A Comparison Of Edgar Allan Poe And American Hypocrisy

1921 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Contribution of edgar allan poe in literature

American Hypocrisy America has been a work in progress since the first colonist move in. There were several religions, beliefs, and cultures started and practiced while everything began. A great belief during this time period was “purity”. Many believed that America was pure and full of justice. Although America does have its benefits; everything isn’t morally correct. Most civilians were expected to follow rules, but with time everything changed. People were expected to act, believe, and write a certain way until certain individuals stood up against it. Although there is other examples like Nathaniel Hawthorne with “The Scarlet Letter” and Edgar Allan Poe with his short tales about perverseness, the abolitionists made the most impact on America. …show more content…

Both authors wanted to share their belief and stand up against what was morally wrong, since both noticed how other people lack on doing so. Thoreau and Douglass were not afraid to stand up for what they believed in, much less who they stood up against. They believed in a sense of morality rather than to strictly follow the law, the government or what America thought was correct in their sense. Acting upon their belief and behaving as such was also something they both did. The author’s way of doing so varied, but they still got there message across as well as made an impact to the public and community. After all of this, there was one main reason behind all their actions; the questioning of one’s conscience. America had been revolving over a sense of “purity” yet did not act upon what they preached all along. Throughout the history, it was said American was pure and has plenty of opportunities until the abolitionist decided to liberate their beliefs on what they believed was morally correct. Thoreau and Douglass were one of the abolitionist who names keep being remembered up to this day due to the difference they made by doing what others were afraid of, unmasking America’s

Show More
Related

  • Comparing Letter from a Birmingham Jail and Civil Disobedience

    1558 Words  | 4 Pages

    ...goals, they both discuss similar topics of morality and justice under a government’s rule. In hopes of informing and motivating people, Thoreau and King explain how and why these people should take non-violent action towards unjust laws. From each author’s vivid examples and brilliant analogies, we learn the importance of fighting for justice and maintaining morality. Most importantly, Thoreau and King argue in favor of civil disobedience not only to inspire a fight for freedom from the government, but also to ensure that the people’s God given rights and rights to individuality are preserved for generations.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of David Thoreau's Civil Disobedience To The Mexican War

    1646 Words  | 4 Pages

    As one of the most controversial condoned actions of the time, Thoreau deeply opposed the possession and treatment of slaves. He demonstrated his transgressions with the government’s approval of slavery through the refusal to pay taxes to the state and the church. Thoreau spoke to the people in order to entice them for the banishment of slavery through civil protest in his speech, he wanted to induce urgency within his message to obtain liberties for all and governmental equity. Through the use of rhetorical questions and repetition, both urgency and importance were conveyed in his speech to protest slavery. Thoreau was able to motivate a different, more impactful response from the audience in using rhetorical questions. Likewise, these are used to purposely prompt the audience to think about the point being made rather than elicit an answer. Further provoking the audience’s exploration into the objection to slavery and war, he expedited his own beliefs in the midst of constructing a commonly rejected belief with an urgent antidote for the people. Thoreau asks of the audience why one would allow unjust laws against others to exist: “Unjust laws exist: … transgress them at once? Why is it not more … provide for reform? Why does it not … minority?” It is these questions that support his purpose for change, he provides the audience with questions to elicit a calculated response that correlates with his beliefs. When Thoreau employs rhetorical questions, he applies several one after another. Therefore, it is this structure that sets the stage for his immediate messages to the audience and their need to respond. Also, just as the Mexican-American war was reiterated throughout the speech, slavery is in constant recognition as well. Like how repetition was used for the war, Thoreau presented the audience with a continual exposure to his

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Frederick Douglass And Henry David Thoreau

    1040 Words  | 3 Pages

    Douglass and Thoreau both felt as though the government as well as society turned a blind eye to the mistreatment of human beings, especially during slavery. He saw freedom being celebrated, but it just reminded him of how so many were willing to continue on not dealing with all of the wrong that had taken place. Regardless of what he saw before him, he refused to forget. Douglass felt that “to forget them, to pass lightly over their wrongs, and to chime in with the popular theme, would be treason most scandalous and shocking,”. Instead, he chose to deal with the subject of American Slavery, in which he brought out the idea of individuals supporting what was wrong rather than what was

    Read More

  • Education In The Antebellum Era

    1101 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Antebellum period was a time of reform and improvement. After the War of 1812, America went through a period of westward expansion, patriotism and an economic emergence as a world power. Their new found power as a country inspired reformation. Abolitionists worked to end the institution of slavery through protests, rallies, and the formation of societies; women’s rights activists advocated in a similar way. Simultaneously, many Americans supported the government’s efforts to remove Native Americans from their own land. Americans during the Antebellum period were ambitious, but contradictory in their activism; while many activists fought for the rights of slaves and women, others sought to curtail rights of Native Americans.

    Read More

  • Abolitionist Movement after the 1930s

    712 Words  | 2 Pages

    The abolitionist movement caused major impact on the nation as a whole compared to the antislavery movement before the 1830s. This was due to the major support received in the 1830s by all the leaders that arouse at this time. The commotion caused by all the propaganda published during this movement. As well as the spark left in the nation by the antislavery movement in the nation before 1830s.

    Read More

  • Reform Between 1825 And 1850

    1363 Words  | 3 Pages

    While some citizens of the United States, between 1825 and 1850, believed that reform was foolish and that the nation should stick to its old conduct, reformists in this time period still sought to make the United States a more ideally democratic nation. This was an age of nationalism and pride, and where there was pride in one’s country, there was the aspiration to improve one’s country even further. Many new reformist and abolitionist groups began to form, all attempting to change aspects of the United States that the respective groups thought to be unfair or unjust. Some groups, such as lower and middle class women and immigrants, sought to improve rights within the county, while other reformers aspired to change the American education system into a more efficient way of teaching the county’s youth. Still other reform groups, particularly involved in the church and the second great awakening, wanted to change society as a whole. This was a time and age of change, and all these reforms were intended to contribute to the democratic way our country operated.

    Read More

  • Frederick Douglas's Impact On Society

    1006 Words  | 3 Pages

    During Douglass lifetime one of his most important significances is about the 13th amendment, which still is very relevant in today’s society. The 13th amendment made it illegal to own slaves, and it was taken in to effect in 1865. (Fletcher, George P. pg. 52) The 13th amendment wasn’t an easy amendment to get through since slavery was such a big part of the society, especially in the south where many people owned multiple slaves. However, due to the fact that Douglass was a high ranked politician, and had great oral skills he was able to influence both the people in the society, congress, and House of Representatives. Though, it wasn’t only because he was a high ranked politician he was able to influence people and make them understand how horrific the slavery actually was. Twenty years before the 13th amendment was passed in congress, Douglass released an autobiography book “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave.” In his autobiography book he explained about how it was to be a slave, what he had to do and how terrible it was. Additionally, he also explained about his escape from slavery and how he got in to politics, and different Anti-Slavery organizations. It’s very important to have Frederick Douglass in mind when talking about the 13th amendment because without him the 13th amendment most likely wouldn’t have passed

    Read More

  • Martin Luther King Jr. and Frederick Douglass

    1394 Words  | 3 Pages

    Both readings are about African American Men who are being discriminated against. Frederick Douglass was born 1817 and died 1895. His story is about his journey as a slave in Maryland. When Douglass was put into slavery, he was with a mistress who had never owned a slave before, so it was all very new to her. Mrs. Hugh Auld helped teach Douglass how to read and write, but her husband found out and told her that she should not, for it was dangerous and unlawful (125). Although Mrs. Hugh Auld stopped teaching Douglass, he knew enough to start his own education and eventually that lead him to freedom. Through all of Douglass?s teachings, he realized that slavery had a negative effect on him. Although his education was obviously good for him, he had his doubts. Before he was naive to all that was going on around him and what he was involved in. He obviously knew that he did not want to be a slave, but he did not know all of the information around and involving it. As his education grew, so did his anger and resentment for this world that...

    Read More

  • Religion in Early America

    870 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...owards complete absence of religious persecution, it served as a positive influence to neighboring colonies, and led to inspire the founders of America when writing the constitution.

    Read More

  • Frederick Douglass

    560 Words  | 2 Pages

    This excellent biography fluently tells the life story of Douglass; one of the 19th centuries's most famous writers and speakers on abolitionist and human rights causes. It traces his life from his birth as a slave in Maryland, through his self-education, escape to freedom, and subsequent lionization as a renowned orator in England and the United States. Fascinating, too, are accounts of the era's politics, such as the racist views held by some abolitionist leaders and the ways in which many policies made in post-Civil War times have worked to the detriment of today's civil rights movement. The chapter on Frederick Douglass and John Brown is, in itself, interesting enough to commend this powerful biography. The seldom-seen photographs, the careful chapter notes, documentation, and acknowledgements will encourage anybody to keep on learning about Frederick Douglass.

    Read More

  • Justice in Henry David Thoreau’s Civil Disobedience

    934 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Thoreau’s view, he felt that the government was insufficient. He didn’t need the laws to be just, he used his conscious and morality. He was compelled to do what morally was right, rather than it being based on government issued laws such as the complacent society there is today. People seem to care about justice, yet are immoral. This was the message Thoreau was trying to get across.

    Read More

  • Jus ad Bellum and the Civil War

    1980 Words  | 4 Pages

    Up until the late 1800s, slavery was widely considered acceptable in America. This ethical issue was important because African Americans were forcibly held against their will in order to fulfill the hard labor duties that were demanded by their owner. Slaves had no say in whether their lives belong to themselves. There was no sense of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. African Americans were not even considered a full person.

    Read More

  • Frederick Douglas

    5504 Words  | 12 Pages

    Douglass wrote three biographies about his life as a politician, slave, and abolitionist. However, the historical value of these works does not remain as important as the quality of the works themselves. Frederick Douglass’ writing deserves recognition in the canon of great American authors, because his work meets the chosen criteria for inclusion in a collection of important literature. Douglass influenced many famous abolitionists with his literary works, and this impact, coupled with his desire to write an expose about oppression in America, makes him a winning candidate. Although his published works, mostly autobiographies, received much acclaim from abolitionists, this paper explores the quality of Douglass’s work from a literary standpoint. This paper also details the events shaping Douglass’s impressive life and writing career. By examining the prestigious “life and times” of this black author, the reader will recognize the widespread influence of Douglass’s writing on other antislavery writers, politics, and hence, the public. In a look at his first and greatest work, Narrative of the Life, the following paper will demonstrate why Frederick Douglass deserves a place in the hall of great American writers. To fully appreciate the impact of Douglass’s autobiographies, we must examine violent period in which he lived. Douglass, born in 1818, grew up as a slave on Colonel Lloyd’s plantation in eastern Maryland. At the time, abolitionist movements started gaining speed as popular parties in the North. In the North, pro-slavery white mobs attacked black communities in retaliation for their efforts. By the time Douglass escaped from slavery, in 1838, tensions ran high among abolitionists and slaveowners. Slaves published accounts of their harrowing escapes, and their lives in slavery, mainly with the help of ghostwriters. Although abolitionists called for the total elimination of slavery in the South, racial segregation still occurred all over the United States. Blacks, freemen especially, found the task of finding a decent job overwhelming.

    Read More

  • Henry David Thoreau's Views

    1203 Words  | 3 Pages

    Thoreau was against the The Mexican American War and the act of Slavery in our society and was very skeptical towards the U.S government regarding these issues. The U.S government did more to harm the citizens of America more than it did to protect them and Thoreau realized that and was not afraid to speak his mind.. The law will never make men free; it is men who have got to make the law free” Thoreau is saying that don't just wait for change to come, make the change happen. He stand for what is right regardless of the consequences, therefore, he wanted the citizens of America to be bold enough to do the same.

    Read More

  • Civil Disobedience

    639 Words  | 2 Pages

    The purpose of this short story was to inform uneducated citizens of his opinion on the state and give a bit of reason behind it, its also meant to criticize the government and social policies like slavery. Thoreau induces emotion among readers and forces them to think logically about his way of life and what he’s suggesting. Overall Thoreau wrote the paper to justify his stand and explain his way of thinking.

    Read More

More about A Comparison Of Edgar Allan Poe And American Hypocrisy

Open Document