Imaginary Friends: Representing Quakers in American Culture, 1650-1950 (Studies in American Thought and Culture)

When Americans today think of the Religious Society of Friends, better known as Quakers, they may picture the smiling figure on boxes of oatmeal. But since their arrival in the American colonies in the 1650s, Quakers’ spiritual values and social habits have set them apart from other Americans. And their example—whether real or imagined—has served as a religious conscience for an expanding nation. Portrayals of Quakers—from dangerous and anarchic figures in seventeenth-century theological debates to moral exemplars in twentieth-century theater and film (Grace Kelly in High Noon, for example)—reflected attempts by writers, speechmakers, and dramatists to grapple with the troubling social issues of the day. As foils to more widely held religious, political, and moral values, members of the Society of Friends became touchstones in national discussions about pacifism, abolition, gender equality, consumer culture, and modernity. Spanning four centuries, Imaginary Friends takes readers through the shifting representations of Quaker life in a wide range of literary and visual genres, from theological debates, missionary work records, political theory, and biography to fiction, poetry, theater, and film. It illustrates the ways that, during the long history of Quakerism in the United States, these “imaginary” Friends have offered a radical model of morality, piety, and anti-modernity against which the evolving culture has measured itself. Winner, CHOICE Outstanding Academic Book Award From The Publisher: When Americans Today Think Of The Religious Society Of Friends, Better Known As Quakers, They May Picture The Smiling Figure On Boxes Of Oatmeal. But Since Their Arrival In The American Colonies In The 1650s, Quakers' Spiritual Values And Social Habits Have Set Them Apart From Other Americans. And Their Example-whether Real Or Imagined-has Served As A Religious Conscience For An Expanding Nation. Portrayals Of Quakers-from Dangerous And Anarchic Figures In Seventeenth-century Theological Debates To Moral Exemplars In Twentieth-century Theater And Film (grace Kelly In High Noon, For Example)-reflected Attempts By Writers, Speechmakers, And Dramatists To Grapple With The Troubling Social Issues Of The Day. As Foils To More Widely Held Religious, Political, And Moral Values, Members Of The Society Of Friends Became Touchstones In National Discussions About Pacifism, Abolition, Gender Equality, Consumer Culture, And Modernity. Spanning Four Centuries, Imaginary Friends Takes Readers Through The Shifting Representations Of Quaker Life In A Wide Range Of Literary And Visual Genres, From Theological Debates, Missionary Work Records, Political Theory, And Biography To Fiction, Poetry, Theater, And Film. It Illustrates The Ways That, During The Long History Of Quakerism In The United States, These Imaginary Friends Have Offered A Radical Model Of Morality, Piety, And Anti-modernity Against Which The Evolving Culture Has Measured Itself. Illustrations -- Acknowledgments -- Introduction: National Identity, Representation, And Genre -- 1: Quaker Religion In Colonial New England -- 2: Political Theory And Quaker Community In The Early Republic -- 3: Chronicles Of Friendship: Quaker Historiography In The Early Republic -- 4: Quaker Biography In Transatlantic Context -- 5: Representing Quakers In American Fiction -- 6: Staging Quakerism: Theater And Cinema -- Epilogue -- Notes -- Works Cited -- Index. James Emmett Ryan. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 255-271) And Index. From the Publisher: When Americans today think of the Religious Society of Friends, better known as Quakers, they may picture the smiling figure on boxes of oatmeal. But since their arrival in the American colonies in the 1650s, Quakers' spiritual values and social habits have set them apart from other Americans. And their example-whether real or imagined-has served as a religious conscience for an expanding nation. Portrayals of Quakers-from dangerous and anarchic figures in seventeenth-century theological debates to moral exemplars in twentieth-century theater and film (Grace Kelly in High Noon, for example)-reflected attempts by writers, speechmakers, and dramatists to grapple with the troubling social issues of the day. As foils to more widely held religious, political, and moral values, members of the Society of Friends became touchstones in national discussions about pacifism, abolition, gender equality, consumer culture, and modernity. Spanning four centuries, Imaginary Friends takes readers through the shifting representations of Quaker life in a wide range of literary and visual genres, from theological debates, missionary work records, political theory, and biography to fiction, poetry, theater, and film. It illustrates the ways that, during the long history of Quakerism in the United States, these "imaginary" Friends have offered a radical model of morality, piety, and anti-modernity against which the evolving culture has measured itself NL-ZmNBD Contents......Page 8 Illustrations......Page 10 Acknowledgments......Page 12 Introduction: National Identity, Representation, and Genre......Page 16 1 Quaker Religion in Colonial New England......Page 40 2 Political Theory and Quaker Community in the Early Republic......Page 76 3 Chronicles of Friendship: Quaker Historiography in the Early Republic......Page 105 4 Quaker Biography in Transatlantic Context......Page 141 5 Representing Quakers in American Fiction......Page 171 6 Staging Quakerism: Theater and Cinema......Page 200 Epilogue......Page 236 Notes......Page 240 Works Cited......Page 268 Index......Page 286