Atala (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
At a glance:
- Author: François-René de Chateaubriand
- First Published: 1801
- Type of Work: Novel
- Type of Plot: Philosophical realism
- Time of Work: Early eighteenth century
- Setting: Louisiana
- Genres: Long fiction, Philosophical realism
- Subjects: Love or romance, Suicide, South or Southerners, Missions or missionaries, Native Americans or American Indians, Eighteenth century, Christianity, Prisoners of war
- Locales: New York, Louisiana
Characters Discussed
Atala, a young Native American woman and convert to Christianity who falls in love with Chactas, a Native American of an enemy tribe and religion. Together, she and Chactas escape into the forest and come on a mission where they think they will be safe. On Atala’s birth, her mother had so feared for the child’s life that she swore to the Queen of Angels an oath of virginity for Atala if the child survived. When Atala is about to succumb to Chactas, she kneels in prayer, and virtue overcomes passion. Ultimately, Atala poisons herself because she believes...
[The entire page is 694 words long]
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