The story, under first impression, shows hard work is efficient enough to gain wealth. However, sober, honesty, and industrious are defined in the books section about character and morality. This affects the young male readers as it allows masculinity to define one’s work ethic, wages, and profession. By including these testaments, a reader is inclined to embody honesty and industrious qualities to become this “successful professional man” and to raise their own socioeconomic position to meet this idealized form of masculinity. However, a counterpoint to this example is found in the article “Effects of Wealth on Morals” which is included in The Contributor, a literary magazine designated for young men. The article calls for a reform in men
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The text’s urge the reader to not marry below their class as the wife’s family will take you wealth. Likewise, the text’s section on marriage encourages the young men reading to marry above them, or at the very least, marry within their own class. The sections on courtship and marriage conform to Smith’s idea that a “social pedigree” is part of the defining qualities of masculinity. They also present Stafford’s claims that the characteristics of the male reader are being molded to become “the household head” while also maintaining himself as a “man of commerce as proprietor”. While the young men reading these sections are able to keep their “Christian morality”, the idealized form of masculinity is calling for a secular man in respect to his affairs outside of his character. That is to say, the ideal man in the 19th century America is Christian in attitude but motivated by raising their own class in all other …show more content…
Usually outside literature is mentioned as a way of improving one’s education, but it is also relevant as one of the aspects in determining masculinity. As Stafford stated, “the man of reason, the stoic” is an aspect to this idealized masculinity which is also considered by Smith in his assertion of “key performative devices to ‘prove’ identity claims”. With that said, the reading lists are meant to give young men a means of being well read and educated in conversation. For example, every text in the archive that has a suggested reading portion, lists the Bible as the quintessential text to study outside of the guide. However, The Young Man’s Own Book references the importance of studying the Polyglott Bible because of, “the copious marginal references, and the superior correctness of the text” (84). The Polyglott Bible is meant for theologians as within the referenced 1834 publication, there is a critical introduction, a right of interpretation essay, and marginal that contextualizes the passages being read. Another suggested reading is pointing the young men to be scholarly in their pursuits by suggesting Conversations on Chemistry, as a popular reading for the educated and can be referenced in conversations because every “well-informed person is expected to know something of this science” (89). While the
The text’s urge the reader to not marry below their class as the wife’s family will take you wealth. Likewise, the text’s section on marriage encourages the young men reading to marry above them, or at the very least, marry within their own class. The sections on courtship and marriage conform to Smith’s idea that a “social pedigree” is part of the defining qualities of masculinity. They also present Stafford’s claims that the characteristics of the male reader are being molded to become “the household head” while also maintaining himself as a “man of commerce as proprietor”. While the young men reading these sections are able to keep their “Christian morality”, the idealized form of masculinity is calling for a secular man in respect to his affairs outside of his character. That is to say, the ideal man in the 19th century America is Christian in attitude but motivated by raising their own class in all other …show more content…
Usually outside literature is mentioned as a way of improving one’s education, but it is also relevant as one of the aspects in determining masculinity. As Stafford stated, “the man of reason, the stoic” is an aspect to this idealized masculinity which is also considered by Smith in his assertion of “key performative devices to ‘prove’ identity claims”. With that said, the reading lists are meant to give young men a means of being well read and educated in conversation. For example, every text in the archive that has a suggested reading portion, lists the Bible as the quintessential text to study outside of the guide. However, The Young Man’s Own Book references the importance of studying the Polyglott Bible because of, “the copious marginal references, and the superior correctness of the text” (84). The Polyglott Bible is meant for theologians as within the referenced 1834 publication, there is a critical introduction, a right of interpretation essay, and marginal that contextualizes the passages being read. Another suggested reading is pointing the young men to be scholarly in their pursuits by suggesting Conversations on Chemistry, as a popular reading for the educated and can be referenced in conversations because every “well-informed person is expected to know something of this science” (89). While the