At the beginning of the 19th century, in optimistic anticipation of America’s future, Emerson wrote: “I read with joy some of the auspicious signs of the coming days, as they glimmer through poetry and art, through philosophy and science, through church and state.” But at the end of the century, Huck Finn condemned American civilization – “I can’t stand it.” And Edna Pontellier rejected it by committing suicide. What happened during the century to produce these reactions? We’ll explore. Works include The Scarlet Letter, Moby Dick, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Song of Myself, Huck Finn, and The Awakening.
