It is evident that the early writers of the colonial period were influenced by their political surroundings and the ever omnipresent British. These early writers in turn impacted authors of the American Renaissance. A major theme that both fiction and non-fiction works have is their obsession with is the parent to child relationship of Britain to America. The hope and drive for freedom from Britain encouraged, symbolized, and fought for throughout Benjamin Franklin, Phillis Wheatley, Washington Irving, and Nathanial Hawthorne’s works.
Benjamin Franklin’s autobiography expanded over a period of nineteen years starting in 1771. He accounts for how high esteem he holds his father “He had an excellent Constitution of Body, was of middle Stature, …show more content…
On page 479, after waking up in the Kaatskill mountains, wondering through the village and then finding his old pub, Van Winkle admits “I am a poor quiet man, a native of the place and a loyal subject of the King, God bless him!” the townspeople reply, “ A tory, A tory! A spy! A refugee! Hustle him! Away with him!” Throughout “Rip Van winkle”, Irving sets Van Winkle as a man that did not belong in the time of his King, under “petticoat government”. This work of fiction gave the public an image of what life was like before independence, adding humor in Dame Van Winkle’s constant nagging. As a free citizen of the United States, Van Winkle was free of his king, his wife, and his …show more content…
The colonist’s opinion of the British had been declining since King Charles II annulled the original Massachusetts Charter in 1684 and in 1685, King James II appointed the colony’s a royal governor (FN 2 607). “My Kinsman, Major Molineux”, tells the story of a “shrewd” youth, Robin who has left his father in the country in search of his (independence) Kinsman, Major Molineux for money or work. Robin isolates himself from the villagers by continuously asking for his Kinsman. No one wants anything to do with Major Molineux because he is aligned with Britain. The end on this short fiction perfectly sums up the parent to child relationship of Britain to America. Robin answers his companion when asked if he would like to return home, “Thanks to you, and to my other friends, I have at last met my kinsman, and he will scarce desire to see me face again. I begin to grown weary of town life, Sir. Will you show me the way to the Ferry?” His companion responds to Robin, “No, my good friend Robin, no to-night, at least…” He leaves Robin with “…or if you prefer to remain with us, perhaps, as you are a shrewd youth, you may rise in the world, with the help of your kinsman, Major Molineux” (619). Robin was looking for independence just as America was restless for their own from
Benjamin Franklin’s autobiography expanded over a period of nineteen years starting in 1771. He accounts for how high esteem he holds his father “He had an excellent Constitution of Body, was of middle Stature, …show more content…
On page 479, after waking up in the Kaatskill mountains, wondering through the village and then finding his old pub, Van Winkle admits “I am a poor quiet man, a native of the place and a loyal subject of the King, God bless him!” the townspeople reply, “ A tory, A tory! A spy! A refugee! Hustle him! Away with him!” Throughout “Rip Van winkle”, Irving sets Van Winkle as a man that did not belong in the time of his King, under “petticoat government”. This work of fiction gave the public an image of what life was like before independence, adding humor in Dame Van Winkle’s constant nagging. As a free citizen of the United States, Van Winkle was free of his king, his wife, and his …show more content…
The colonist’s opinion of the British had been declining since King Charles II annulled the original Massachusetts Charter in 1684 and in 1685, King James II appointed the colony’s a royal governor (FN 2 607). “My Kinsman, Major Molineux”, tells the story of a “shrewd” youth, Robin who has left his father in the country in search of his (independence) Kinsman, Major Molineux for money or work. Robin isolates himself from the villagers by continuously asking for his Kinsman. No one wants anything to do with Major Molineux because he is aligned with Britain. The end on this short fiction perfectly sums up the parent to child relationship of Britain to America. Robin answers his companion when asked if he would like to return home, “Thanks to you, and to my other friends, I have at last met my kinsman, and he will scarce desire to see me face again. I begin to grown weary of town life, Sir. Will you show me the way to the Ferry?” His companion responds to Robin, “No, my good friend Robin, no to-night, at least…” He leaves Robin with “…or if you prefer to remain with us, perhaps, as you are a shrewd youth, you may rise in the world, with the help of your kinsman, Major Molineux” (619). Robin was looking for independence just as America was restless for their own from