Helen Hunt Jackson Criticism
Helen Hunt Jackson (1830-1885), an American author renowned for her passionate advocacy for Native American rights, originally gained fame through her children's books and poetry published under various pseudonyms such as H. H. and Saxe Holm. Her significant literary contributions, however, are primarily recognized through her works A Century of Dishonor and Ramona, both of which reflect her deep concern for Native American issues. As noted in her biography, Jackson was profoundly moved by the plight of Native Americans after attending a lecture by Ponco Chief Standing Bear, leading her to dedicate her writing and efforts to their cause, as highlighted by Rosemary Whitaker.
A Century of Dishonor (1881) serves as a scathing indictment of U.S. government policies towards Native Americans, seeking to awaken public awareness despite its stylistic flaws due to rapid writing, as discussed by John R. Byers Jr. Meanwhile, Ramona (1884) is celebrated for transcending its initial purpose as social commentary to become a beloved romantic novel. Its narrative intertwines the lives of its protagonists with the cultural and political landscapes of California, as explored by Valerie Sherer Mathes. The novel's detailed depiction of reality and sentimentality, as observed by George Wharton James, attempts to influence the reader's politics and question dominant societal norms, as theorized by David Luis-Brown.
Despite her achievements, Jackson's early work, including poetry and children's literature, is seen today as less enduring, but her engagement with the Native American cause remains her most lasting legacy. As Carol E. Schmudde notes, it is through these writings that Jackson is most remembered for putting her moral authority into action, highlighting her transition from popular literary figure to an important advocate and "docudramatist" of Native American struggles, as commented on by Michael T. Marsden.
Contents
- Principal Works
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Essays
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The Facts and Fictions of Ramona
(summary)
In the following excerpt, James explores Jackson's use of actual events in the creation of the fictional world of Ramona and praises her descriptions of natural surroundings.
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The Indian Matter of Helen Hunt Jackson's Ramona: From Fact to Fiction
(summary)
In the following essay, Byers contends that factual descriptions included in Ramona, especially those concerning Ramona and Alessandro's flight and search for security, closely mirror information Jackson had submitted as part of her Mission Indian report.
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Helen Hunt Jackson: Docudramatist of The American Indian
(summary)
In the following essay, Marsden presents a brief overview of Jackson's life and works and comments that it wasn’t until Jackson became involved with Native American affairs that her remarkable writing abilities found an adequate outlet.
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Helen Hunt Jackson
(summary)
In the following excerpt, Whitaker traces the beginnings of the author's interest in the Native American political cause, providing an overview of Jackson's nonfiction writing on the subject, including A Century of Dishonor.
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Ramona, Its Successes and Failures
(summary)
In the following essay, Mathes explains that while the author intended to use Ramona as a means to awaken public interest in the condition of Native Americans, the work has enjoyed far greater success as a love story.
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Sincerity, Secrecy, and Lies: Helen Hunt Jackson's No Name Novels
(summary)
In the following essay, Schmudde contends that although Jackson was an accomplished essayist, poet and short story writer, she did not realize the full potential and power of her writing abilities until she began publishing her work under her own name. The essay also contains an overview of Jackson's early novels, concluding with a brief analysis of Jackson's eventual involvement with the Native American cause.
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‘White Slaves’ and the ‘Arrogant Mestiza’: Reconfiguring Whiteness in The Squatter and the Don and Ramona
(summary)
In the following essay about Ramona and The Squatter and the Don, Luis-Brown theorizes that through their use of sentimentality, both works attempt to shape the reader's politics and to question white male authority over marginalized groups.
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The Facts and Fictions of Ramona
(summary)
- Further Reading