William Wells Brown Criticism
William Wells Brown holds a significant place in American literary and cultural history, with his works providing a critical lens on the socio-political landscape of the 19th century. Brown's most famous work, Clotel; or, The President's Daughter (1853), captures the controversial narrative surrounding Thomas Jefferson’s alleged children with a slave. This novel not only adheres to the romance tradition of its time but also serves a distinct political purpose. As Gerald S. Rosselot defends, Clotel is bold in its narrative structure and intent. L. H. Whelchel Jr. further elaborates that Brown's work succeeds in being both entertaining and politically charged, highlighting the ironic and horrific elements of slavery.
While some critics have labeled Brown's literary style as didactic, his works are invaluable for their historical insights. Paul Jefferson points out that Brown's own life and achievements offer a powerful context for understanding his literary contributions within the larger movement for racial equality. Christopher Mulvey delves into how Brown's narratives engage with the paradoxes of European discovery of America, bringing to light deeper themes and complexities in his work.
Despite any perceived literary shortcomings, Brown's writings provide an essential perspective on the tumultuous history of the United States, seen through the eyes of a black man chronicling the struggle for freedom and dignity. Bernard W. Bell highlights Brown's foundational role in the African-American literary tradition, emphasizing how his vivid portrayal of black experiences continues to enrich American literature. Brown's work transcends its time to offer critical insights into the ongoing narrative of race and identity, inviting readers to explore these intricate criticisms and understand their broader implications.
Contents
- Principal Works
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Essays
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Literary Sources of the Early Afro-American Novel
(summary)
In the following essay, Bell traces the roots of the African-American aesthetic to the oral tradition, slave narratives, and the Bible.
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The Kidnapped Clergyman and Brown's Experience
(summary)
In the following essay, Farrison looks at an anonymous play, The Kidnapped Clergyman, as a possible source for Brown's lesser known play, Experience.
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Clotel, A Black Romance
(summary)
In the following essay, Rosselot defends Clotel against criticism for its romanticism, explaining that the novel embraced the romance tradition of its time and succeeded in its political purpose.
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A Mighty Pen
(summary)
In the following essay, Whelchel provides a summary of Brown's first novel, Clotel, interpreting Brown's purpose as both entertaining and political.
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The Color of Ham and Cain
(summary)
In the following essay, Whelchel summarizes Brown's teachings on slavery and its effects.
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An introduction to The Travels of William Wells Brown
(summary)
In the following essay, Jefferson contextualizes Brown's literary accomplishments by providing background information on his life.
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Her Side of His Story: A Feminist Analysis of Two Nineteenth-Century Antebellum Novels—William Wells Brown's Clotel and Harriet E. Wilson's Our Nig
(summary)
In the following essay, Mitchell argues that Brown and Wilson differed in their depiction of female characters because of their own gender biases and experiences.
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The Fugitive Self and the New World of the North: William Wells Brown's Discovery of America
(summary)
In the following essay, Mulvey explicates Brown's interest in the paradox of the European “discovery” of America.
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'De Genewine Artekil': William Wells Brown, Blackface Minstrelsy, and Abolitionism
(summary)
In the following essay, Gilmore examines how the popular minstrel show became for Brown a forum for constructing a “viable representative black manhood” and analyzes Clotel for its representations of race and gender.
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Literary Sources of the Early Afro-American Novel
(summary)
- Further Reading