ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS SHAPING THE EMERGING AMERICA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS SHAPING THE EMERGING AMERICA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT • Good hardwood forests readily accessible for markets • Land good for farming • Land rich in minerals and underground resources • Navigable rivers • Isolated by two oceans from foreign aggression SOCIOCULTURAL ENVIRONMENT • High literacy rate for colonists; rapid development of public schooling • English language and British cultural traditions and forms dominate • Immigration brings other talents, traditions and languagesfrom abroad • Indians and African slaves as “outsiders” • Diversity breeds mixing and innovation, but also • Intolerance and Discrimination LEGAL ENVIRONMENT • British legal tradition • Protection for and encouragement of private land property ownership • Federalism based on experience of local (colonies/states) differences • Guarantees of basic individual rights limit the powers of government • Division of government powers limits the power of the executive • Written constitution to manage stable transitions of government from one president’s administration to the next.

America is not an accomplished fact. It cannot ever be. It is always an experiment about how to realize in the public sphere the harmonious integration of the different dreams of its citizens. LITERATURE IS THE PUBLIC SPACE WHERE CONTESTING VISIONS AND VOICES MEET.

LITERATURE AND SOCIETY January 20, 1961 INAUGURATION OF JOHN F. KENNEDY as President of the United States

Robert Frost reading his poem “The Gift Outright”

The Gift Outright MASTER NARRATIVE The land was ours before we were the land's. She was our land more than a hundred years Before we were her people. She was ours In Massachusetts, in Virginia, But we were England's, still colonials, Possessing what we still were unpossessed by, Possessed by what we now no more possessed. Something we were withholding made us weak Until we found out that it was ourselves We were withholding from our land of living, And forthwith found salvation in surrender. Such as we were we gave ourselves outright (The deed of gift was many deeds of war) To the land vaguely realizing westward, But still unstoried, artless, unenhanced, Such as she was, such as she would become.

January 20, 2009 INAUGURATION OF BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA as President of the United States

How America Was Discovered According to Chief Cornplanter- Handsome Lake taught that America was discovered in the manner here related. A great queen had among her servants a young minister. Upon a certain occasion she requested him to dust some books that she had hidden in an old chest. Now when the young man reached the bottom of the chest he found a wonderful book which he opened and read. It told that the white men had killed the son of the Creator and it said, moreover, that he had promised to return in three days and then again forty but that he never did. All his followers then began to despair but some said, “He surely will come again some time. ” When the young preacher read this book he was worried because he had discovered that he had been deceived and that his Lord was not on earth and had not returned when he promised. So he went to some of the chief preachers and asked them about the matter and they answered that he had better seek the Lord himself and find if he were not on the earth now. So he prepared to find the Lord Counter-Narrative

and the next day when he looked out into the river he saw a beautiful island marveled that he had never noticed it before. As he continued to look he saw a castle built of gold in the midst of the island he marveled that he had not seen the castle before. Then he thought that so beautiful a palace on so beautiful an isle must surely be the abode of the son of the Creator. Immediately he went to the wise men and told them what he had seen and they wondered greatly and answered that it must indeed be the house of the Lord. So together they went to the river and when they came to it they found that it was spanned by a bridge of gold. Then one of the preachers fell down and prayed a long time and arising to cross the bridge turned back because he was afraid to meet his Lord. Then the other crossed the bridge and knelt down upon the grass and prayed but he became afraid to go near the house. So the young man went boldly over to attend to the business at hand walking up to the door knocked.

A handsome man welcomed him into a room and bade him be of ease. “I wanted you, ” he said. “You are a bright young man; those old fools will not suit me for they would be afraid to listen to me. Listen to me, young man, and you will be rich. Across the ocean there is a great country of which you have never heard. The people there are virtuous; they have no evil habits or appetites but are honest and single-minded. A great reward is yours if you enter into my plans and carry them out. Here are five things. Carry them over to the people across the ocean and never shall you want for wealth, position or power. Take these cards, this money, this fiddle, this whiskey and this blood corruption and give them all to the people across the water. The cards will make them gamble away their goods and idle away their time, the money will make them dishonest and covetous, the fiddle will make them dance with women and their lower natures will command them, the whiskey will excite their minds to evil doing and turn their minds, and the blood corruption will eat their strength and rot their bones. ”

The young man thought this a good bargain and promised to do as the man had commanded him. He left the palace and when he had stepped over the bridge it was gone, likewise the golden palace and also the island. Now he wondered if he had seen the Lord but he did not tell the great ministers of his bargain because they might try to forestall him. So he looked about and at length found Columbus to whom he told the whole story. So Columbus fitted out some boats and sailed out into the ocean to find the land on the other side. When he had sailed for many days n the water the sailors said that unless Columbus turned about and went home they would behead him but he asked for another day and on that day land was seen and that land was America. Then they turned around and going back reported what they had discovered. Soon a great flock of ships cam e over the ocean and white men came swarming into the country bringing with them cards, money, fiddles, whiskey and blood corruption. Now the man who had appeared in the gold palace was the devil and when afterward he saw what his words had done he said that he had made a great mistake and even he lamented that his evil had been so enormous.

FOUNDATIONAL MYTHS MYTH - - A narrative believed to be true - because it reveals and supports those historical, cultural or social beliefs - accepted by the believers. In short, it is at best only partially true. . FOUNDATIONAL MYTH - A myth that reveals and supports a group’s beliefs about its own origins and identity, especially: • Authorization • Land Claim • Motive • Social Charter • Historical Sense • Relation to Others What is hidden/omitted by the myth’s partial truth? MASTER NARRATIVE COUNTER-NARRATIVE ALTER-NARRATIVE

John Smith, General History of Virginia • Extension--not separation • Anglican Protestantism • Vertical Polity--Hierarchical not democratic • Ecclesiastical not personal religion • Opportunism and capitalism • Conquest and resource exploitation, not settlement 1607 - The Jamestown Virginia Colony established

ELEGY XX: TO HIS MISTRESS GOING TO BED. by John Donne (1590 s? ) Licence my roving hands, and let them go Before, behind, between, above, below. O, my America, my Newfoundland, My kingdom, safest when with one mann'd, My mine of precious stones, my empery ; How am I blest in thus discovering thee ! To enter in these bonds, is to be free ; Then, where my hand is set, my soul shall be.

The Pocahontas Myth: America as Dowry (only appears in Smith’s 3 rd edition, 17 years after event) At last they brought him to Meronocomoco, where was Powhatan, their emperor. …Having feasted him after their best barbarous manner they could, a long consultation was held; but the conclusion was, two great stones were brought before Powhatan: then as many as could 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, whereat the Emperor was contented he should live to make him hatchets, and her bells, beads, and copper, for they thought him as well of all occupations as themselves.

Villagra, Historia de la Neuva Mexico • Extension--not separation 1598 - Colonizing Expedition • Missionary Catholicism not Protestantism of Juan de Oñate enters New Mexico and establishes capital, Santa Fe • Vertical Polity-Hierarchical not democratic • Ecclesiastical not personal religion • Destiny and fate (thus Tragedy and Epic) rather than irony as a mode of emplotment • Conquest and resource exploitation, not settlement • Explicit imperialism

Zuni Indians Creation story, Talk Concerning the First Beginning • Neither extension, nor separation, but origination • Horizontal communal polity, but kinship not citizenship based • Neither ecclesiastical nor personal religion, but traditional and animistic • Neither destiny and fate, nor critique, but acceptance of cyclical nature (thus Mythic Mode) • Neither conquest nor settlement of the land, but coexistence

Slave Narratives: Olaudah Equiano/ Gustavus Vassa • Neither voluntary extension nor separation, nor origination, but kidnapping disruptive removal (deculturation) • Neither horizontal nor hierarchical polity, nor kinship, but desocialization • Neither ecclesiastical nor personal religious traditions, but Christianization • Neither destiny nor fate, nor critique, but adaptive survival (thus Heroic Mode)

Bradford, Of Plymouth Plantation—The Master Narrative • Separation--American exceptionalism • Puritanical Congregationalist Protestantism 1620 -1640 The Great Migration 20, 000+ Puritans to New England • Religious motivation--Moral impulse in American culture and literature, the preachers voice • No explicit commercial motive • Individual Salvation--focus on individualism, would have been the same as England except for • Horizontal Polity--the congregational church model, democratic not hierarchical • Ironic mode--the difference between vision and achievement, expressed not as tragedy but critique, the assumption of possible achievement • Settlement and village life

Captivity Narrative of Mary Rowlandson (1682) On the tenth of February 1675, came the Indians with great numbers upon Lancaster: their first coming was about sunrising; hearing the noise of some guns, we looked out; several houses were burning, and the smoke ascending to heaven. There were five persons taken in one house; the father, and the mother and a sucking child, they knocked on the head; the other two they took and carried away alive. There were two others, who being out of their garrison upon some occasion were set upon; one was knocked on the head, the other escaped; anothere was who running along was shot and wounded, and fell down; he begged of them his life, promising them money (as they told me) but they would not hearken to him but knocked him in head, and stripped him naked, and split open his bowels. Another, seeing many of the Indians about his barn, ventured and went out, but was quickly shot down. There were three others belonging to the same garrison who were killed; the Indians getting up upon the roof of the barn, had advantage to shoot down upon them over their fortification. Thus these murderous wretches went on, burning, and destroying before them. At length they came and beset our own house, and quickly it was the dolefulest day that ever mine eyes saw. The house stood upon the edge of a hill; some of the Indians got behind the hill, others into the barn, and others behind anything that could shelter them; from all which places they shot against the house, so that the bullets seemed to fly like hail; and quickly they wounded one man among us, then another, and then a third. About two hours (according to my observation, in that amazing time) they had been about the house before they prevailed to fire it (which they did with flax and hemp, which they brought out of the barn, and there being no defense about the house, only two flankers at two opposite corners and one of them not finished); they fired it once and one ventured out and quenched it, but they quickly fired it again, and that took. Now is the dreadful hour come, that I have often heard of (in time of war, as it was the case of others), but now mine eyes see it. Some in our house were fighting for their lives, others wallowing in their blood, the house on fire over our heads, and the bloody heathen ready to knock us on the head, if we stirred out. Now might we hear mothers and children crying out for themselves, and one another, "Lord, what shall we do? " Then I took my children (and one of my sisters', hers) to go forth and leave the house: but as soon as we came to the door and appeared, the Indians shot so thick that the bullets rattled against the house, as if one had taken an handful of stones and threw them, so that we were fain to give back. We had six stout dogs belonging to our garrison, but none of them would stir, though another time, if any Indian had come to the door, they were ready to fly upon him and tear him down. The Lord hereby would make us the more acknowledge His hand, and to see that our help is always in Him.

Anne Bradstreet (1612 -1672) • Came to America in 1630 as part of the Great Migration • First poet and first female writer to be published in British American colonies • Her book, “Tenth Muse lately Sprung up in America” (1650) • Well-educated by tutors in England, unusual for women then • Daughter of one Massachusetts Bay Colony governor and wife of another • Her home library, the biggest in the colony after the Mathers of 2000 books (the basis of the future Harvard University) was entirely destroyed by fire when her house was burned

from THE JOURNAL OF JOHN WINTHROP Anne Hutchinson [October 21, 1636] One Mrs. Hutchinson, a member of the church of Boston, a woman of a ready wit and bold spirit, brought over with her two dangerous errors: 1. That the person of the Holy Ghost dwells in a justified person. 2. That no sanctification can help to evidence to us our justification— November 1, 1637] There was great hope that the late general assembly would have had some good effect in pacifying the troubles and dissensions about matters of religion; but it fell out otherwise…. The court [ of magistrates, which included AB’s father, Thomas Dudley, and her husband, Simon Bradstreet, both of whom vigorously prosecuted Hutchinson] also sent for Mrs. Hutchinson, and charged her with divers matters, as her keeping two public lectures every week in her house, whereto sixty or eighty persons did usually resort, and for reproaching most of the ministers (viz. , all except Mr. Cotton) for not preaching a covenant of free grace, and that they had not the seal of the spirit, nor were able ministers of the New Testament; which were clearly proved against her, though she sought to shift it off. And, after many speeches to and fro, at last she was so full as she could not contain, but vented her revelations; amongst which was one, that she had it revealed to her, that she should come into New England, and should here be persecuted, and that God would ruin us and our posterity, and the whole state, for the same. So the court proceeded and banished her; but, because it was winter, they committed her to a private house, where she was well provided, and her own friends and the elders permitted to go to her, but none else [March 22, 1638] …. After two or three days, the governor sent a warrant to Mrs. Hutchinson to depart this jurisdiction before the last of this month… [September, 1638]. . . Mrs. Hutchinson, being removed to the Isle of Aquiday, in the Narragansett Bay, after her time was fulfilled, that she expected deliverance of a child, was delivered of a monstrous birth, which, being diversely related in the country, (and, in the open assembly at Boston, upon a lecture day, [was] declared by Mr. Cotton to be twenty seven several lumps of man’s seed, without any alteration or mixture of anything from the woman, and thereupon gathered that it might signify her error in denying inherent righteousness, but that all was Christ in us, and nothing of ours in our faith, love, etc. ). Anne Hopkins [April 13, 1645] "She [Anne Hopkins] was fallen into a sad infir mity, the loss of her understanding and reason, which had been growing upon her divers years, by occasion of her giving herself wholly to reading and writing, and had written many books. "' Winthrop goes on to ob serve that her husband, having been "loving and tender of her, " failed in his duty to discipline her to stay in her place: "[H)e saw his error, when it was too late. For if she had attended her household affairs, and such things as belong to women, and not gone out of her way and calling to meddle in such things as are proper for men, whose minds are stronger, . . . she had kept her wits, and might have improved them usefully and honorably in the place god had set her. "' According to Winthrop, Anne Hopkins was punished for her excessive thinking by the loss of her reason.

Her book, “Tenth Muse Lately Sprung up in America” (1650), was published against her wishes by her brother-in-law, who explained in the Preface: “…the worst effect of his reading will be the unbelief, which will make him question whether it be a woman's work, and ask, is it possible? If any do, take this as an answer from him who dares avow it: It is the Work of a Woman, honored, and esteemed where she lives, for her gracious demeanor, her eminent parts, her pious conversation, her courteous disposition, her exact diligence in her place, and discreet managing of her family occasions, and more than so, these poems are the fruit but of some few hours, curtailed from her sleep and other refreshments. “ She writes in the “Prologue” to her book: I am obnoxious to each carping tongue Who says my hand a needle better fits. A Poet's Pen all scorn I should thus wrong, For such despite they cast on female wits. If what I do prove well, it won't advance, They'll say it's stol'n, or else it was by chance. And in her poem “In Honor of that High and Mighty Princess, Queen Elizabeth’” … From all the Kings on earth she won the prize. Nor say I more than truly is her due. Millions will testify that this is true. She hath wip’d off th’ aspersion of her Sex, That women wisdom lack to play the Rex. Spain’s Monarch sa’s not so, not yet his Host: She taught them better manners to their cost. … Now say, have women worth, or have they none? Or had they some, but with our Queen is’t gone? Nay Masculines, you have thus tax’d us long, But she, though dead, will vindicate our wrong. Let such as say our sex is void of reason Know ‘tis a slander now, but once was treason.

UPON THE BURNING OF OUR HOUSE, JULY. 18 TH. 1666 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 In silent night when rest I took, For sorrow near I did not look, I waken'd was with thund'ring noise And piteous shrieks of dreadful voice. That fearful sound of "fire" and "fire, " Let no man know is my Desire. I starting up, the light did spy, And to my God my heart did cry To straighten me in my Distress And not to leave me succourless. Then coming out, behold a space The flame consume my dwelling place. And when I could no longer look, I blest his grace that gave and took, That laid my goods now in the dust. Yea, so it was, and so 'twas just. It was his own; it was not mine. Far be it that I should repine, He might of all justly bereft But yet sufficient for us left. When by the Ruins oft I past My sorrowing eyes aside did cast And here and there the places spy Where oft I sate and long did lie. Here stood that Trunk, and there that chest, There lay that store I counted best, My pleasant things in ashes lie 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 And them behold no more shall I. Under the roof no guest shall sit, Nor at thy Table eat a bit. No pleasant talk shall 'ere be told Nor things recounted done of old. No Candle 'ere shall shine in Thee, Nor bridegroom's voice ere heard shall bee. In silence ever shalt thou lie. Adieu, All's Vanity. Then straight I 'gin my heart to chide: And did thy wealth on earth abide, Didst fix thy hope on mouldring dust, The arm of flesh didst make thy trust? Raise up thy thoughts above the sky That dunghill mists away may fly. Thou hast a house on high erect Fram'd by that mighty Architect, With glory richly furnished Stands permanent, though this be fled. It's purchased and paid for too By him who hath enough to do. A price so vast as is unknown, Yet by his gift is made thine own. There's wealth enough; I need no more. Farewell, my pelf; farewell, my store. The world no longer let me love; My hope and Treasure lies above.

In Memory of My Dear Grandchild Elizabeth Bradstreet, Who Deceased August, 1665, Being a Year and Half Old 1 Farewell dear babe, my heart's too much content, Farewell sweet babe, the pleasure of mine eye, Farewell fair flower that for a space was lent, Then ta'en away unto eternity. Blest babe, why should I once bewail thy fate, Or sigh thy days so soon were terminate, Sith thou art settled in an everlasting state. 2 By nature trees do rot when they are grown, And plums and apples thoroughly ripe do fall, And corn and grass are in their season mown, And time brings down what is both strong and tall. But plants new set to be eradicate, And buds new blown to have so short a date, Is by His hand alone that guides nature and fate. On My Dear Grandchild, Simon Bradstreet, Who Died on 16 November, 1669, Being but a Month, and One Day Old. No sooner came, but gone, and fall’n asleep, Acquaintance short, yet parting caused us weep; Three flowers, two scarcely blown, the last i’ th’ bud, Cropt by th’ Almighty’s hand; yet is He good. With dreadful awe before Him let’s be mute, Such was His will, buy why, let’s not dispute, With humble hearts and moths put in the dust, Let’s say He’s merciful as well as just. He will return and make up all our losses, And smile again after our bitter crosses Go pretty babe, go rest with sisters twain; Among the blest in endless joys remain

AMERICAN LITERATURE (2) MASTER NARRATIVE , COUNTER-NARRATIVE, ALTER-NARRATIVE MYTH FOUNDATIONAL MYTH IMPERIALISM COLONIALISM PURITAN PREDESTINATION PROVIDENTIAL HISTORY REMARKABLE PROVIDENCES COVENANT COMMUNITY “CITY ON A HILL” AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM CONVERSION NARRATIVE CAPTIVITY NARRATIVE