History Repeats Itself

In section six of Jefferson's "Notes on the State of Virginia", Jefferson addresses a short writing of the French naturalist, Mon. de Buffon, in which Buffon declares the inferiority of Native Americans to the people of the Old World because of their perceived lower-than-human mental and physical capacities. Yet, Jefferson rebuts Buffon's opinions by presenting evidence to the contrary of nearly every reason Buffon gives for the Indians' inferiority. Jefferson effectively dispels the depiction of Natives as savages and common animals by writing about their similarities to white men. He brings to light their emotions and sensibilities, and proves that only nature and external conditions, specifically their habitat, have differed their behaviors from white men, not any mental or moral shortcomings. Jefferson sarcastically replies to Buffon's essay with the question, "How has this 'combination of the elements and other physical causes, so contrary to the enlargement of animal nature in this new world, these obstacles to the development and formation of great germs' been arrested and suspended, so as to permit the human body to acquire its just dimensions, and by what inconceivable process has their action been directed on his mind alone?"
Jefferson's purpose for taking the time to "humanize" Native Americans in the minds of the colonials and Europeans was clearly to break the Europeans' and colonials' stereotypical negative thoughts of the North American Indians. Perhaps his goal in promoting a better understanding of these Natives was to ease the tensions between Colonials and Indians. He writes in his book about the ongoing violence between the two groups and how it is often completely out of ignorance on the behalf of one party that violence breaks out in the first place. Jefferson knew it was easy for Colonials in Virginia to murder a group of people they perceived as inhuman and savage, so in an attempt to combat their prejudices, he tells them of the Indians' human qualities such as the ability to have meaningful relationships and their love and care for family and others. He likens the Indians to the Colonists themselves in order to further cultural understanding and the idea that the Indians just aren't that different. Jefferson's message in this rebuttal is seemingly to proclaim that the Native Americans are human too and deserve to be treated with respect just as any man should be.

Common Themes in Early American Literature

This comparison of texts involves the common theme of the Sun in Edwards' "A Divine and Supernatural Light," and Taylor's "The Sun of Righteousness." Both works refer to the Sun literally as a tremendous source of light, but also figuratively, I believe, as spiritual light containing characteristics of God and His power. Edwards' writes, "As he that beholds the objects on the face of the earth, when the light of the sun is cast upon them, is under greater advantage to discern them in their true forms and mutual relations, than he that sees them in a dim starlight or twilight," in paragraph 13 under DOCTRINE. Beyond the literal brightness of the Sun, I find Edwards' gives the Sunlight the ability to rightfully judge and wisely discern between true and false. An ability other forms of natural light, like starlight, do not poses.
Likewise in the Taylor poem, he gives to the Sun spiritual qualities beyond its literal light. The Sun endungeons darkness underground (Line 5), and provides life (Line 23). The darkness may represent evil that God sits in dominion over, and the life the Sun provides may figuratively represent the new life gained in Christ of a born-again Christian. All other forms of light pail in comparison to the Sun along with countless other descriptions of the Sun's superiority and greatness. Taylor especially displays the representation of God or Christ in the Sun throughout his entire poem.
Perhaps because the Sun was so necessary for survival for early Americans it became symbolic of God and his grace and power, as it is reflected and repeated in the Literature of the day.

Hello Everyone

Hi, my name is Chris and I am a freshman here at UNC. I can't say that I enjoy reading too much but I am looking forward to quality books and hopefully a better appreciation for literature through this class. Its great to be back in Chapel Hill and I look forward to getting to know all of you in Intro to American Lit this semester.