Different Views and Topics over Time in American Literature

Caroline Ramirez Navarro

Professor Yuemin He

English 241

November 10, 2014

Different Views and Topics over Time in American Literature

From the beginnings into the 19th century, the topics and views have changed in American literature. William Bradford who wrote in the 1600’s mentioned his religion and his belief in god in most of his journal Of Plymouth Plantation; Benjamin Franklin speaks of his achievements and failures in his Autobiography of his Life during the 1700’s; and into the romanticism with Nathaniel Hawthrone that writes about Love and religion in his short stories: “The Birth-Mark”, “Rappaccini’s Daughter”, and the Scarlet Letter. Not only do the topics of these author works vary but so does their views, and their audience change over time.

The audience of each author is different, Bradford writes a journal, Of Plymouth Plantation, about his community to share with the future readers. Franklin wrote to his son in his Autobiography of his Life as well as to his community in “Remarks Concerning the Savages of North America”. Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote for the general public. Bradford writes in a matter-of-fact way, even though when expressing his opinion, he phrases it as a fact; He writes as if he spoke for the community. He does this when talking about Thomas Morton, “Amongst whom was on Mr. Morton, who, it should seem, had some small adventure of his own or other men’s amongst them, but had little respect amongst them, and was slighted by the meanest servants” (144). He never uses the word “I” which would imply that it was his opinion, instead he just mentions all the allegations towards Morton as if it was a fact. As Bradford continues talking about Morton the more heated he gets and the words against Morton become harsher. He writes “And Morton became ‘lord of misrule’, who maintained (as it were) a ‘school of Atheism’.” (145).

Franklin is wrote for his son, this is shown when he addresses The Autobiography of his Live, to his son, “Dear...