Native Son by Richard Wright is a major work of American fiction and an incredibly important work in terms of American race relations. While other books we have read this term have disused political and social issues, Native Son stands out by disusing the causes of the issues rather than just the symptoms. More specifically, the novel discusses how media representation and an unfair system lead to a cycle of poverty and crime in the black community. throughout the book, Bigger has an understanding of the social inequality between races, as he demonstrates when he plays Whiteman with Gus and tells him about he would like to be pilot which both of them understand is impossible due to their race. This inequality is further driven home when we learn about Mr. redlining policies which prevent black families like his from having better living conditions. in contrast to his poverty and lack of opportunity, Bigger sees white people living in luxury and blessed with all possible opportunities. This dichotomy between black and white is enforced by the media. When going to the movies with his friends, Bigger first sees a film about a wealthy white woman living in luxury which was contrasted against another movie which portrayed Africans as savages. Wright argues that because of this racial dichotomy and lack of opportunity, many African-Americans feel like the system is rigged against them and commit acts of crime and violence against whites out of anger. This can be seen in both the lack of guilt Bigger felt after killing Mary and the way he mentally justified robbing Blum. This violence allows whites to justify their actions, thus perpetuating the cycle.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is one of the most important and well known works in the American literary cannon. The novel depicts America both at its most glamorous as well as showing the rotten core that hides below its guided exterior. During the events of the novel our narrator Nick Carraway immerses himself with Long Island high society and meets the incredible but mysterious Jay Gatsby who gained his wealth and prestige in a single minded goal of winning over Daisy, a former lover who is now married to the wealthy John Buchanan. The Great Gatsby is in many ways a critique of the social and economic conditions of America in the roaring 1920’s. the wealthy and powerful individuals that Nick meets are corrupt and shallow and anything truly beautiful is just an illusion. Gatsby’s vision of Daisy as a pure woman who truly loves only him is a lie only he truly believes and his single minded quest to win her over ends in disaster and death. This tone reflects a growing sense of disenfranchisement and cynicism that was appearing in America at the time. The first world war had destroyed a generation and in many ways killed off the hope and promise of the progressive era. At the same time, growing income inequality had led many Americans to question the legitimacy of the American dream.

Looking Backwards 2000 – 1887 by Edward Bellamy is fittingly enough, a great window for us to see a snapshot of culture and politics of the tail end of the 19^th century/ beginning of the 20^th century. While many of the other books that we have read this term such as Uncle Tom’s Cabin were political in nature, Looking Backwards is far more politics then it is narrative. The vast majority of the book is just Bellamy expressing how great the world would be under his Cristian socialist ideas and exposition about the world far exceed other more narrative based elements. The world Bellamy envisioned is one where industry and technology combined with socialism and cooperation have created a utopia. This utopian and pro-technology world was quite popular at the time as the late 19^th century technological boom and the rise in utopian ideologies such as communism and anarchism caused many to believe that utopia was just around the corner. Unfortunately, these dreams would be crushed after the world wars when the world saw the failure of utopian ideologies and the pain and destruction that technology could cause. Because of this, the world described in Looking Backwards becomes less a promise for the future and more of a window to the ideas of the past. one question I have is if Bellamy ever thought that people would be reflecting on his work 18 years after the future date his novel was set and could he ever have even imagined the world that we live in now?

Throughout Red Badge of Courage, we see our protagonist Henry (who is more often than not referred to simply as “the young soldier”) mature due to his experience in the American civil war. At the start of the book, Henry is what can best be described as an angsty teenager. He joins the army not out of patriotism or a sense of responsibility but rather for excitement and admiration from others. His beliefs and opinions constantly change depending on his circumstance.  For example, how he feels about himself after he runs from the first battle alternates between a sense of superiority to a sense of guild depending on how he thinks the battle is going. Henry is also incredibly unsure of himself and whether or not he is brave enough to stand and fight when needed. However, as the story continues and Henry experiences the trials and tribulations of war, he grows as a person and truly becomes a man, able to face death and suffering and come out the other side standing.  To quote the last page of the book, “With this conviction came a store of assurance. He felt a quiet manhood, nonassertive but of sturdy and strong blood. He knew that he would no more quail before his guides wherever they should point. He had been to touch the great death, and found that, after all, it was but the great death. He was a man”(118). This narrative of manhood through combat stands in contrast to other anti-war messages found in the book.

Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe is one of the most important works of literature in the American cannon, influencing both the people of the period it was written as well as modern readers. First published in 1852, the novel gives readers a contemporary account of the evils of slavery without any of the mythology created after the war to water down the evils of the institution. Throughout the events of the book, Tom becomes the property of three masters. The first two, the Mr. Shelby and the St. Clares might be good people, Stowe makes it clear that the institution that they practice is evil and that no amount of politeness or kindness can fully redeem them. Tom’s third master Simon Legree in contrast to Mr. Shelby and the St. Clares is incredibly cruel and demonstrates the full evil and brutality of slavery. Tom’s loving and forgiving nature acts as a contrast to Legree’s inhumanity and thus fully highlights the evils of slavery to the reader. It is also worth noting that almost all of the slaves ate portrayed with many positive aspects that paint that paint them in a positive light without causing them to lose any complexity as characters. Eliza for example exemplifies personal strength and bravery during personal tragedy.

In the classic novel The Pioneers by James Fenimore Copper, we are able to see serval examples of characters and ideas that shape the identity of the United states of America. Mores specifically we can see early examples of the frontiersman as the idealized American man, the frontier as something to be protected, and the united states as a nation of immigrants. Most of the characters in The Pioneers are strong, capable men who rely on themselves and value hard work and creativity, for example judge Marmaduke Temple who carves his own paradise out of the unsettled frontier. Many, such as Natty Bumppo are self-made outsiders who thrive on the outskirts of civilization and society. This ideal of the American man would come to shape other figures of American culture such as the noble gunslinger of the westerns or the modern nonconformist but brilliant CEO. Another aspect portrayed in the book that plays an important part in American culture is the idea of the frontier as something to both be built over and at the same time be preserved. The frontier is portrayed as a place for the above mentioned great men to go and seek their fortune and dreams, to build the world that they desire. As the same time however, it is shown to be finite and at risk of disappearing if over settled. This is shown in many characters talking about how the population of animals seems to be decreasing. Finally, The Pioneers depicts a diverse America made up of many different peoples. Characters are shown to follow many different Christian faiths and we see characters from many backroads such as White American, Native American, European, and African American. The backstories of characters also often delve into the situations that brought their ancestors over to America. All of these elements will play an important part in defining the American nation and its identity.

The Candidates by Robert Munford give a major insight into the political climate of the late colonial period and early American republic and more specifically the southern planter class. The play follows Mr. Wou’dbe, a Virginia aristocrat running for election as a candidate for the local general assembly. Over the course of the play, Mr. Wou’dbe competes against far less capable or scrupulous opponents while discussing the values of democracy and good government. The candidate shows the strong enthusiasm felt by Americans towards democracy and civil participation in government during the lathe 18^th century. Mr. Wou’dbe is shown to be running not for personal gain or glory but rather as a reluctant man putting himself in the unconfutable position of power because he is the most worthy and capable man for the job. Mr. Wou’dbe’s worth is shown by his refusal to partake in such dirty tricks as paying for votes with liquor or trying flatter men he hardly knew like his opponent Sir John Toddy did. Rather than resorting to these tricks, Mr. Wou’dbe puts emphasis honesty and integrity. This attitude is not treated as naïve or fanciful but rather as genuine and expected of politicians. Through this, we see the strong emphasis that was put on civil participation in 18^th century America. Prior to independence self-government and participation, whether in the town meetings of the north or the more aristocratic parliamentary systems of the south were a major point of pride for Americans and a staple of American culture. During and after the revolution, this democratic tradition became a way for the new republic to define its own identity as a distinctive entity form the monarchies of Europe.

In Captivity and Restoration, the author, Mary Rowlandson recounts her experience a captive of a group of Native American Indians after her settlement is raided. While the book touches on many themes such as the pain of captivity, the fear of the unknown, and the dichotomy between savagery and civilization, the theme of faith being challenged by adversity is especially poignant when taking into account the author’s background and the historical period the work was written in.

Mary Rowlandson was a Puritan woman living in 17^th century new England and thus her work is strongly influenced by religious themes. The Puritans were a protestant sect that felt that the church of England was too catholic and was becoming corrupted. One group of devout puritans who were expelled from England set up a colony in what is now Massachusetts. Mary’s Puritans faith is evident throughout the book as she discusses the importance of keeping her faith throughout her captivity. Mary seeks comfort in her bible from which she is reminded that god is always with her. This ties into the Puritan concept of predestination which states that god has a plan for all people that cannot be changed no matter what. As a result of this, Mary sees her captivity as a religious ordeal that will challenge her faith.