Andrew Romero

Mr. Honda 4

English 3

22 August 2017

Early American Literature

In the Norton Anthology of American Literature’s introduction to “Literature to 1620”

Norton describes historical events through the prism of literature to show deeper meaning and

add somewhat of a third dimension to the reading unlike the 2-dimensional textbook counterpart.

Through the prism of literature, we gain an extensive sense of the feelings that the people at the

time experienced because we can view how they responded and what they wrote when those

events took place. The author takes a closer look at the motives for the European migration to the

Americas. She states that the people were intrigued by, “unimaginable plants, animals, and most

of all strange peoples whose uncanny customs, costumes, and beliefs intrigued all who heard

him” (Norton 1) along with how the natives felt the same way. The Natives who had been

inhabiting the New World for many years were also surprised when a very different kind of

people arrived, discovery was mutual for both sides. Aside from this, the Europeans perceived

this as a chance to change their way of life as opposed to just saying they came to the New

World to colonize and leave Europe like the textbook states. Another color we receive through

the prism of literature is from the primary sources that really capture the ghastly and appalling

images that appear throughout history. The author explain how the Indians were concerned as to

how serious the colonists took war, “with gunpowder and steel. Europeans had the technological

advantage in warfare, and it would seem that-despite centuries of propaganda to the contrary

they took violence more seriously than did the native Americans” (Norton 5). Statements such as
these really give an edge to the historical meaning and background to how Native Americans

compared themselves to their American counterparts. In addition to receiving a deeper meaning

through the prism of literature, we also receive a dark or unpleasant view of history as well.

Since we see more emotion and feelings in the writing, when bad parts from history arise the

level of grief and sadness can also increase as opposed to reading a sugar-coated textbook.

History is often told with one viewpoint however Norton makes sure to address this problem

through the literature of witness giving a viewpoint of how both the Europeans and the Indians

saw each other.

Throughout the text of The Relation of Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca the literature of

witness is viewable through a vast majority of the text. One can see the first-person account of

the historical person experiencing the events as they happen unlike the traditional textbook

counterpart. An example of this would be when Nunez explains how he felt the natives reacted

when they arrive on Sarasota Bay “...the inhabitants of Sarasota Bay made many signs and

threats that left little doubt that they were bidding us to go” (Nunez, 1490-1558, 15). This

describes as a primary source how Nunez and his crew felt as they arrived instead of the

textbook just stating they were unwelcome or they just left. This also shows how when the

Europeans arrived and they so called conquered the new land it was not very official and they

seemed to see it as very broad. Upon arriving their mindset was if they arrived then the island is

ours without consulting the Indians essentially disregarding they exist, and to not even try and

form some sort of bond with them that they can live by. The Relation of Alvar Nunez Cabeza de

Vaca (1542) is interesting in its own right because Nunez was originally a captain for a crew of

400 people yet when they arrive to the new world they end with four people however, this is not

all that makes Nunez adventure especially interesting. When arriving he immediately states that
he no longer wants to be responsible for the rest of his crew member one being a slave. While on

this island he claims the island with the native Indians threatening to kill him if he does not

leave. In order to survive the 4 men, work together to gather food in order survive regardless of

race or skin color. It is remarkable to witness when men are about to die the put their differences

aside to survive. After a brief time on this island they get captured by some of the native Indians.

Alvarez was required to be with these natives for a very long time. While living with the Indians

he learns a lot about their customs and traditions. It is very instructive because he lived with

Indians for several months which allowed him to examine their customs first hand and report

accurately. He was able to gain their trust and respect to later become a shaman and have more

power to travel although still being a prisoner. With Nunez text, we also understand that natives

were just trying to survive while minding their own business however when the Europeans

arrived it was very strange and unexpected for them. They often tried to distance themselves to

try and stop any problems that could be caused in the future. The Indians value family more than

the Europeans and are very intelligent when it comes to resources and population however the

Indians are sexist in their selection. “At a house where a son or brother may die, no one goes out

for food for three months, the neighbors and other relatives providing what is eaten.” (Nunez,

Relation 18) they value the life a boy over a woman because they receive more benefits. We also

notice that the daily life of the Indians is tough and food was scarce “I thought it impossible that

life could be so prolonged in such protracted hunger: though afterwards I found myself in yet

greater want, as shall be seen.” (Nunez, Relation 18) since life was tough as an adult they had to

plan when to have children because they could not live in these scarce conditions. After eating

the little food that the Indians had Nunez had an argument with the natives over what they were

going to do with the slaves. The view from the Indians is that all men should be free regardless
whether conquered or not the Europeans think the opposite. The Europeans think that whoever

they conquered, had to be enlighten with their Christian religion however, the natives rather hold

their beliefs than convert they hold their values and traditions with high regard. “His group were

the lords of the land who must be obeyed and served, while we were inconsequential.” (Nunez,

Beginning of the World, 22) The Europeans had very different views on family and traditions

and it's very evident in Nunez experiences. The prism of literature comes with several benefits

one being that we indirectly notice in the text that several myths turn out to be real or fake.

Another color we receive through the prism of literature is the benefit of observing

common myths get debunked or supported, the example that is given in the text is the Spanish to

America colonization. One of these myths is that the colonists were the first to arrive to North

America and colonize it however, the Native Americans discovered North America long before

the colonists in fact 12,000 to 20,000 years ago. This was a very common misconception that

many forget despite the fact that it is not true. Another misconception is that colonists traveled to

the Americas to spread their territories and influence on the world this is partially true but the

main fact is that every colonist had their own reasons to leave whether it was out of greed, spread

the word of god, escape problems at home, leave the poverty and cramped cities, or to just see

what many travelers had been describing to them as exotic and untouched land with many

promises. The author helps us understand that sometimes colonists would hide their true means

to travel to the new world through other means, for instance some of the religious protestants

would put on a facade of coming to the Americas to spread the word of god and convert others to

Christianity when in reality their intentions were to make money. The expanding world posed a

threat to religion and peace, with several population booms and more immigrants arriving, the

starting population of 111,000 in a small-time frame of 30 years jumped up to 250,000.

Alongside more people also arrive different values, different religion, and different customs.

This posed a threat to the Puritans who were spreading the message of the one true god. In just

one hundred years the population exploded “By 1760 the population reached 1,600,000 and the

settled area tripled, the price and demands of goods increased as well.” (Norton 80) With all

these new people with different backgrounds they all started to bring their ideas with them which

helped form the birth of the enlightenment period. During this time, the enlightenment period

people started shifting away from religion and towards science because they wanted to explain

why things in the universe happen “their inquiries was to make the universe seem more rational

and benevolent than it had been represented in the Puritan doctrine.” (Norton 81), because of this

religious people started to condemn those who believe in science and threaten them. This was

important because many people came to the New World to spread the word of god many risking

their lives to do so and to have someone say that they did it for nothing did not sit well with

them. Another factor in which Enlightenment helped is that the colonists realized the values and

needs they want and deserve, and then notice that their previous countries lacked those values.

This sparked people to move away from their countries and start to form a new type of country

that provides and agrees with these values. With the demand for goods increasing as well as the

colonist population increasing the English started to raise prices and tax the colonists. Alongside

new values are the start of what led to the separation of the New World from England. When

thinking of early America many think of the atrocities that were committed to the Indians and the

slaves but many oversee the oppression of women. The statement “All men are created equal” is

one that really sets the tone for author Anne Bradstreet as it becomes evident as to why is says

“All Men”
 All men are created equal not men, not women and that was very evident through the

feelings of Anne Bradstreet. Alongside the racism of the New World, the degradation and

underappreciation of women was also viewable through various texts, one being through the

various poems of Anne Bradstreet from a Protestant family. She received a better education than

most of the women at the time which was very unusual however, because her father was rich and

in position of several companies he was able to afford private tutors. At the ripe age of sixteen

years she was wed to a young protestant man that worked with her father. Her family was very

religious and often times she found herself conflicted with god and personal desires. Through

various mal events in her life that happened to coincide when she did wrong things, she thought

she was being punished by “god” so she would try to stop doing these bad things and they would

miraculously be “cured”, because of these events this is why she truly was convinced that god

was real “What proved to her finally that God exists was not her reading but the evidence of her

own eyes.” (Bradstreet 128), she had her doubts on religion however, bad and good events

happening around the time she did these good and bad deeds reinforced her belief

permanently. As a child she wrote poems for her dad and when she married her husband she did

the same thing, with much more time on her hands she wrote poems of her feelings of how

women were treated at the time. The poems themselves contextually add lots of meaning

themselves because the writings are so intricately written so that they can say controversial ideas

without repercussion which gives these poems a lot more credit than they receive. One of her

poems explains how women are inferior to men in all aspects and should respect men for as they

are intellectually superior. One of the lines states that they should ignore her work as she is

nothing but a dumb women “But simple I according to my skill” (Bradstreet 128) several lines

later it stated that if any work of women was good that it would be considered stolen from a man
however, the most intriguing part is that the beginning of the poem it sucks up and praises man

and after every paragraph she has line that states that women could perhaps receive some

recognition but, this is done so cleanly and unnoticeably it has skill in its own right.

Anne Bradstreet later wrote a poem in response to her brother’s actions of publishing her

poems for her without permission or discussion, she states she knows he meant well but that it

wasn't his place to decide. If she wanted to publish she couldn't because women weren't given

that privilege at the time. Within the poem contextually she refers to her poem as her child,

something poor and unworthy of viewers eyes but no matter how bad it is she will love it

because she made it on her own with no help and lots of effort. She left in out in the world and

know it will receive hate no matter how hard she tried to dress up neat however, she knew it

would always be lacking. She tried to clean up the poem but the lack of knowledge and other

factors kept her from succeeding “I washed thy face, but more defects I saw, and rubbing off a

spot still made a flaw.” (Bradstreet 140, l.) No matter how much she removed or change the

result was going to be hated. Later in the poem she explains that she has made peace with herself

and learned to disregard what others think because she loves what she has created, even after

they beat her poem dead and fill her with grief she will always love it. The prism of literature is a

touching way to see historical events and that is very evident throughout the various texts. One

thing for certain is that early American literature helped form how America is today for the

better.

The prism of literature allows the reader to understand history with a deeper meaning

through emotional connections, it also allows the reader to interpret the writings of the time

better. Without the prism of literature history would be two dimensional and black and white,

however the prism allows for greater ideas with perceptive thinking to integrate for us to form
our own thoughts on the historical events. We understand and notice through the prism of

literature that the begging of America wasn’t always so peaceful in fact quite the opposite which

can turn your viewpoint. This does not go without saying that things did eventually improve over

time and they were somewhat able to redeem themselves. It is also fair to mention that early

America wasn’t the only to accept slavery and have the concept of women being inferior.

Americans came from all over the world so they came with the same ideas from their

predecessors but, the most inspirational thing was that we were the first ones to try and change

those concepts. Although not immediately we did realize these outdated ideas were wrong and

we implemented change and that is what truly makes America the hopeful and diverse country

that it is today. We still have problems with race and women but like back then with time we will

be the first to try and fix that and that is why the future looks promising.
 Works Cited

The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Ed. Nina Baym. New York: W.W. Norton and

Company, 2013.

Bradstreet, Anne. The Tenth Muse, 1650. Reprinted in The Norton Anthology of American

Literature. Ibid.

Núñez Cabeza de Vaca, Álvar. Letter to Charles V, King of Spain, 1542. Reprinted in The Norton

Anthology of American Literature. Ibid.

---. The Relation of Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca, 1542. Reprinted in The Norton Anthology of

American Literature. Ibid.

Wade, Nicholas. “Girl’s Bones Bear Signs of Cannibalism by Starving Virginia Residents.” The New

York Times. May 1, 2013. New York Times Publishing Company. Web. 8 Feb. 2017.