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

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Gopa B. Caesar:
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

Gopa B. Caesar:
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

Gopa B. Caesar:
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)

Gopa B. Caesar:
Understanding America through Puritanism & New England culture

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!

Gopa B. Caesar:
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

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