Write an essay explaining how the artifact and the moment/character in the novel speak to one another.

Think about one of the following as “artifacts” that tell you something about the period when Rowson was writing, post-Revolutionary America, or a time frequently referred to as the Republican period (referring to the new republic, the U.S.A.).

1. View the artifacts. The artifacts all help you to understand one of the following: 1) how Charlotte may represent America; 2) how marriage was viewed in the new nation; and 3) you can use a passage from Judith Sargent Murray’s essay as your artifact.

2. Select a character, a scene, a chapter, or an event in Charlotte: A Tale of Truth that is illuminated by one of the artifacts above.

3. Write an essay explaining how the artifact and the moment/character in the novel speak to one another. Your thesis will make a statement about how some aspect of the novel is “illuminated by” looking at one of the cultural artifacts in the pages provided below.

For example, JS Murray discusses women’s education and cultural attitudes toward women. Does Rowson agree?

How is Charlotte like “America Swallowing the Bitter Draught” image in Charlotte as America’s Daughter (Origins)

Example: How does the image “Keep Within Compass” speak to a particular scene in the novel? See Charlotte as America’s Daughter (Origins)

Example: Is Montraville an ideal husband, according to the Cultural Tour?

4. In your essay, provide examples from the texts to support your point. Draw from the module and the assigned texts for the week.

Samples:
“But Montraville was a different character: generous in his disposition, liberal in his opinions, and good-natured almost to a fault; yet eager and impetuous in the pursuit of a favorite object, he staid not to reflect on the consequence which might follow the attainment of his wishes; with a mind ever open to conviction, had he been so fortunate as to possess a friend who would have pointed out the cruelty of endeavouring to gain the heart of an innocent artless girl, when he knew it was utterly impossible for him to marry her, and when the gratification of his passion would be unavoidable infamy and misery to her, and a cause of never-ceasing remorse to himself: had these dreadful consequences been placed before him in a proper light, the humanity of his nature would have urged him to give up the pursuit…”

Montraville as Husband Material:

Charlottes ultimate fate and how Montraville strings her along proves that he does not end up being a good husband, or husband at all to Charlotte. But even in earlier passages when he is still pursuing Charlotte, the narrator paints his character as one that does not fit what our module calls the ideal traits for a husband in this time period. On the ideal traits for a husband the article cited by Lewis states that a man should demonstrate virtuous conduct, good temper, discretion, regularity and industry and a mild and even temper (Lewis). While being generous in his dispositionand good-natured,(Rowson) seems to match Montraville to these traits, he is also labeled as impetuous and purposefully chases a girl he knows he cannot marry. This goes against Virtuous conduct and discretion. Another trait listed is careful without avarice (Lewis) but Montraville can hardly be called careful when he woos a young girl and convinces her to abandon a chance at success in life to become his mistress. Especially with coverture in place, and how Charlotte left her family behind and ended up having his child.

While it would seem that staying unmarried would prevent Charlotte from falling under Montravilles identity by law, it did not grant her more agency to remain unmarried in this case. Instead Montravilles character and actions put her in a place where she was essentially unable to be recognized as a part of the American society and without even his meager support falls into destitution. It could be argued that the failure of their relationship lay on the fact that they were not of similar dispositions, sentiments, rank, and education (Logan) as publications at the time suggested was necessary for successful marriage. However, even if we disregard how Montraville was not evenly matched with Charlotte, the traits he demonstrates throughout the novel and in this description would not make him an ideal marriage candidate even for one with the same societal standing that Charlotte lacked.

Works Cited

Lewis, Jan. The Republican Wife: Virtue and Seduction in the Early Republic. William and Mary Quarterly (1987): 689-719.

Logan, Lisa. Charlotte: Cultural Tour Module 9

Rowson, Susanna Haswell. CHARLOTTE TEMPLE. Charlotte Temple, by Susanna Haswell Rowson, 2006, www.gutenberg.org/files/171/171-h/171-h.htm (Links to an external site.)