Jonathan's Discussion Questions for Nov. 29/30
This week we will be discussing the sentimental novels and Charlotte Temple in particular. Here are a few things to ponder before our meeting and to respond to on this blog. Who was the author's intended audience? Does the novel have a purpose beyond entertainment? What does the novel tell us about the history of early America? And is a novel a valid historical source?
posted by Jonathan Jones at 7:45 PM
27 Comments:
Charlotte Temple is a book intended for teenage girls that are in the mid to upper class. It is a story that goes into the politics of marring someone outside your economic class. I can see where this issue could be troubling for some girls of that time that had to deal with similar situations. I believe this book does have another purpose rather than just entertainment. Stories that are based on real life issues that others can relate to help in emotional ways; others see that others are experencing similar situations, so the reader may feel they are not alone.
This novel does tell us of the history of early America, in lecture we discussed how marring outside your economic class way prohibited and look down upon. However I don't know if this is a valid historical source. It is not based upon true events, however this situation could have very well of happend. So in regards to some aspects it is a valid historical source.
1) It seems to me like to novel was targeted towards the female reader, especially the young adult and teenage age.
2) I do believe that the novel has a purpose beyond just entertainment. Even though it is a great novel from a fictional point of view, it could have easily been written to show some of the hardships and struggles that women had to go through in the late 70's and early 80's.
3) The novel shows that America's history was male dominated to a point where females could have a say in things, but the male seemed to have the final say. Even though this novel reflects part of American history, things of that nature still occur today, but maybe to a lesser degree.
4) I dont belive this novel is a valid historical sorce, plainly because it is a novel. Situations like this may have actually happened, or maybe this exact situation happened, but the novel itself does not give any proof of that.
Charlotte Temple's audience was initially directed towards middle-class young women and those concerned with their fate. However, Rowson captivated all Americans with her novel. This story is about a young girl who eloped with a young gentlemen who promised to marry her and failed to follow through. I think this novel served as a lesson for all young girls, which is a reason why this book became so popular. I think this novel has a purpose just beyond entertainment because all women could somehow relate to the harsh treatment of Charolette. Charolette Temple illustrates the idea of women being inferior to men during the 18th and 19th century. This novel is not a history book filled with events and dates. However, I think some of the situations Charolette encounters throughout the book are based off Rowson's own situations. So, in some sense since this book portrays how women used to be treated, it can be considered a historical source.
The author's intended audience was the women of that time period, or as the author herself put it, "the young and thoughtless of the fair sex".
I think that because this was her intended audience, the book was much more than pure entertainment. It seems as though the author wanted to warn women about the dangers of putting your trust in people you don't know that well, like Charlotte did with Montraville and La Rue.
This novel reveals that in early America, women were viewed as the weaker sex and needed to be taken care of by either parents or a husband. However, because the author addressed these issues and the book was so popular, it also reveals that women were possibly wanting to up their status in society because they wouldn't want to turn out like Charlotte.
I don't believe this novel is a valid historical source because there is no real proof that these events actually took place. However, I do think it is important for historians to note that this book was the most popular novel of its time. This gives insight into the thoughts and concerns of people in early America, and seems to be a precurser for women's rights. So although the actual accounts may not be factual, I believe the book itself has historical value.
The author’s intended audience is female because it is completely a woman’s book a tale in which female suffering is portrayed from a female point of view in order to stir female sympathy; while vice and virtue are judged by female standards.
The novel says patriarch. Especially in the case of Charlotte, the author’s position regarding sexual difference and gender roles is so closely intertwined with dominant ideologies of the time. And the novel’s background was early America society, so it show us social environment.
The novel told us about the history of early America. After the America Revolution war, early America society distinguished sex role and defined with the male-dominant tendency. After the America Revolution War, the patriarch society needed to move for social stability and economical development in early America society. Charlotte was culture actual condition to maintain feminism of patriarch
My opinion is the novel is not a valid historical source because first of all, it is kind of novel, so it has the possibility with fictional story without true and a purpose of novel is entertainment. Background of the novel is just early America Society because we cannot know the story is either true or falsity.
Charlotte Temple was a good book because it was targeted and read by so many diverse groups. It was first intended for those "middle-class young women and those concerned with their fate" but people such as "middle class girls, working-class girls; men of all ranks who lent or gave the book to daughters, wives and fiancees; even a group of black women" were found to have read the book as well. The novel definitely had a purpose besides entertainment, it was the first book which gave inspiration and thought to the idea and act of women being the lower gender. The novel basically shows up the hardships of being a women in late 1700's was like, and the struggles they went through with men being superior. In my opinion I think a novel, even though it was fiction could be a valid historical source. Especially in this case because Charlotte Temple seemed like a book based off some of the struggles Rowson encountered as a women as well.
I think that the book Charlotte Temple was aimed primarily for younger women. Although as time passed, the audience grew into a more broader group because of the impact of the book. This book was definitely more than just entertainment however. It was intended to portray how women were treated less than men. It talks about how women struggled for an equal part in their society. They were treated as if they still needed to be taken care of. I think that this is a fairly accurate historical source because many of the examples can actually be seem in the past. Its usually not as extreme as seen in the novel however but still might have happened. Even though, since the novle was written back around the time period, it obviously has some validity to the accuracy of the time period.
This novel is directed toward an audiance of mostly girls in their teenage years. The book's purpose is to show that in early America it was bad to marry ouside the social classes. The book gives us a history lesson on how early American families and government were set up. Both of these areas were completely male dominated. This book is a valid source because it was written long ago in the same time period.
The author was attempting to appeal to a female audience.
The novel is in deed entertaining, but it was also a way to empower women of the time period. The novel reveals the change that America was going through at this time, what could be called the time of sensationalism. The novel is a valid historical source as long as it is looked at as a work of fiction, because it does key us into thoughts and opinions of the time.
The novel is intended for young girls. Its purpose beyond entertainment is to question woman's role in society at the time. It gives us an idea of what life was like in early American society. A novel can be a valid historical source but it should not be treated the same way that something such as textbook would be.
The author's intended audience was probably young women. I think the novel is not only for entertainment, but it can be seen as a lesson and it also explains a little about life back then. The novel tells us that girls were often married young and taken away from families. The novel deals with a lot of issues that went on during that time. The novel isn't true but it still could be a good historical source because it does tell a lot of factual imformation about how things were back then.
The author’s intended audience is teenage girls in the middle class to read for entertainment and also to give a sense of empowerment to these girls who are trying to find their role in society. Yes, this novel does have a purpose beyond entertainment, it is intended in a way as an example for how woman are thought of less by men in that time period, but woman still have some sort of voice in their household. This is a valid historical source in my opinion, because it is written by a woman during the time period illustrating how things were for all woman in America during that time period.
Charlotte Temple was directed towards an audience of middle class teenage girls, but slowly began to attract a larger more diverse audience based on the contents of the book. This book was not only a good source of entertainment, but enlightened people on the treatment and struggle of women in their society. In the 1700’s males dominated family and political life, leaving no room for women. This novel shows the struggles and hardships of being a woman in this time period. As a fiction novel, it is a good source of information.
Charlotte Temple was a book written for upper class teenage girls, but do appeal to a large viraity of readers. Besides the entertainment it showed struggles and powers of women in their society. It tells about early america that men were dominate and that females took a behind the seens role while the men took charge. Even though its a fictional book it is a good source to show about america in this time.
Charlotte Temple was intended for younger women at the time. The novel has a purpose to be a lesson for young women to learn, and can be for all ages of women. The novel tells us that early American's believed that women were a much lesser sex than men. It also tells us that they thought women were weak and only relied on males. Yes this book is a valid historical resource because it tells about the way people of this time acted, even though the story is fiction.
The author’s intended audience was young girls and possibly even teen girls of early America. I believe that the novel was written for entertainment first and foremost, although there themes that were used in the novel were purposely put there to get people thinking. This is a novel that I believe was written hoping that someone would pick it up for entertainment but then would actually have to think about what they were reading as it relates to real life. Hence, it now tells us about early America, especially how society tended to view young women who appeared to have made poor choices. Charlotte left her family and then became pregnant before her marriage. This then left her homeless and poor, which made people want to look down on her and they were not willing to help her out. I don’t think that this is a valid historical source unless you are looking at just for the literary content of the time. Personally I believe that most people at that time would have been more compassionate and at least somewhat willing to help just as that is human nature. There might have been some people that would have turned Charlotte away, but the book defiantly over exaggerated everything.
~ Jennifer Claybrooks
1. The intended audience appears to be young girls, probably in their teen years, in America.
2. The purpose was probably mostly entertainment. Some of the problems in the book could have been real problems of the time, and the book was used to expose another view. But I believe it was mostly written for entertainment value.
3. The novel outlines the expectations of women in the late 18th century.
4. I do not think novels can be used as valid historical sources. Many novels and stories are over dramatized to create more interest to the masses. Examples of this have occurred throughout history, with the stories of captured settlers in America in the 17th century. Because of the over dramatization of novels, they can not be used as valid historical sources.
I think the intended audience of Charlotte Temple was young women.
Yes I think there is a motive and purpose behind this book. I think this book was intended to warn young women of certian men. Also I think there was a hint of overtone by the author of looking down on America. That Europeans have more morals and ethics, also that your family is a major support system that women need in their lives.
I think the novel tells us about the motivation people had to better themselves and their names. People may have been somewhat self centered so as not to hurt their reputation. I think it also tells us that people left a lot behind as they left their homes and their families to go to America.
I do think this novel is a valid historical source because fiction is one of the best mirror of society. I think this may be somewhat of an extreme case, but on the otherhand this type of relationship can still happen today.
Charlotte Temple is targeted to young girls and does have a purpose beyond entertainment. It tells about issues that can even happen now, not exactly like Charlotte's case, but like it. The book tells us about how people viewed women who made different choices and the consequences that followed.I believe the novel is a valid historical source.
Charlotte Temple was a woman’s novel directed to the audience of young women of the 18th century. The novel certainly entertained it’s readers, with tales of illicit behavior that one might dream of doing, yet never actually would. However, entertainment was not the sole purpose of Charlotte Temple. Another function was to illustrate the example of a woman who had disgraced society by her unconventional actions. The novel tells present day readers of the basic values that women should have: modesty and respect for the sanction of marriage, to name a few. Charlotte Temple also tells its readers the role of women in the 18th century, and how society perceived it’s women-folk. The occurrences in the novel cannot be dubbed a valid historical source because there is no way of knowing the actuality of the events. However, the values and norms of the society in Charlotte Temple reflect those of the time period for which this novel was written. Therefore, the bigger picture of the novel could be a valid historical source.
Susuanna Rowson and other sentimental novelists aimed their work at young, unmarried women, for the most part intending to instruct and inform rather than entertain their audience. The books generally warned women against the evils of submitting to the heart, crossing their parents, and marrying without consent, all of which were seen as the greatest social taboos. As such, we are allowed a glimpse into the mentality of early America - women were often seen as weak, innocent, and obedient at best, and were thus warned against the perceived deceitfulness of men. The world itself was similarly divided, with the home representing femininity and comfort and any sphere outside it seen to be masculine and threatening. While the novels are a general representation of people's perception of the role of men and women of the time, they can't be considered a reliable historical source as they are both fictional accounts and over-dramatized cases.
-Katie Woods
I think that the novel about Charlotte Temple was intended for young women readers. By having Charlotte be a young girl as the main character, girls could really relate/learn for this story. Yes, this book has many purposes, one was to get girls to think of how fond their parents are and to always stay true to people you know love you. Another was to teach girls how men were in those days, and you shouldn't get carried away with love. Women had not power in early American history, they were there for the men and to reproduce more men. I don't think that this novel gives any real evidence that this sort of stuff actually happened. I don't think it's a good idea to use this book as a historical source.
The novel was written for young women as its audience. It describes instances that many can relate to even today. The novel tells us about the motivation people had to better themselves. I believe this is a valid historical source because many people can relate to it today.
The author's intended audience was upper class girls, about teenage. The purpose for the novel went beyong entertainment for these girls it was also a means for explaining the life a girl living in that time period. The novel explains the trials and tribulations of a young woman in early America. It tells about what her chosen role was and should have been. For instance, we're able to see story of a girl being married off young, and how societal status played a major part in the lives of women. I do not believe this novel is a valid historical source because there is not evidence that this novel was non-ficitious, in fact it was only based on truth. So in fact this novel is not able to be looked at, as a real truth for the masses to take into consideration when regarding early American lives of girls.
The book is towards woman... mostly middle aged. The books purposed beyond entertainment is to state the roll women had in the society at that time. This novel talks about the history of women and what their "job" was in that period of time. It explains what happened and what went one. It also tells us that woman needed to stay within their social class when getting married. I beleive this book is a valid historical source.
The author is aiming this novel toward women, obviously. It is not a book that a guy would normally pick up and start reading until he falls asleep. The novel i believe does have a purpose beyond just entertainment. I believe that she was trying to portray that women need more liberties and need more freedom. They are going to do more things and they are not going to want to be held back from what they want to do (e.g. Charlotte running away to meet a man at night.) This novel isn't the most accurate portrayal of early America. It dramaticizes everything but overall is a good figurative portrayal.
The novel is for the teenage females and it makes the point that marrying outside of your economic class isn't good. The book/novel in my opinion was not meant to entertain the reader but to see if you can see or relate to the stories being told. If you could relate you would be satisfied that someone else has gone through or is going through the same things your are undergoing. I feel as though the novel does talk about the early american history because it discusses marrying outside of your economic class also. But I am not certain that that this is a valid historical source because i don't know if it is true or false.
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