Slaves in Algiers; or, A Struggle for Freedom (1794) is a play written by Susanna Haswell Rowson. The setting takes place in “Barbary” – the Mediterranean coast of North Africa – and more precisely in Algiers. The play centers on the lives of several American ‘slaves’ who plot their escape in an unflappable look for freedom. The relevance of studying a piece of literature - and more precisely, a play - stems from the idea that people in the time, used to watch plays, more than they would read books because plays were regarded as being more ‘entertaining’. In addition to that, although plays are a fictitious form of literature, they were always related to real events; hence the majority of people consider them as being true or as at least as referring to some real events. Another point would be that literature in that time was -often- judged on the basis of the moral values it contained. In that regard, Slaves in Algiers; or, A Struggle for Freedom is a rich document to be scrutinized with as much seriousness as when dealing with other sources that are considered as more ‘factual’. Therefore the need to study such a piece emanates from its very crucial role in shaping social reality , via its representation of ‘Barbary’ and its reflections over the nature of freedom, slavery and race.
Table of Contents
1. Critical Study of Rowson’s Slaves in Algiers; or, A Struggle for Freedom
Objectives and Themes
The primary objective of this analysis is to critically examine Susanna Haswell Rowson’s play Slaves in Algiers; or, A Struggle for Freedom as a reflection of 18th-century American perceptions, moral values, and ideological constructions of "the other." The research explores how the play serves as a vehicle for propagating American identity and superiority while reinforcing contemporary notions of liberty, race, and civilization.
- The representation of "Barbary" and the exoticization of North Africa.
- The ideological function of "freedom" as a central moral tenet.
- The dichotomy between American virtue and the perceived inferiority of "the other."
- The role of the play as a form of cultural propaganda and "civilizing" discourse.
- The interplay between gender, power, and religious/ethnic characterizations.
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Critical Study of Rowson’s Slaves in Algiers; or, A Struggle for Freedom
Slaves in Algiers; or, A Struggle for Freedom (1794) is a play written by Susanna Haswell Rowson. The setting takes place in “Barbary” – the Mediterranean coast of North Africa – and more precisely in Algiers. The play centers on the lives of several American ‘slaves’ who plot their escape in anunflappable look for freedom. The relevance of studying a piece of literature - and more precisely, a play - stems from the idea that people in the time, used to watch plays, more than they would read books because plays were regarded as being more ‘entertaining’. In addition to that, although plays are a fictitious form of literature, they were always related to real events; hence the majority of people consider them as being true or as at least as referringto some real events. Another point would be that literature in that time was -often- judged on the basis of the moral values it contained. In that regard, Slaves in Algiers; or, A Struggle for Freedomis a rich document to be scrutinized with as much seriousness as when dealing with other sources that are considered as more ‘factual’. Therefore the need to study such a piece emanates from its very crucial role in shaping social reality, via its representation of ‘Barbary’ and its reflections over the nature of freedom, slavery and race.
Summary of Chapters
1. Critical Study of Rowson’s Slaves in Algiers; or, A Struggle for Freedom: This section analyzes the play as a sociopolitical document that shapes perceptions of "Barbary" and explores themes of liberty, slavery, and racial superiority through the lens of 18th-century American ideology.
Keywords
Slaves in Algiers, Susanna Haswell Rowson, Barbary, Freedom, Liberty, Slavery, American Identity, Virtue, Propaganda, Captivity Narratives, Orientalism, Race, Ethnicity, Moral Values, Colonial Discourse
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary subject of this critical analysis?
The analysis focuses on Susanna Haswell Rowson’s 1794 play, Slaves in Algiers; or, A Struggle for Freedom, evaluating its historical and cultural significance in the context of American self-perception.
What are the central thematic fields explored in the text?
The core themes include the definitions of freedom and slavery, the construction of American moral superiority, the representation of the "Oriental" other, and the use of literature as a tool for ideological dissemination.
What is the primary research goal of this paper?
The goal is to demonstrate how the play functions as a form of propaganda that promotes American values and defines "the other" as uncivilized, thereby reinforcing a sense of national and moral superiority.
Which scientific or analytical method is employed?
The paper utilizes a literary-critical approach, drawing on post-structuralist concepts to examine how discourse shapes social reality and how the play mirrors the structures of contemporary captivity narratives.
What is covered in the main section of the paper?
The main section investigates the portrayal of Barbary, the use of irony in defining freedom, the contrast between American characters and the characters representing "the other," and the role of education in shaping virtuous behavior.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Barbary, freedom, American superiority, propaganda, moral values, captivity narratives, and ideology.
How does the author characterize the role of "virtue" in the play?
Virtue is defined as the quality of doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong, and it is explicitly equated with the American identity to set it in opposition to the perceived moral deficiencies of other cultures.
In what way does the author challenge the play's status as a work of art?
The author argues that the play functions more effectively as a work of propaganda intended to disseminate Western and American ideologies under the guise of an artistic narrative.
How is the character Ben Hassan depicted in relation to American values?
Ben Hassan is portrayed as a "grotesque" and treacherous character, serving as a foil to American values and illustrating the author's argument regarding the play's exclusionary representation of certain groups.
What conclusion does the author reach regarding the play's representation of freedom?
The author concludes that freedom in the play is not a universal concept but a politically charged tool used to justify American "manifest destiny" and the perceived duty to "civilize" the world.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Amine Zidouh (Autor:in), 2012, Critical Study of Rowson’s Slaves in Algiers; or, A Struggle for Freedom., München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/191962
