American Literature - Essay on the USA's air of moral superiority

Description

The United States has been criticized in recent years for assuming an air of moral superiority and for trying to impose its opinion upon the rest of the world. Can you find the seeds of these American attitudes in the literature of the first two centuries?

Informations

• Publié par: athos
• Nombre de lectures: 722
• Langue: English

Extrait

American Literature

The United States has been criticized in recent years for assuming an air of moral

superiority and for trying to impose its opinion upon the rest of the world. Can you find

the seeds of these American attitudes in the literature of the first two centuries?

America was founded as a new democracy built from scratch. This society was

supposed to avoid the vanity, violence and vices of Europe’s kingdoms. Through methodical

thinking, and using the results of several great thinkers, theologians and politics, America’s

founders were supposed to have learned from the past, from Europe’s mistakes. On top of all

this thinking and theory came a strong faith in the Christian God. This faith helped America’s

founders to explain past mistakes and how to avoid them.

Thus America thought of itself as built on a sound ground. John Winthrop wrote A

Model of Christian Charity to analyse the place of men in Nature, their relations and

differences, the management of which first lead to societies. In this text Winthrop redefined

those differences and relations as God’s will and gift; thus he could explained why and how

Americans must be a strong, faithful community based on integrity and Christianity. “Love

your neighbour as yourself” said the New Testament. “Upon this ground stands all the

precepts of the moral law” wrote Winthrop. With this thinking, laws, order and justice all

seems to come naturally.

This divine gift does not come without risks or responsibilities according to Winthrop.

“For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon

us”. This opportunity also means that Americans are given the responsibility of human

Salvation. Early Americans did lots of sacrifices, often coming from Europe without any

wealth, leaving safety, fame and lands for settling in a virgin and wild country. They had to

fight Indians, live with scarce food and comfort, prove worthy and sober enough to live on

this land offered by God as a gift for benevolent men. J. Hector St John de Crévecoeur

showed in its Letters form an American Farmer how newly landed European soon became

Americans, with a lot of sacrifices and good will.

Being the first country to have enforced democracy in lieu of monarchy, America is

very early proud of its success. A lot of critics against this pride emerged very early, as a

result from the consequently allowed liberty of speech. Frederick Douglass explains in The

meaning of July Fourth for the Negro that “[Americans’] shouts of liberty and equality [are]

hollow mockery” for the American slaves. Slavery was at this time a very sensitive issue, as

racism then segregation will be until after the mid-twentieth century. Those early and endless

critics and disputes about slavery will later lead America to continue leading the fight against

inequalities and become a symbol of freedom of tolerance with famous images such as the

“American dream” or “Melting pot”.

Finally, we clearly see in the American literature of the first two centuries the seeds of

the so-called air of moral superiority Americans are criticized for. They had been since this

time proud of having analysed and understood the place of men in Nature, human natural laws

and moral from a divine point of view to ensure sound basis for a new society. This was not

only very ambitious and hazardous an idea; having managed to overcome the consequent

responsibilities and dangers, becoming a true model of democracy and liberty all over the

world and yet allowing criticism and learning from that have rooted a strong sense of moral

integrity and pride in the vision Americans have of themselves and of their country.