Ideology

Ideology

Allwords.com defines ideology as “the body of ideas and beliefs which form the basis for a social, economic or political system.” Ideology offers change in a society, much like that in the The Way of Duty. The change in society is reflected by how Mary Fish’s values are different than those values of her children and grandchildren. Ideology also offers change in a political system, and The Declaration of Independence and The Constitution are two documents that were written to mirror the changes that America was going through in those times. The shift in ideology or values in America from the Revolution through the War of 1812 came about because America and the people in America were changing to reflect reality, as they strived to make their lives better.

Mary Fish experienced first-hand a change in values, as America moved through the Revolution. Mary Fish always performed her duty for the betterment of society and to make the world she lived in a better place. She took her duty very seriously and felt that it was an obligation, not a choice, to perform and complete her duty. However, because of the changing times, her children and grandchildren didn’t echo her same values and beliefs. Mary Fish had always had a strong belief in God, and her faith was the driving force behind her work. Her children didn’t share the same faith in God, or their motive for doing things. They looked to find happiness in bettering themselves, being wealthy, and occupying land. Mary’s son Jose provides us with an image of how the times and values of people changed. Jose makes his family question his patience and loyalty. The book says that after he took a larger piece of land than his two brothers that “he made not the smallest attempt to repay them, two of whom had large families to support on small clerical salaries, and even the temperate request that at least he protect them by giving them a mortgage on his property had met with refusal. He thought he had absolved...