American Characteristic through literature

[kamikaz1]

Do you guys agree that Ben Franklin's "Autobiography," Ernest Hemingway's "The Old Man and the Sea," Mark Twain's "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," and "Of Mice and Men," or any famous american literature describe the american characteristic?

[lenny]

the american characteristic?

wouldnt that be more like 'gun-toting, overweight, loud, ignorant of the rest of the world, homophobic, bible-bashing, and having ridiculous national pride'

im not sure what youre question is about, but thats what us foreign people think of 'middle-america'

[Stolzing]

the american characteristic?

wouldnt that be more like 'gun-toting, overweight, loud, ignorant of the rest of the world, homophobic, bible-bashing, and having ridiculous national pride'

I'll have you know that I'm American and I'm not loud 

[lenny]

indeed, you may be

but im saying the 'stereotype' is, that american people tend to be louder and less reserved.

[kamikaz1]

Maybe I made a mistake when I made this topic. Here's my main question. If anybody here have read american literature, do you think that it describes the american characteristic well?

[brewtality]

erm isn't The Old Man and the Sea set in Cuba? i don't think i understand the relevance to the american characteristic.

[kamikaz1]

Yes "The Old Man and the Sea" is set in Cuba, but Santiago had some characteristics that are american, even though he's cuban.

[chopiabin]

The Great Gatsby, The Sun Also Rises, The Sound and the Fury, The Scarlet Letter, The Crucible, Wise Blood, The Violnt Bear it Away, Beloved, The Awakening, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, etc. There are many different aspects of the "american characteristic," as you put it. Each of these shows a different aspect - the haunting of the past, the loss of hope in a dream that will never be fulfilled, the sense of displacement - they are all american and they are all great. These are just a few.

[Hmoll]

Maybe I made a mistake when I made this topic. Here's my main question. If anybody here have read american literature, do you think that it describes the american characteristic well?

Some American literature captures certain aspects of American outlook, behavior, ideal, etc. very well. Some less so. Hemingway's characters ofeten seem sterotypical. Off the top of my head, two contermporary writers who create authentic characters are Richard Russo, and Robert Stone.

[pianonut]

as with all classics, i don't think it is necessarily the nationality we are after (but you get a flavor for the times and thoughts) but a timelessness of the essense of human nature.

the best thing you can do for young piano students, (as a parent, i think), is give them a wide variety of books to choose from.  and, then discuss them.  my grandmother had so many books in her livingroom.  i read first about the wild west (now living close to daniel boone's homestead - off rt. 100 in pennsylvania) it is good to have read about him.  the fearless natures these mountain men had, and quick wit.

then i read most everything she had that michner wrote.  and, my grandfather had all kinds of westerns, so i read those, too.  then, i'd start into playing the organ (another couple of hours of self study).  and, finally, go out and meet and play with other children (who happened to be a different nationality - which never mattered to my grandparents or parents - they encouraged it). 

i think there is a misnomer that if you are born american you have things too easy.  maybe our blessings are a curse if we misuse them, but we have freedom to read about our history (whether good or bad at times) and know the truth about it.  freedom of the press is one of the best freedoms (and kept the longest) that we have.  ps.  i also appreciate pearl s. buck (who's home was also in pennsylvania) and her natural writing ability.  she, like steinbeck, captured a character with so few words yet very precisely. 

[pianonut]

i think mark twain's genius for turning something simple into a convolution is much like mozart's genius.  on the surface, it looks like just a simple line, and simple characters, but they are manipulated in such a way as it never turns out the way you expect.

benjamin franklin has got to be one of the coolest people around.  he was inventive, creative, thoughtful, studious.  students who read his writing can only benefit.  didn't he come up with the farmers almanac.  i always used to look at my grandmothers for all the detailed info., wise sayings, etc. 

[pianonut]

i never read 'the wind in the willows' until i had my own children.  kenneth grahame wrote it, and i read it to my children.  i think i enjoyed it the most.  maybe more since i have had a somewhat carefree thoughtpattern at certain times.  this goes along with the ideas of mark twain; that some of childhoods best and most creative times are in daydreaming, too.

[pianonut]

this might be changing the subject just a bit, but my step-dad's father (my grandpa) was a real cowboy, born in montana and worked ranches all over, went to the aleutian islands to raise sheep, and ended up in homer, alaska.  here is a poem i wrote about him after he had passed away:

my grand-dad was a cowboy,
not beefy, but quite thin.
he'd stick a salem in his mouth,
let quiet times begin.

i'd talk and talk,
he'd smoke and smoke.
and, once i dared to say,
why smoke grandpa...you'll need a saw

when stiff and to a box,
your head won't fit.
you better quit,
i need you for the draw.

he only had one eyeball (this is true!)
but when a girl walked by...
he'd open up the other
and pop in his false eye.

he might have had his vices,
but to me he was a saint.
he didn't drink much gin and all,
and was hardly ever late.

he'd take me to a movie,
with real action all the time.
i stayed up late (it was so great)
and popcorn was a dime.

he'd tell the aunt to shield me
from the blood and guts on screen.
but, inbetween her fingers,
i saw grandpa on the scene.

i'd sleep up in the attic,
with the moths and magazines.
but, in my cot, i was happy there
and had fantastic dreams.

every snowy wintere'd bring
a memory or two...my dear ol' cowboy
grand-dad and his
chevy 42.

he'd start it in the cold,
and warm it up for me just right.
you'd never think he'd fool the cops,
cause he was outta sight (the eyeball kind).

he'd say, 'let's go put up a poster
for the latest western bunch,'
and we'd go out the door
but always back for lunch.

he'd buy me penny candy, gum,
and my mouth would chew a wad.
i'd spit at just the moment,
he was spitting his own pod.

grandma'd greet us at the door,
with quite a knowing smile.
my grand-dad was the best you see,
he had a lot of style.

he didn't use a wooden leg,
he'd used it in a fence.
so long ago in helena,
when all the world was pence.

if there was ever cowboy spit,
so pure and clean, you see,
my grand-dad worked the hardest at
pleasing little me.

he'd take the time to say the prayer,
with one eye down to steam.
the mug of coffee in his hand
was never very clean.

but in his heart, a dream was always
roping a big horn.
to see the open plains again,
at death he was reborn.

the buffalo that grazed among,
the wild, wild west...
was the same old history my
grand-dad knew the best!

poem by pianonut

[pianonut]

note:  my step dad's father (my grandfather) was german in origin.  many settled in north dakota.  i think there's an illusion of american's all being english.  but, there were so many nationalities that immigrated here several generations back, there is not really 'one american characteristic.'  it is a melting pot! whatever nationality; came to america to experience freedom!  the 'western plains'  describe this feeling of freedom.  wide open spaces, choosing where you want to live, making your own life--had it's draw backs, too.  it was a very hard life, but lived happily by those that wanted freedom.

[Floristan]

Melville's Moby Dick, Twain's Huckleberry Finn, and Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby -- and maybe James's Portrait of a Lady -- all capture the American spirit...independent, determined, proud, strong, and flawed -- often tragic, sometimes comic, sometimes both.