de Crevecoeur vs. Franklin

Both St. Jean de Crevecoeur and Benjamin Franklin seemed to have similair goals when writing "Letters from an American Farmer" and "The Autobiography"; which would be similiar to today's "self-help" writing

de Crevecoeur gave Europeans hope for wealth, peace, and pride for becoming an American.  He painted a picture of who an American truely was:

"What then is the American, this new man? He is either a European, or the descendant of a European, hence that strange mixture of blood, which you will find in no other country. I could point out to you a family whose grandfather was an Englishman, whose wife was Dutch, whose son married a French woman, and whose present four sons have now four wives of different nations....Here individuals of all nations are melted into a new race of men, whose labors and posterity will one day cause changes in the world. [...] The American is a new man, who acts upon new principles; he must therefore entertain new ideas, and form new opinions.  From involuntary idleness, servile dependence, penury, and useless labour, he has passed to toils of a very different nature, rewarded by ample subsistence.--This is an American" (p.222-223).

Franklin's "The Autobiography" (meant to look like a letter to his son) has self-help aspects to it for American's as well.  Probably the most memorable section in which Franklin sets out for self-improvement is where he lists out the 13 virtues that he wants to work on weekly.  However, even through his experiement to achieve "moral perfection" he still found difficulties in certain virtues. Franklin states:

"I cannot boast of much success in acquiring the reality of this virtue [humility], but had a good deal with regard to the appearance of it" (p.310).

I think Franklin's intentions for this list of Virtues, was not necessarily for American's to perfect each one, but to be aware of them and strive for them in order to improve their own lives.

Differences I saw were in their writing styles.  Franklin's "Autobiography", was just what the name states: a record of his own life (although as stated earlier, can be used to help American's with their own lives).  de Crevecoeur however was writing directly to his audience, stating what they would experience in the New World and how their lives would be improved by becoming an American.

Overall, I like de Crevecoueur's "Letters from an American Farmer" more.  I found Franklin's writing (although technically very good--as I do not want to "bash" on one of our Founding Fathers) to be somewhat boring.  Whereas, I thought de Crevecoueur's writing to be a little more inspirational. 

Works Cited:

1. American Tradition in Literature, Twelfth Edition. George and Barbara Perkins. McGraw- Hill, 2009. Print.

Knight vs. Rowlandson

Sarah Kemble Knight and Mary Rowlandson are similar in some ways.  In both their writings they talk about their journeys in which they incountered hardships.  Both of these journeys probably being unusual for a women to experience at the time.  However, although they both experienced these travels; their experiences and writings are much different from each others.

To begin, although they both went through difficult travels, Rowlandson's journey was against her will.  Whereas Knight voluntarily embarks on this journey. The tone in their writing is different as well.  Rowlandson (having a much more terrifying journey) wrote in a more serious tone:

"I sat much alone with a poor wounded Child in my lap, which moaned night and day, having nothing to revive the body, or cheer the spirits of her, but in stead of that, sometimes one Indian would come and tell me one hour, that your Master will knock your Child in the head..." (p. 123)

One can only expect her to write in this tone due to the horrible circumstances she was put in.  Knight's tone, on the other hand, is much different than Rowlandson's.  Knight's tone in her writing is much more humorous:

"I ask thy Aid, O Potent Rum!/ To Charm these wrangling Topers Dum./ Though hast their Giddy Brains possest--/ The man confounded with the Beast--/ And I, poor I, can get no rest./  Intoxicate them with thy fumes:/ O still their Tongues till morning comes!" (p. 193)

Another difference I observed was their mentioning of God.  Rowlandson mentions scripture throughout her writing and is constantly searching for comfort through reading her Bible.  Whereas, Knight barely mentions God and religion. 

I found Knight's writing to be much easier to read, because I think the situation in which Knight was in was more pleasent to read about.  However, I think Rowlandson's telling of her journey was much more powerful and the situations stuck with me more.  Overall, I think Rowlandson's writing is more memorable.

Bradstreet vs. Taylor

In both Bradstreet and Taylor's poems we see expressions of devotion; however, each author seemed to be devoted to different people.  In Taylor's poetry we see him talking directly to God such as in the opening lines to "Huswifery" (p.160):

"Make me, O Lord, thy Spin[n]ing Wheele compleate"

However, when we look at Bradstreet's poetry we see her devotion more to her husband such as in her poem "To My Dear and Loving Husband" (p.103):

"If ever two were one, then surely we.  If ever man were loved by wife, then thee"

Puritan beliefs can been seen in both Bradstreet and Taylor's work; however, it is much more evident in Taylor's work (due to the fact that he is speaking directly to God).

I did see similarities in their writing (specificially in Bradstreet's "The Author to Her Book" and Taylor's "Huswifery").  Both writers used metaphors in their writing (i.e., metaphysical writing).  Bradstreet using the metaphor of a child to describe her own poetry being taken away and published into a book with out her knowledge (the book being her child).

"Thou ill-formed offspring of my feeble brain, who after birth did'st by my side remian, Till snatched from thence by friends, less wise than true, Who thee abroad exposed to public view;" (p. 102)

 

The metaphor in Taylor's "Huswifery" is that of a Spinning Wheel and the "Weaver"; where the "Weaver" is God and the Spinning Wheel is Taylor (or human's in general).  Taylor goes through each part of the spinning wheel and makes connenctions to God.  To start, in asking God to turn him in to a Spinning Wheel where He (God) is the Weaver, Taylor is stating that he wants God to almost "guide" his life. The "distaff" (a part of a spinning wheel) is the word of God--The Bible.  The "flyers" is his affections or feelings towards God.  Taylor uses many more metaphors throughout his poem.  In his last stanza Taylor asks God to dress him in these newly spun and glorious robes and when he is dressed in them [robes] he will be able to return the glory back to God.

"My wayes with glory and thee glorify.  Then mine apparell shall display before yee/That I am Cloathd in Holy robes for glory." (p.160)
 

Overall I liked Bradstreet's poetry more than Taylors.  Perhaps it is because I like her wit, the fact that she is a Puritan woman writing poetry, and that her poetry seems to be for her own pleasure (i.e., not HAVING to write about the word of God); however, I have to give Taylor some credit in his writing.  I found "Huswifery", very clever and somewhat enjoyable to read (unlike many of the plain style pieces we have read). 


Source:

Perkins, George B., and Barbara Perkins. The American Tradition in Literature: Volumes 1 and 2.
        Boston: McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2008. N. pag. Print