Edgar Huntly response paper

Edgar Huntly

Brockden Brown’s gothic novel centered in the American frontier was of monumental enterprise. Edgar Huntly; or Memoirs of a Sleep-Walker, is a deeply layered work of converging tales and metaphoric landscapes. Its devolving labyrinth of sleepless questing and dreamlike violence is suggestive of America’s newly won independence.


The struggle between morality and warlike violence is frequently exampled within the narrative. Edgar thinks of a brutal revenge early in the story while contemplating his lost friend. He seems, however, more staunchly allied with mercy. “Remorse, said I, is an ample and proper expiation for all offences.” Likewise are a number of his reflections and hesitations linked to compassion for friend and enemy alike. The bulk of the struggle and bloodshed that takes place are the result of unforeseen circumstances. This holds true for Clithero’s tale as well. All of his hopes and efforts were for his benefactor's well-being, and yet he unwittingly caused her more harm than any of her enemies.


Compassion is interlaced with bloodshed and revenge is aligned with decency in the tumultuous wilderness. Edgar was remorseful for killing a savage even though his own life was at stake. When he found his “fusil” on the deceased and believed that this same man had probably killed his sisters, he felt very differently; “Now my emotions were totally changed: I was somewhat comforted in thinking that thus much of necessary vengeance had been executed.” The principal motive of destroying those who would kill the innocent seems sound enough. However, after enough bloodshed Edgar again backs away from this position. He avoids killing a member of the maniacal war party until he has no other option. Even then he says, “my heart sunk while I complied with what may surely be deemed an indispensable necessity.” After shooting this Indian twice and realizing it may yet take hours for him to die, out of pity he chooses to stab him to death.


What is good and what is evil? In the wilderness of Norwalk, there is no straight path. The finer qualities of mankind may amount to nothing more than weakness in this desolate and dangerous dreamscape. The individual must recognize right from wrong despite morality or dark desires. Similarly, the nation must act in accordance with the reality of a situation. The dreamy haze must not interfere nor cause undue remorse.


Read Edgar Huntly, at http://www.gutenberg.org