Beginning with the interpretation and analysis of one of America’s probably most- cited and most well- known sonnets “The New Colossus” (1903) by Emma Lazarus, I will continue to explain its symbolic meaning throughout the 20th century until today and its significance in creating a commonly accepted national identity.
After briefly outlining the history of the different waves of immigrants between the early 19th century and the beginning of World War I that took on the hardships of several weeks of oversea travel to find their very own pursuit of happiness in the ‘New World’, and also the ones coming mostly from South and Middle America in the 21st century, I will show that the ‘nation of immigrants’ has also always been a nation of nativists. As an example of the once widespread belief in the supremacy of the white race and the predominance of Anglo- Protestant culture, I will compare and contrast Thomas Bailey Aldrichs’s poem “Unguarded Gates” (1895) to the opposing ideal of freedom, equality and openness that is proposed not only by Lazarus’ work, but also repeatedly emphasized in manifestations of the American Creed, such as the National Anthem or the Pledge of Allegiance.
Following Samuel P. Huntington’s question in “Who are we? The Challenges to America’s National Identity” (2004), I will then try to outline the phase of immigrants’ assimilation, as pictured by the Melting Pot metaphor, which was at that time challenged by the ‘tomato soup’ allegory and later replaced by the rising popularity of multiculturalism and the predominance of subnational identities over one’s national identity, best illustrated by the metaphor of a salad bowl.
The shock of September 11th however, again brought nationalist and patriotic feelings to the fore, causing not only a massive rise in restrictive immigration policies, such as the Patriot Act of 2002 or the Security Fence Act of 2006, but also raising questions concerning America’s future: will we see complete and thorough ‘hispanization’, the re-conquering of the state by Anglo- Protestant movements or rather the emergence of a bilingual society with two different cultures coexisting within one country? Is it even possible for America today to share a common national identity with only one language and only one dominant culture, while society is made up of so many different cultural sources?
Table of Contents
I. Introduction
II The Statue of Liberty
II.1 Historical background
II.2 Symbolism
II.3 “The New Colossus”
III Immigrants’ reality
III.1 Formation of Anglo- Protestant core culture
III.2 Rise of anti- immigration sentiments
III.3 “Unguarded Gates”
IV Americanization versus multiculturalism
IV.1 Tomato soup, Melting Pot, Salad Bowl
IV.2 Rise of patriotism during World War II
IV.3 Deconstructionist Movement
V Influence of September 11th on American National Identity
V.1 Importance of National Identity over subnational identities
V.2 Restrictions on immigration
Research Objectives and Themes
This report examines the tension between the idealized image of the United States as a welcoming "nation of immigrants" and the historical reality of nativist sentiments, analyzing how this conflict has shaped American national identity from the 19th century to the post-9/11 era.
- The symbolic evolution of the Statue of Liberty and Emma Lazarus’s "The New Colossus."
- The historical formation and dominance of Anglo-Protestant core culture in the United States.
- The paradigm shift from assimilation models like the "Melting Pot" to multicultural concepts like the "Salad Bowl."
- The impact of global events, specifically the September 11th terrorist attacks, on national security, immigration policy, and ethnic identification.
Excerpt from the Book
II.3 “The New Colossus”
“The New Colossus” was written as a petrarchan sonnet in 1882, using the first octave to introduce the idea of the Statue of Liberty as “Mother of Exiles” (l.6) and the adjacent sestet, spoken by Liberty herself, to propose a solution for the people that have been refused of the “teeming shores” (l.12) of the Old World. The fairly steady iambic pentameter enhances the image of a great ship, moved by the ocean´s waves while on its way towards a land of hope and unlimited opportunities.
Lazarus begins “The New Colossus” with a distinct contrast to the original Colossus of Rhodes, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, which was believed to have stood astride Rhodes harbor in 280 BC to commemorate a war victory. Negative connotations, such as “brazen”(l.1) and “conquering”(l.2) are used as opposed to “mighty”(l.4) and “mild”(l.7) to emphasize not only the physical but also the moral superiority of Lady Liberty, which is not merely commemorating a war, but displaying a concept of maternity (“Mother of Exiles” [l.6]). Both characterizations are divided by the alliteration “sea- washed, sunset [gates] shall stand” (l.3), which effectively bathes the entire scene in warm light to describe the immigrants´ promising first sight of their new home. Lazarus continues to use light and fire symbolism, such as her torch holding “imprisoned lightning” (l.5) to suggest almost divine powers which in turn creates the opposing image of an empress “command[ing] the air-bridged harbor” (l.7f) next to that of a universal mother.
Summary of Chapters
I. Introduction: The introduction sets the stage by contrasting the welcoming poem "The New Colossus" with the history of nativism and outlines the analytical framework regarding the challenge of defining an American national identity.
II The Statue of Liberty: This chapter details the historical origin of the Statue of Liberty and analyzes the evolving symbolism that transformed it into an icon for immigrants.
III Immigrants’ reality: This section examines the dominance of Anglo-Protestant culture and the subsequent rise of anti-immigrant movements as evidenced in literature like "Unguarded Gates."
IV Americanization versus multiculturalism: This chapter contrasts different metaphors for integration, such as the melting pot and the salad bowl, and discusses how the deconstructionist movement challenged traditional national unity.
V Influence of September 11th on American National Identity: The final chapter analyzes how the 9/11 attacks reinvigorated nationalistic sentiment while simultaneously justifying more restrictive immigration policies and border security measures.
Keywords
Americanism, Multiculturalism, Emma Lazarus, The New Colossus, Statue of Liberty, Nativism, Anglo-Protestant, Melting Pot, Salad Bowl, National Identity, Immigration Policy, 9/11, Patriot Act, Assimilation, Hispanization
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The work explores the ongoing ideological controversy between the American ideal of an inclusive "nation of immigrants" and the historical reality of nativist, Anglo-Protestant dominance.
Which primary themes are addressed in this study?
Central themes include the symbolic history of the Statue of Liberty, the shift from assimilationist "melting pot" ideals to multicultural "salad bowl" perspectives, and the impact of national security concerns on social identity.
What is the primary objective of this report?
The objective is to explain the symbolic significance of Lazarus's "The New Colossus" and analyze how American identity has been contested through changing attitudes toward immigration and ethnic diversity.
Which scientific method is applied?
The author uses a qualitative analysis approach, combining literary interpretation of historical poems with an analysis of socio-political developments, policy changes, and personal observations from a field trip to the United States.
What topics are discussed in the main body of the work?
The body covers the historical context of immigration, the contrast between poems by Emma Lazarus and Thomas Bailey Aldrich, the development of Americanization vs. multiculturalism, and the post-9/11 shift in national identity.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Americanization, Multiculturalism, Nativism, Anglo-Protestant core culture, National Identity, and the Statue of Liberty.
How did 9/11 specifically affect American identity according to the author?
The author argues that 9/11 caused a dichotomy: it temporarily unified the nation and restored the primacy of national identity, but also led to heightened ethnic profiling, xenophobia, and restrictive legislative policies.
What does the "salad bowl" metaphor represent in this context?
It represents cultural pluralism, where different ethnic groups maintain their unique cultural heritage while coexisting within the framework of traditional American values, contrasting with the forced assimilation of the "melting pot."
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2014, Emma Lazarus’ “The New Colossus” and the Continued Controversy between Americanism and Multiculturalism, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/336336
