There are many theories for analyzing children and childhood literature throughout the nineteenth century. This was a time of great change and expansion not only in physical terms, but also in opinions and ideas. Based on both MacLeod's "Children's Literature for a New Nation" and Sanchez-Eppler's introduction to Dependent States: The Child's Part in Nineteenth-Century American Culture, five specific theories can be developed.
The idea that children were to be protected and loved was a new concept in the nineteenth century. This was a time were children’s “specialness was beginning to be valued in emotional terms rather than economic.” (Sanchez-Eppler). This reconstruction of households caused transitions from punishment to love.
Morality was the primary focus of most children’s literature. MacLeod explained that this was due to an American belief that a “high level of individual morality was indispensable if the promise of the nation’s future was to be fulfilled.” Before the nineteenth century authors wished for literature to be entertaining. With the adults of America discovering that their future, and the future of the nation they were becoming so proud of, was in the hands and minds of the children, adults realized that the children needed to be morally upright. As MacLeod continues, “moral didacticism was their sole reason for being.”
Authors of children’s literature gave little attention to the surroundings or their narratives. They believed that the topics were so important that anything to distract from the ultimate point should be left out. MacLeod explains that “complexity could only have obscured the messages.” Another noteworthy reason could be that by eliminating a setting, the message then becomes universal. Every child reading the narrative would be able to relate to the message and be able to put into practice the lessons learned.
With the authors of children’s literature being adults, the subject of most literature was what adults desired children to be. “Adult desires – desires in the very act of constructing that child as the object of its speech.” (Sanchez-Eppler).
Similarly to the theme of morality in children’s literature, another theory for analyzing nineteenth century literature would be through the appearance of both good and bad characters. The plot lines were very predictable and simple so children could easily understand the messages. The good character always finding great success and the bad character finding great misfortune. These characters faced “narrow escapes” where “wrongdoing always had consequences.” (MacLeod pg. 6). This just affirms that each story line was complete with a moral teaching.
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Alli,
ReplyDeleteIt is so true about adults pushing their idea of what a good child is on children. While they were shaping a new american society they were showing their children exactly how to be and in the literature they made it very clear that the consequences for being bad were often horrible.
I agree with your statement that children's literature during this period was not meant for pure entertainment. Adults realized that to create a moral nation, children would have to be taught morals at a young age. By learning from examples in books, children learned right from wrong.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your thought about how children being protected and love was a new concept. Before this concept children were just seen as forms of labor and it is important that people realized that children should be loved and protected. With this new idea families became focused on loving their children.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your theories, especially the one about the purpose of children’s literature was to instill morals into the future of the nation. I liked how you incorporated the changing belief about the value of children, from labor to love. Interesting how that plays into the literature that was written.
ReplyDeleteOverall I agree with all your theories and concepts that you developed. I find your theory on how the children in the household transitioned from punishment to love to be very true. I also liked how you compared the appearances of good and bad characters in children's literature. But overall a very good posting.
ReplyDeleteIt is so interesting to me how during the 19th century writing we see that huge change in the views of children from something evil to love and protection of children. I always wonder what suddenly clicked in these peoples minds that made them erealize that children are as equally important as adults and deserve to have a true childhood rather than one that is filled with work and adultlike responsibilities! I think that transition from punishment to love was a huge step in the way that societies functioned and really influenced all of the literature written during that time period.
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