From generation to generation, Washington Irving has been a favorite in American Literature. He was credited with being the first to use Gothic themes as well as describe American geography perfectly (4). We must admit that when we read Rip Van Winkle and the Legend of Sleepy Hollow, we get an eerie feeling and begin to realize we are glued to our seats. We bite our nails with each sentence we read and wonder what will happen next. Washington Irving creates this reaction by many important literature elements, such as symbolism. (Both stories are basely found on Dutch culture, which was true since New York was a Dutch colony (6)).
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is a tale that can be associated with evil, terror, and the triumph of hero versus villain. It also has a very superstitious theme (3). This story is often read on Halloween since it is importantly a ghost story. Symbolism can be seen within the two main characters of Ichabod Crain and his love Katrina. Throughout the story Ichabod is constantly trying to find his "other half", Katrina. He is intelligent and holds the profession of schoolteacher. Therefore, one could say that Ichabod would resemble the opposite Headless Horsemen; he had a head, but not the body (2). He could also be compared by his awkward appearance and high ego. This would also resemble Ichabod's missing body. In the battle of the Headless Horsemen, both Ichabod and the horsemen struggle. This could be because each are wanting the body part that they are missing.
In the classic tale of Rip Van Winkle, symbolism plays a big role. Rip Van Winkle's tale can be divided into two main parts: Pre-Revolution, and Post-Revolution. Irving
describes in this story the land before the war and after.He implies that there is a huge comparison
which leads Rip, surprised, to know he is in another time. This could symbolize the American’s view on
their new home.They are seeing their land through different
eyes due to the hard battle they have faced (4). Rip's wife seems to be put into play by another symbol. The irony is that the two are married yet Rip seems to loathe her beyond belief. One could compare this to America's relationship with England before the revolution. Though some colonists were bound to England because it was their homeland, they loathed the taxes and treatment that England gave them. Some fictional symbols are how Rip describes the mountains. He describes them as "far down, deep, wild, and lonely". Rip in the story could be described as this as well as a drunkard who always puts another before his family (1). Rip, upon wakening, also spots an eagle. This symbolizes the freedom that America has gained (5).
Women in the 19th century were not granted many rights. This idea is made clear in Margaret Fuller's, The Great Lawsuit, which raised great awareness of how women were being unfairly treated throughout the 19th century. They were seen as inferior to the male race, (1,5) and could not publicly speak or were not really allowed to have an opinion on anything political. A young woman was treated usually no more or no less than an object, or property (1,5) to a man. Women were usually not allowed to be ministers, vote, own property, or own any personal possessions. Anything that "belonged" to the woman was actually in her husband's name (1). It was very seldom that women even received a higher education if they finished high school. During the 19th century, women were usually to fulfill one of two type roles: become a housewife, or work in the factory.
Housewife
Middle class women during the early 19th century were really given one option, being housewifes. These women were not allowed to work, and spent much of their time knitting and sewing clothes for themselves, their husbands, and their children. A middle-class woman was often taught to read, write, and do arithmetic. Sometimes, if the woman was lucky she would also be taught a foreign language or history as well (1). Cooking was a constant hassel as well for a woman. She would have to prepare everything by hand and make three meals a day (2). The cooking was done on a coal stove and was very difficult. House chores were to be performed if no maid was present (6). Women would also have to take care of children and teach their daughters their housewife duties (5).
Factory Worker
Many women during the 19th century worked in factories just so they could provide their families with daily, or even an every other day, meal. Commonly, these women would work in clothing factories, working sewing machines all day long without breaks. Women would work in very hazardous conditions and often prick these fingers or even lose them from the machines. By 1850, fifteen percent of American women held jobs. Factory owners would often hire the women just so they could give the women lower pay and save money to buy utensils (2). Sometimes they would even do this just so they, the owners, would have more money for themselves. One example of a large factory where women could work is the Lowell Textile Mill, which employed around 10,000 women (4).
Other Positions
If a woman was not a factory worker or housewife, she was most likely a seamstress, nurse, or laundress. These would have been the higher paying positions. If a woman was in the upper class rank, she would help raise a plantation (4).
Important Women
Women's rights
One of the most important women during this time frame was Susan B. Anthony. With the help of the National Woman's Suffrage Association, women earned the 15th amendment. The war against men and women had finally began to end and women could now vote (5).
The date was 1783 and the hope for independence filled minds of thousands of newly named "Americans". It was not long until they recieved news that the war was over and that they were no longer Great Britian's citizens. Tears of happiness spread throughout the colonies, for there were no more high tariffs to be paid and everyone could finally live by their own rules. All those brave soldiers had finally claimed what they deserved, freedom. This year marked one of the most important days of our country's history and is still celebrated today. This event was the ending of The American Revolution. But who could have had such a great influence of these people to persuade them to fight against their own neighbors, family, and friends? The answer is the writer Thomas Paine.
Thomas Paine was not aware of what Common Sense would become while writing it. It was written on January 10, 1776 and had a large number of 600,000 copies in America.Almost one third of the population had read or came in contact with this book. (3) It was published anonymously in the fear that Paine could possibly get beheaded for writing such a treasonable thing. For many it became an anthem of the problems America was facing with Great Britian. It was stated by "Covenant People" that Common Sense was "by far the most influential tract of the American Revolution....it remains one of the most brilliant pamphlets ever written in the English language."It gave them motivation to do something about what was happening rather than to just sit back and take it. (4) It was written in an easy format and instead of "fancy" or "flowery" words, it was not hard to read. It was written to apply to anyone who wanted to read it no matter of class. (2) The book was 79-pages long and it's purposed was to question English monarchy and the English Parliament. In regards to the monarch, Paine stated that "For all men being originally equals, no one by birth could have a right to set up his own family in perpetual preference to all others forever.” (6) He claimed that the king was not trustworthy and that Americans should keep a watchful eye over his actions. (1)This book told how to fix things, and claimed that the English were "harmful to Americans". It named all the pros of breaking apart from England.This book has been deemed the "spark" of the Revolution. It's vital success gave rise to the "Declaration of Independence" which was written six months later (5).
Not only did Thomas Paine write, he was also a soldier in Washington's army and contributed to the war effort. He quit school at an early age of thirteen and held various jobs. However, his big break came when Benjamin Franklin encouraged Paine to come to America. Taking his advice, he did. He wrote for the Pennsylvania Press and later become editor and discovered that he had talent and that writing was his muse. No matter his success, Paine died lonely, however, shunned away. He had roughly six people attend his funeral (5).
Since the mid 1700’s Jonathan
Edwards has been seen as a man of great moral, and an astounding preacher.In modern day schools, works such as “Sinners
in the Hands of an Angry God” are still read and seen as amazing words of
literature.While males analyze Edward’s
works, we women often wonder about the husband’s backbone, the wife, who keeps
him standing and supports him.We ponder
over topics such as what was her role in his life? How did she deal with his
radical position in religion?This is
almost always the case for women and has been done with great figures
throughout history.We women seem to
worship the wives of historical figures, such as Michelle Obama and Jacqueline
Kennedy.We are always trying to imitate
their mannerisms and the way they dress.So who was the wife of Jonathan Edward’s exactly, and what exactly did
she do?
Biography
Sarah Edwards, born of the maiden name Pierpont, was born during the date of 1710 in New Haven, Connecticut.Her
profession, like her husband, was writing.Unfortunately for her, the only thing she is really known for was a narrative she wrote about mystical events
she experienced with her husband.This was
lost in time. Sarah came from many generations of preachers and was a very
religious girl herself, more so than the norm (1).Jonathan Edwards later stated that this is
the reason he fell in love with her
and ended up marrying her (7).Sarah
Edwards was also one of the founders of
Yale University and inspired much of its building (2). Sadly, not much
information can be found about the life, or is known, of this amazing woman
except for in her husband’s writings.
Marriage
Sarah and Jonathan married when she was only seventeen, and met when she was thirteen. He was several years older than her (6)(8).The two were madly in love and Jonathan
viewed her as a spiritual goddess, often
writing of her beauty.Sarah was
described to praise upon her husband
often (6).They had ten children, having
only one that died early, that made it to adulthood (3).Almost everyone during the time viewed the
couple as a modern day Romeo and Juliet.Sarah had a reputation of being a “Proverbs
31” woman (8). However, sometimes Sarah was very frightened of her husband
due to his family past and imagined him beating
her if she were ungodly (6).Sarah had an expensive taste in clothing
(7), which contributed to her husband’s anger often.
Criticisms
Like most writers, Sarah Edwards received several criticisms from her works.Her letters stated that during her husband’s congregations she would have mystical encounters. (1) These encounters included leaping from her chair and fainting (5). Edwards was seen as making this up for the sake of her husband to prove his worth as a preacher in the society there were living in.In other light, she was seen as doing it for the sole purpose of attention because she was jealous of all the attention her husband was getting.She was said to be copy-catting the idea from Benny Hinnand was questioned just about how true her experiences were (4).Besides being insulting, Edwards has also been praised.Many women, even today, view her as a true role model and she is the topic of many biblical sermons (3).
