American ThemeIndividualism

A detailed Summary of American ThemeIndividualism


Literary works reflect the main ideas of the American mind. An American theme that is seen in various works of literature is individuality. Individuality is expressed in three different literary works from Frost, Chopin, and Paine. These works of literature aid us in developing an open mind about what the American people should expect in society. Following others doesn't guide us in any way because it does not allow for us to express our innermost feelings. Throughout these three works, individualism is expressed in various ways. Although all three works do illustrate the idea of individualism, Paine seems to approach it in a different way.

Robert Frost's poem, "The Road Not Taken", is an insightful idealistic attempt to illustrate the paradox of free will. In the first line, Frost uses the metaphor "Two roads diverged" (1), to establish not only the hard decision


In contrast, Thomas Paine's The Crisis, Number 1, expresses the theme of individualism in a different way. "I love the man that can smile at trouble: that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection"(124). Thomas Paine illustrates the idea that those who are free and can look at themselves and see that they live their own life without anyone else, have courage. People, who decide to be independent and not follow anyone else, demonstrate their bravery. Paine expresses his thoughts on giving up on something. He feels that we should strive for what we want to do "for though the flame of liberty may sometimes cease to shine, the coal can never expire"(125).

Similarly, in Kate Chopin's short story "The Story of an Hour," the central theme of individuality is also expressed. When Mrs. Mallard received the news of her husband' s death, she was in a deep state of grief. After she real

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Approximate Word count = 608
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page double spaced)

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