Puritans vs. Transcendalists - Early American Literature
Prevalent in early American Literature especially throughout the works of the Puritans and the Transcendentalists, was the common theme of rebellion against the government. The purpose of this literature was not to entertain, but to inform, which set the precedent for the next 200 years. The literature was to be informative, persuasive, but not entertaining, as shown as a recurring theme in: Of Plymouth Plantation, by William Bradford, "Common Sense" and "The Crisis" both authored by Thomas Paine, "Self Reliance" by Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Resistance to Civil Government" by Henry David Thoreau, and the ultimate tribute to American independence, "The Declaration of Independence", written by Thomas Jefferson. Although the way in which each author presented the common theme of rebellion against the government differed, the influence on each author came from the times he lived in. Of Plymouth Plantation, by William Bradford contains a section subtitled The Separatists Interpretation of the Reformation in England. The Puritans separated from the Anglican Church of England because nonconformists were considered criminals punished with death. Anglicanism was a mixture of Christianity and Protestantism; the Puritans were devout Protestant
"The Declaration of Independence" is by far the ultimate summary of the American rebellion. Finally accepting enough abuse from the British government, the second Continental Congress ordered Jefferson to draft a document politically splitting America from Great Britain. Assuming enormous responsibility, Jefferson wrote that is was "...necessary for one people [America] to dissolve the political bonds which have connected them with another [Great Britain]..." (294). Promoting rebellion even more, Jefferson made it legal. Rightfully so, he believed "...that whenever any form of government becomes destructive...it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government..." (294). His ideas came mostly from previously written documents that believed the people being governed should control most of their government. A common section of Jefferson's masterpiece contains a list of twenty grievances. They read along the lines that, "He has refused his assent to laws the most wholesome and necessary for the public good" (294). Basic objections like this one provided the fuel for a dramatic and history making event, beneficial to every American. A long-time friend and neighbor to Thoreau was Ralph Waldo Emerson. He authored "Self Reliance", which centers on his idea that "Whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist" (439). This accusation is a little too idealistic. Most people's views were not this dramatic, but Emerson effectively attracted attention to his work. His mode was confusing because the authors of that time were people who thought and their works expressed their thoughts exactly. Emerson ventures further
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Approximate Word count = 1116
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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