The Epitomization of American Identity Through American Literature
The present is shaped by those who took action in the past. There exists in early American literature and history, a struggle for the realization of equality. Which opposed the accepted immoral standpoint of discrimination and exclusion. Held by the majority of public during most of the literatures publication. Authors such as William Apess, Olaudah Equiano, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln depict the battle between a nocuous lack of morality and righteous penmanship. The ideals of American identity have been epitomized by an imperfect nation’s struggle for equality and the procurement of true freedom.
William Apess, epitomizes the arguments against the prejudice …show more content…
He argues for the right of the Native Americans to be treated as equals. According to Gallagher, Apess’ essay used “sixty-some rhetorical questions” or as he also describes them “sixty-odd interrogations” to “‘damage’ his audience” (Gallagher). These questions directly confronted the beliefs of Americans. It gave special attention to the christian Americans, asking rhetorical questions such as “Did you ever hear or read of Christ teaching his disciples that they ought to despise one because his skin was different from theirs?” (Apess 157) He charged Americans to make a change and declaring that if they refused they were being ignorant to the teachings of their own religion.
Olaudah Equiano’s The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavas Vassa, the African, Written by Himself, not only displays triumph over oppression, an attribute that is hailed as the cornerstone of a model American, but chronicles the beginning point of Americas change in attitude towards ethnic exclusion by discrimination. Interestingly though, Equiano spent most of his life in America as a slave and it is probable that Equiano wouldn’t consider himself in any fashion as an American. According to the “Norton Anthology of American …show more content…
Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809, in Kentucky (Pederson). Lincoln in the “Gettysburg Address” said that “our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal” (Lincoln 738). These words, being from the President gave affirmation to the belief that the Declaration of Independence’s were not exclusive but included men of every ethnicity. Although Lincoln claimed that “The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here” his words that day became some of the most famous in American history (Lincoln 738). His words that day gave a second wind to the hope that a nation of equality could be sustained. He charged the American people to stay “dedicated to the great task remaining”(Lincoln 738) His efforts secured for the nation the American identity proudly reserved by the
The present is shaped by those who took action in the past. There exists in early American literature and history, a struggle for the realization of equality. Which opposed the accepted immoral standpoint of discrimination and exclusion. Held by the majority of public during most of the literatures publication. Authors such as William Apess, Olaudah Equiano, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln depict the battle between a nocuous lack of morality and righteous penmanship. The ideals of American identity have been epitomized by an imperfect nation’s struggle for equality and the procurement of true freedom.
William Apess, epitomizes the arguments against the prejudice …show more content…
He argues for the right of the Native Americans to be treated as equals. According to Gallagher, Apess’ essay used “sixty-some rhetorical questions” or as he also describes them “sixty-odd interrogations” to “‘damage’ his audience” (Gallagher). These questions directly confronted the beliefs of Americans. It gave special attention to the christian Americans, asking rhetorical questions such as “Did you ever hear or read of Christ teaching his disciples that they ought to despise one because his skin was different from theirs?” (Apess 157) He charged Americans to make a change and declaring that if they refused they were being ignorant to the teachings of their own religion.
Olaudah Equiano’s The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavas Vassa, the African, Written by Himself, not only displays triumph over oppression, an attribute that is hailed as the cornerstone of a model American, but chronicles the beginning point of Americas change in attitude towards ethnic exclusion by discrimination. Interestingly though, Equiano spent most of his life in America as a slave and it is probable that Equiano wouldn’t consider himself in any fashion as an American. According to the “Norton Anthology of American …show more content…
Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809, in Kentucky (Pederson). Lincoln in the “Gettysburg Address” said that “our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal” (Lincoln 738). These words, being from the President gave affirmation to the belief that the Declaration of Independence’s were not exclusive but included men of every ethnicity. Although Lincoln claimed that “The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here” his words that day became some of the most famous in American history (Lincoln 738). His words that day gave a second wind to the hope that a nation of equality could be sustained. He charged the American people to stay “dedicated to the great task remaining”(Lincoln 738) His efforts secured for the nation the American identity proudly reserved by the