American Visions, American Stories: The Puritan World View and Early American Literature

English 516

Dr. Roggenkamp

America . . . A Nation of Stories

America a nation built upon “stories” Not founded on geographical or linguistic

unity—immigrant, native experiences “Stories” or ideologies impart a unity to

diverse land and people Published works, political rhetoric, press

determine which stories become “legitimate” and definitive

Role of colonial, early Republic experience in shaping stories

Dominant stories & patterns emerge from English settlement in America Story of Diversity: Not a single experience or single

“story”—diversified in terms of race, colonizing nation, religion, social status, motivations, etc.

Story of Individualism: America as a place to “go it alone”—place not tied to old European alliances, traditions

Story of Expansionism & Colonialism (and Exploitation): Right & even duty (God-given) to spread across continent—“civilize” the wilderness

Story of Capitalism: America as place where personal destiny/wealth can be found—reward for leading a godly life

Dominant stories & patterns emerge from English settlement in America

Story of Exceptionalism: America as an exception to the normal state of nations—an exceptional people

America as beacon to humanity—a “Peculiar Chosen People—the Israel of our time” (Herman Melville)

Why use Puritanism & New England culture as a base for semester?

Ideal of universal literacy Printing culture Influence of ideology on

early American literature & beyond

Influence of ideology on “national character” today

Establishes several stories of what “America” means—but not THE story!

Image: Still shot from PBS series “Colonial House,”

2004

Early American Literature as a Challenge . . .

Literature all about challenging way we see world Possible challenges to your assumptions about: American nationhood Religion and spirituality Race and bigotry Sexism and gender roles Politics (In)Tolerance of colonial ancestors History—“History is written by the victors”—but that

never means it’s the ONLY story or the “real” story

Early American Literature as a Challenge . . . Also a challenge because of genre For all colonists, “literature” meant history, personal

narratives, diaries, sermons, letters, trial transcripts, religious & political tracts, broadsides—as well as poetry & eventually fiction

But Puritans VERY suspicious of “all products of the flawed human imagination” (Emory Elliot 35)

Disdained any literature that distracted attention away from spiritual world

People still read such things—but in New England they were IMPORTS until relatively late in 17th century

Course Timeline—Early American Milestones

Links to keep handy:

http://faculty.tamu-commerce.edu/kroggenkamp/English516.html

http://faculty.tamu-commerce.edu/kroggenkamp/Timeline.htm

Before the Puritans . . . Native American cultures: pre-contact, approx 300

million people, 300+ separate indigenous cultures, 800 languages spoken

Mostly oral literature—but where “American Literature” really does begin

Colonizing by Spanish, French, Dutch, and English, in both South (Virginia) and North (New England)

First permanent European settlement on North American continent: Spanish at St. Augustine (Florida, 1565)

English: Jamestown (Virginia) 1607 Literature produced by colonists and printed in colonies

begins 1639, with press set up by Puritans of Massachusetts Bay (Boston)

Image: Embarkation of the Pilgrims, Robert W. Weir, U. S. Capitol Building, 1837

What does “Puritan” mean?

Originally meant as an insult: label for those who opposed compromises Queen Elizabeth I made with Catholic church

Both a religious, theological label and a political, cultural label

Way of grouping together very diverse set of belief systems – religious, political, social

Not a single, stable, static group of people

Most common context: Congregationalists, Calvinists

Image: The Puritan, Augustus Saint-Gaudens, Springfield, Mass. 1883.

Puritanism – Roots Label “Puritan” emerges 16th

century European Protestant reformation of

Christianity – reform Roman Catholic Church (THE Christian Church)

1530s England – Henry VIII parts with Catholic Church to form Church of England (Anglican)

His government still a POLITICAL THEOCRACY—belief in government by divine guidance

One official state religion, intolerant of others (crime of heresy)

Puritanism – Roots, 2 Believe Henry and successors

haven’t gone far enough in wiping out Catholic influence in England / Church of England

Purify Church of England – get back to basics of what they think Christianity is about, including:

Follow only the Christian Bible Destroy influence of educated

priesthood—individual path to God without intercession of priest (literacy)

Ban Catholic sacraments / rituals Ban altars, images, priesthood,

convents, etc. Ban “pagan” holidays like

Christmas, Easter

Image: St. Mary’s Anglican Church, Northumberland

Public Notice of Christmas Ban England, 1666

Puritans: Separatists and Non-Separatists

Most Puritans simply want to PURIFY Church of England, not break with it / separate from it

Simply want to “fix” Church—too close to Catholic roots

Some, though, think Church (and by connection government of England) is beyond fixing

Purify Christianity by separating from established church

Radical political offense! (Pilgrims)

Image: Thomas Smith, Self Portrait, circa 1680

Basic World View (Theology)

Most Puritans who come to New England in 17th century are CALVINISTS (Congregationalists)

Catholics—Maryland, Virginia, Rhode Island, initially

Anglicans—Virginia, initially John Calvin, Swiss Protestant

reformer, 1509-1564

Image: John Calvin

Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion (1536)—“TULIP” Total Depravity: Humanity is completely corrupted, as a

result of Original Sin Unconditional Election: Everyone is predestined for

either salvation or damnation (& most will be damned for eternity)

Limited Atonement: Christ gives gift of mercy through crucifixion—but ONLY to those PREDESTINED for salvation (the ELECT)

Irresistible Grace: Nothing can take away God’s grace, offered to the elect—but this grace cannot be earned in any way (nor can it be refused)

Perseverance of the Saints: The righteousness & justification of the elect will win out over all afflictions

Covenant System

Organization of New England’s Calvinist Puritan society based on system of interlocking COVENANTS

Covenant: Binding agreement made by mutual consent; legal agreement

Word that pervades early American literature—see world in terms of covenant with God and covenant with each other

Image: Geneva Bible, 1560

Covenant of Works God promised Adam/Eve and all

their descendants eternal life if they obeyed his law; Adam/Eve accepted this promise (covenant)

Humanity thus responsible for earning salvation via works (things they DO / way they ACT)

Adam/Eve broke covenant God totally justified in

condemning all humanity to eternal damnation from that point on

Covenant of Grace

God totally just, but also totally merciful

New covenant with Abraham in Bible’s Old Testament scriptures: I will be your God and you will be my people.

Bible’s New Testament: Christ’s death fulfills God’s end of covenant – crucifixion atones for damnation of humanity

Image: Rembrandt, The Angel Stopping Abraham from Sacrificing Isaac to God, 1835

Covenant of Grace, 2 Puritans: God offers salvation not

to all humanity per se, but to select group: “the elect”

No one knows who is elect and who is not

Must have more than “intellectual” faith that you MAY be elect – must have spiritual, emotional, moving faith, total devotion to God, church, state

Constantly watch for signs that you’ve been offered the covenant of grace

Doctrine of “preparationism”

Image: Last Judgement, Sanctuary Notre-Dame des Fontaines, La Brigue, France

Social Covenant

Idea of covenant organizes Puritan civic life:

King/Queen of England not in charge of church governance

Individual church congregations enter into own covenants with each other and govern themselves

Church and government of colonies also enter into covenants—theocracy

Extremely threatening to English monarchy

Social and religious congregationalism

Organizational system known as congregationalism

Not the way things run in England

Conformity in all aspects of life: “Here’s our contract with God and each other.”

Quashes dissent: break covenant & you’re out of church, land, community

Image: General Laws and Liberties of the Massachusetts Colony, 1672

Why bother? What’s in it for me?

Those not Puritan definitely not elected

Be part of exceptional group Belief world about to end—

Puritans to “make way” for return of Christ

Emotional charge – extremely charismatic religion

Social pressures – economic pressures

Not just about religion – also all about politics and social order

Sense of order and community in totally disordered / fractured world

Image: Richard Mather

Massachusetts Coast (modern)

Of Pilgrims and Puritans: What’s the difference?

All Pilgrims are Puritans, but not all Puritans are Pilgrims

Most Puritans are happy to keep the Church of England–simply want to PURIFY it by working from within

Pilgrims are radical Puritans—Church of England has to go—beyond salvation

Image: Facsimile of Bradford’s manuscript for Plymouth Plantation

Of Pilgrims and Puritans, 2

“Separatists” – Separate from Church of England and therefore from England itself

Social outcasts – radical, subversive, persecuted

Of Mayflower and First Thanksgiving fame (a myth)

Image: First Thanksgiving, Jean Louise Gerome

Ferris, early 20th C.

William Bradford, 1590-1657

Separatist Puritans (Pilgrims) to Plymouth, 1620

Group most persecuted in England

Most radical, extreme views

Images: William Bradford; contemporary

reconstruction of Plymouth Plantation homes

John Winthrop, 1588-1649

Member of English landed gentry; attorney

1629 joins other investors to organize trading company—Massachusetts Bay Company

Unlike most other colonial enterprises, this one not just about making profit

Leads “Great Migration” to New England (1630-1650)

Image: John Winthrop

Winthrop and 17th-Century Puritanism: The Ideal and the Real

What are Winthrop’s and Bradford’s ideals all about?

What reality does Winthrop’s private journal and Bradford’s history show in contrast to “the ideal?”

Image: Royal Charter, Massachusetts Bay Company,

1629

Figures and typology Puritan literature explicates

prophecies of Biblical Old Testament as foreshadowing of events and people—first in the New Testament, then in contemporary life (by 1640s)

Biblical forecasts of current events

E.g.: Atlantic journey of Puritans is “antitype” of Exodus of Israelites, the “chosen people” (the “type”). Image: The First Thanksgiving, Jenny Brownscombe,

Pilgrim Hall Museum, 1920.

Figures and typology: Story of American Exceptionalism

Individuals are “chosen”—the elect But COMMUNITY as whole is “people chosen

of God” as well New Israelites (Puritans) sent on errand into

the wilderness to establish the new Jerusalem in anticipation of Christ’s return