INTRODUCTION
Fear is an abstract feeling and is associated with many events and objects. But this fear is not like any other. The type of fear being used here is abstract. It is not the clowns at the circus, monsters under the bed, pitch blackness in the basement, or snakes outside. It is deeper. It is denser. It is darker. Fear as a force of action is a compelling idea to consider. It can still take on multiple forms and this anthology will dive deeper into many of those forms, but this type of fear is unique. It can be hard to pinpoint exactly what fear boils down to, but really that is unique to each person. Each author in this anthology from the 1600s to the 1800s has a different story to tell and their own way of telling it. Fear as a Driving Force of Action Anthology takes pieces of literature from varying genres and years within early America and unites them all under one simple phrase: fear as a force of action. As you read through each of these works play those words over in your head. This anthology will challenge the mind to determine how each of these pieces fits that description.
Each work has a specific history and context that coincides with the story within it. The opening piece is a sermon titled Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God by Jonathan Edwards. He gave this sermon in September of 1741 during the early beginnings of America. It one the most well-known sermons to date and had large effects on the parishioners who heard it. Edwards was a powerful speaker and was masterful at conveying his message to his audience even if through a the backdoor of instilling fear in them. He was not alone in his attempts to make this new way of preaching the normality. People of the time wanted religion to be more involved and have more passion in it. They believed that we as humans should fear God Almighty in everything that we do in this life.
The New England Primer was also a powerful book. In classic puritan society, children learned many moral lessons that were built upon fear. The lessons were taught through books and through their elders. Every aspect of the Puritan existence was based on strictly following a certain set of guidelines. This book in particular laid out many of the expectations. Parents used it as a tool to ensure the obedience of their children as they grew up. There were multiple types in print in the 18th century. The excerpts include in this anthology are prime examples of lessons the books conveyed.
The first fiction piece in this anthology is The Mask of The Red Death by Edgar Allan Poe. He published this short story in 1845. He is most known for his gothic style writing an eerie way with descriptions. This story is full of elements that will instill a fear in any reader and especially the guests attending the party thrown by the main character, Prospero during a time of plague in their country. The guests’ call to take action comes in a different form than that of the other works in this compilation.
In this anthology, fear takes many forms, but possibly the most horrible to read about is slavery. Dred: A Tale of the Great Dismal Swamp written by Harriet Beecher Stowe incorporates many aspects of fear and action by not only the slaves but the slave owning white characters as well. This novel is based on true events and is a follow up to her previous novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin. The aspects of slavery in this particular book are uncomfortable to read and witness as an audience. However, her truth is clearly laid out through her character’s actions. This book was published in 1856 and it was not until 1865 that slavery was abolished under the 13th amendment. The fears that the characters take on in this novel are unlike any others and they carry a weight all their own.
Another included work is The Prologue by Anne Bradstreet. She was a female poet in 1650s. In that time period it was extremely difficult for a woman or any minority to gain recognition as a writer. She felt so pressured by society telling her she was not a well-trained writer that she felt the need to include an apology poem in her works. Her fear of rejection lead her to take these steps to protect herself. This poem outlines the many ways in which Bradstreet felt she was insufficient as a writer. She states that she is aware of her incompetence but asks for scholars to read her poems anyway. Her valiant efforts sure made a mark on poetic history.
The final literary piece in the anthology is a newspaper article from The Circular. This article, Protective Measures, was printed in Brooklyn in 1854. It was a column that was written about practices people in that city could take to prevent the spread of disease. Cholera and Yellow Fever were tormenting the world country by country. It was a terrifying time for many people who were affected. Fear had struck many nations and the writer of this article was attempting to calm the people of his city. Despite his calming tips and writing style he too is fearful. The article itself was written because of a, even if small, fear.
It surrounds us and swallows each individual whole. Fear can have effect people that they never could have imagined. It causes even the sanest person to take a step-in action whether that be positive or negative. Deep fears have been lingering in every century and it is documented through literature. The words, even if not direct or clear, say it all. Fears can be abstract but the actions that they drive a person to do are material.