Ideology and Classic American Literature

Sacvan Bercovitch, Myra Jehlen

Cambridge University Press, 1986 - Literary Criticism - 451 pages

This volume of essays brings together some of the best work by Americanists concerned with the problem of ideology and its bearing upon American literature and culture. It projects neither a particular ideological view nor a particular view of ideology. On the contrary: these essays highlight the many uses of ideology as a critical term, and, in doing so, they open fresh avenues of inquiry and forums for discussion. They also demonstrate that, far from being parochial or reductive, ideological analysis is integral to considerations of formal structure and crucial to an understanding of the relations between literature and culture. Their essays deal variously with theoretical issues, with questions of theme, genre, and perspective, and with interpretations of particular authors and texts. The editors of the volume provide a general introduction to the nature and development of ideological critique, and an afterword that discusses the coherence of the volume as a whole and its implications for further study.

Contents

• Symbol and Idea in Virgin Land: 21
• HENRY NASH SMITH བ 8 ན: 70
• American Criticism Left and Right: 91
• The Novel and the Middle Class in America: 125
• Figurations for a New American Literary History: 145
• ALAN TRACHTENBERG: 172
• Reification and American Literature: 188
• A Reading of Poes The: 221
• The Politics of The Scarlet Letter: 247
• Uncle Toms Cabin and the Politics: 267
• Walden and the Curse of Trade: 293
• Melvilles Economy of Language: 313
• Art Religion and the Problem of Authority in Pierre: 337
• Benito Cereno and: 352
• Melville and Cultural Persuasion: 384
• Afterword: 418
• Selected Bibliography: 443

About the author

Sacvan Bercovitch, who is a professor at Harvard University, is probably the most influential critic in American studies today. Tracing the function of rhetoric in American writing from the Puritans through the nineteenth century, Bercovitch has argued that the persuasiveness of rhetoric is in proportion to its capacity to help people act in history. In his books, Bercovitch has revealed the power of American rhetoric as it creates a myth of America that conflates religious and political issues, transforming even the most despairing and critical energies into affirmations of the American way. Among his major arguments is the idea that the rhetoric of America's colonial sermons and histories, founding documents, such as the Declaration of Independence, and novels of the American Renaissance, all participate in the project of transforming what he calls dissensus into rituals of consensus.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Ideology and Classic American Literature; Volume 16 of Cambridge Studies in American Literature and Culture; The American novel
• Editors: Sacvan Bercovitch, Myra Jehlen
• Edition: illustrated, reprint, revised
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 1986
• ISBN: 0521273099, 9780521273091
• Length: 451 pages
• Subjects: Literary Criticism / American / General; Literary Criticism / General; Social Science / Popular Culture