I spent some time before I decided to write my journal looking at what other people in the class were thinking. Like a fellow classmate, I focused a little bit on the author written preface. I agree with her as well, as she says, “Before even reading a single line of the novel, we are lead to believe that Rowson is genuine and not looking for any kind of fame or success from this novel. ” I asked her if she thought that Rowson did this to gain a little more sympathy for the characters in this novel, and i think we both agree that she uses the preface to help enhance the story.
I must confess i was not all that familiar with the term “patriarchal”, and went striaght to webster and shortly after concluded it to be the “man’s world”. Again, i would have to agree that Rowson is writing in a man’s world, and needed something to dignify herself from other authors. She states in the preface, “…I wrote with a mind anxious for the happiness of that sex whose morals and conduct have so powerful an influence on mankind in general; and convinced that I have now wrote a line that conveys a wrong ideas to the head or a corrupt wish to the heart…” (second to last paragraph in the preface). I feel as if she is trying to distinguish herself, or rather explain herself before we even have a cance to experience what she has written. I again agree with Lindsay’s statement that she isn’t necassarily trying to recieve fame and fortune from this novel, but i feel as though she really wants us to have a pre-dispostioned view of her intrepetation of the novel before we even have a chance to consider it for ourselves.
This made me think about the discussion we had on “what is literature”, and some criticisms of literature. I remember somewhere along the line someone mentioning that literature and its interpretation has nothing to do with the author. Forgive me if i butchered that…please if you remember saying something like that or remember it being said…please comment me the CORRECT thing that was said. But anyway, i feel as though we are being told how to think by Rowson. I’m a little more than half way through the novel itself and i find myself constantly being brought back to a sympathetic feeling for Charolette herself. In chapter 2-5 we are given a sort of background. I was a little confused at first when reading of why were were being told someone else’s background. In fact i think my ignornace has led to ask, “What relationship does Mr. Eldridge have with Mr. Temple and Charolette?”
I am open to any feedback. In fact, i BEG you to comment, and please let me know if you know what the relationship is between Mr. Eldridge and Mr. Temple and Charolette. I think it will help my understanding of the novel better.
