The Pursuit Of Freedom In American Literature

Throughout time literature has had profound impacts on society, questioning and challenging society, and dictating the way in which people lived their life’s. American literature, though derived from English literature has developed its own twist on writing. This is due to the special philosophy of life and freedom associated with America’s beginning that is reflected in literature; the hope and desire for freedom from religious prosecution and from the control of European countries. As a result, this new country fostered yearning for a place in society. For this reason, aspirations of freedom, quests for identity, and self reliance are prevalent throughout American literature, making it different than any other type literature, and truly unique. …show more content…
A distinctive feature in American literature is a theme relating to the pursuit of freedom. Many believed achieving freedom was their goal, one worth risking their lives to fulfill. Writers such as Thomas Jefferson in his Declaration of Independence and Thomas Paine in his The American Crisis risked everything in order to inspire and unite American patriots, and stand up to their British oppressors. One of Jefferson’s most important statements in the Declaration of Independence is that everyone has “certain unalienable rights” and that this includes “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” (Jefferson). During the civil war, as patriot forces retreated across the Delaware River to Valley Forge, Paine wrote: "These are the times that try men 's souls: The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it NOW, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman” (Paine). George Washington then proceeded to read this quote aloud to his men whom had been freezing and starving. Perhaps one of Paine’s most well known writings, this inspired people and maintained the theme of freedom. Both the Declaration of Independence and The American Crisis have the same end goal: freedom, serving as examples of some of the early literature unique to …show more content…
This autobiography depicts Franklins self-reliance, search for identity, and embodies the yet to be defined term, the American Dream. Franklin tells the story of his life from poverty to becoming one of the most influential people in American history and becomes the foundation for the American dream in literature. Through hard work and determination, Franklin came to success in multiple areas. His life is told in four parts. In the first he explains how since he was young he was constantly in the face of adversity. His family could not afford an education so when he was seventeen he ran away to Philadelphia with the ambition to make something of his life. That is exactly what he ended up doing. Franklin expressed concepts of self-reliance throughout his life. Upon his arrival to Philadelphia and throughout his life Franklin was determined and persistent in bettering himself, and focused on individualism. He made a list of thirteen values to help develop his character: temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquility, chastity, and humility. Franklin practiced expressing these virtues everyday and made a book to keep track of which virtues he may be having trouble with. Anytime he felt he might have failed to comply with a single one of them he would go to this book and with an