism, which emerged in the early 19th century, reflected the political, social, and cultural milieu of the United States during the period between 1820 and 1864. This movement was characterized by an emphasis on individualism, imagination, and nature, as well as a reaction against the rationalism of the Enlightenment and the industrialization of society.
One prominent aspect of American Romanticism was its exploration of the country's rapidly changing landscape. As the United States expanded westward during this period, the belief in the inherent goodness and purity of nature became a central theme in American literature. Writers like Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson celebrated the natural world and used it as a source of inspiration and spiritual nourishment. Their works, such as Thoreau's "Walden" and Emerson's essays on transcendentalism, reflected a longing for a simpler, agrarian way of life that was being threatened by the rapid urbanization and industrialization happening in America.
Additionally, American Romanticism often focused on the exploration of national identity and the celebration of American exceptionalism. With the country still relatively young and grappling with its own ideals of democracy and freedom, writers sought to define what it meant to be American. This search for identity is reflected in Nathaniel Hawthorne's novels, such as "The Scarlet Letter," which explored the tension between individual desires and societal expectations, as well as in Herman Melville's "Moby-Dick," which symbolically delved into the contradictions and complexities of American society.
American Romanticism also engaged with the political and social issues of the time, including the fight against slavery and the desire for social reform. Writers like Harriet Beecher Stowe, through her influential novel "Uncle Tom's Cabin," drew attention to the injustices of slavery and helped fuel the abolitionist movement. Other writers, such as Edgar Allan Poe, tapped into the anxieties and fears of the era, reflecting the darker and more Gothic elements of American society amidst the growing tensions that would lead to the Civil War.
In summary, the stories of American Romanticism during the period of 1820 to 1864 reflected the concerns and realities of the country at that time. They explored the changing landscape, the search for national identity, and the social and political issues of the era. Through their emphasis on individualism, imagination, and nature, these works captured the spirit of a young nation grappling with its own ideals and struggles.
Consider what
you have learned about American history during the period of 1820 to 1864.
How do the stories in the American Romanticism reflect what was going on in the country
then?
1 answer