I am interested in hearing your response to today's class. What did you think of keeping the men quiet? What did you think of this "feminist" reading of "Rip Van Winkle"? Do you agree that in American literature, the experience of being an American is the experience of being male? How many female heroes can you name in American letters? Who are the female equivalents of Melville's heroes, or Cooper's heroes. Even in the mid-20th century, the women were most often represented in literatue as "entappers" or impediments to the male experience of discovering and exploring new opportunities.
Grant T. Smith
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I thought that today's class was very interesting. I do think it would have been nice to hear what some of the men in the class would have said, especially their views on Dame Van Winkle. Though I do understand the overall point, which was "women being silent for centuries." I found that twist to be interesting as well. After reading the story, I personally sympathize with Dame Van Winkle - it seemed to me that she just wanted a husband who cared about her and her children, she definitely ran the household on her own for the most part. And, when it comes to literature, I can see how the "American experience" is largely male experiences. Drawing from the examples we used in class, Rip Van Winkle and Huck Finn were seen as two males who were dominated by females. They wanted to break free of the women's authority and do "manly things" that would make them happy; like fishing, hunting and going on long adventures. It seems in literature women are either depicted as dominating or docile creatures that are shadowed by men.
Wednesday's class was interesting, and I really didn't understand why the men were not allowed to speak until the end of class. I really appreciated the point that was made, and I thought it was an interesting way to place the men in the class in the women's silent role back in the day. I do agree that the American experience was considered to be the men’s experiences. We do not really hear much of the average woman as we do the average male of that time. Women that we do know of, from the past, have been extraordinary.
As you consider women in American Literataure, think about how the education system regards Twain's HUCK FINN and how it regards Alcott's LITTLE WOMEN. One is considered the greatest American novel ever written; the other is considered sentimental. But the biggest seller of the mid-1800s was UNCLE TOM'S CABIN, and how often is it taught in high school? Grant T. Smith
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