This essay tries to shed light on the hidden relationship between literature and ideology. It focuses more specifically on captivity narratives, which were once one of the most important literary writings vis-a-vis their impact on shaping people's opinion on the one hand but also on influencing the decision-makings in the political arena on the other hand. The piece of 'literature' that this essays examines is called: Slaves in Algiers; Or, A Struggle for Freedom by Susanna Rowson.
Table of Contents
1. Critical Study of Rowson’s Slaves in Algiers; or, A Struggle for Freedom
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This paper provides a critical analysis of Susanna Haswell Rowson's play "Slaves in Algiers; or, A Struggle for Freedom" (1794), investigating how the text functions as a tool for propagating American ideology, concepts of moral superiority, and racial narratives during the late 18th century.
- The construction of "Barbary" as an exoticized and uncivilized "Other" in contrast to American values.
- The multifaceted definitions and political instrumentalization of "liberty" and "slavery" within the play.
- The role of literature in shaping social reality and disseminating nationalistic discourse.
- The critique of the play as a work of cultural propaganda rather than purely artistic expression.
- The portrayal of characters like Ben Hassan and the interplay between religious identity and moral judgment.
Extract from the Book
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 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.
Rowson’s play does not only tell us about how Americans perceived themselves and the other. It also tells us about Americans’ keen interest in knowing more about ‘Barbary’. Rowson was known to endure financial difficulties in the exact period when the play was produced which can only support the argument that , due to the fact that she was writing with a popular audience in mind, the topic could’ve only been in vogue for her to decide to write about it.
Summary of Chapters
1. Critical Study of Rowson’s Slaves in Algiers; or, A Struggle for Freedom: This section analyzes the historical and thematic significance of Rowson’s play, exploring how it frames American self-perception through the binary opposition of "civilized" America and the "barbaric" Orient.
Keywords
Rowson, Slaves in Algiers, Barbary, American Literature, Slavery, Liberty, Cultural Propaganda, Colonial Discourse, Orientalism, National Identity, Virtue, 18th Century Drama.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary subject of this study?
The study provides a critical examination of the 1794 play "Slaves in Algiers; or, A Struggle for Freedom" by Susanna Haswell Rowson, focusing on how the play constructs specific cultural and racial narratives.
What are the central thematic fields explored in the work?
The paper explores themes such as freedom, slavery, race, ethnicity, the concept of American moral superiority, and the impact of captivity narratives on public perception.
What is the main objective of this analysis?
The objective is to reveal how the play serves as a vehicle for American ideology and propaganda, influencing contemporary views on "the Orient" and reinforcing the necessity of Western values.
Which scientific approach is utilized in this study?
The author employs a literary and discourse analysis, utilizing post-structuralist perspectives to interpret how the text shapes social reality and mirrors the conventions of historical captivity narratives.
What is the focus of the main content?
The main content evaluates the portrayal of Barbary versus America, the various definitions of liberty provided by the characters, and the construction of the "Americanized" hero versus the "Grotesque" other.
Which keywords best characterize this publication?
Key terms include American literature, propaganda, cultural superiority, captivity narratives, orientalism, and national identity.
How does the author characterize the depiction of Ben Hassan?
Ben Hassan is portrayed as an anti-Semitic caricature, presented as inherently treacherous and greedy to emphasize the perceived contrast between his nature and American Christian values.
Why does the author classify the play as "propaganda" rather than "art"?
The author argues that the play functions primarily to propagate a specific Western/American ideology and mission to "civilize" the world, following the structural patterns of Indian Captivity Narratives.
What is meant by the term "splendid slavery" in the play?
It refers to the condition of being physically comfortable yet mentally and socially constrained, illustrating that even privileged roles can remain a form of servitude.
- 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/192309
