Slavery, Philosophy, and American Literature, 1830–1860 (Cambridge Studies in American Literature and Culture, Series Number 148)

Examining the literature of slavery and race before the Civil War, Maurice Lee, in this 2005 book, demonstrates how the slavery crisis became a crisis of philosophy that exposed the breakdown of national consensus and the limits of rational authority. Poe, Stowe, Douglass, Melville, and Emerson were among the antebellum authors who tried - and failed - to find rational solutions to the slavery conflict. Unable to mediate the slavery controversy as the nation moved toward war, their writings form an uneasy transition between the confident rationalism of the American Enlightenment and the more skeptical thought of the pragmatists. Lee draws on antebellum moral philosophy, political theory, and metaphysics, bringing a different perspective to the literature of slavery - one that synthesizes cultural studies and intellectual history to argue that romantic, sentimental, and black Atlantic writers all struggled with modernity when facing the slavery crisis. Cover 1 Half-Title 3 Title 5 Copyright 6 Dedication 7 Contents 9 Acknowledgments 10 Introduction 11 Chapter 1 Absolute Poe 24 UNGOVERNABLE FIRE 26 RACIAL METEMPSYCHOSIS 34 HIDEOUS SYNTHESIS 38 POE KNOWS 49 Chapter 2 “Lord, it's so hard to be good”: affect and agency in Stowe 62 “THOROUGHLY METAPHYSICATED” 64 INTEREST, SYMPATHY, AND PASSION 67 WANTING AGENCY 78 FIXING UNCLE TOM'S CABIN 88 Chapter 3 Taking care of the philosophy: Douglass's commonsense 103 THE FUGITIVE PHILOSOPHER 105 REFLECTION 110 RADICAL DISENGAGEMENT 119 A SOCIAL PHILOSOPHY 124 FIRE AND LIGHT 131 CODA 138 Chapter 4 Melville and the state of war 143 ALMOST A SHIP-OF-STATE 146 NOT QUITE A PEOPLE'S HISTORY 152 SEEMING REPRESENTATION 157 PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE 166 Chapter 5 Toward a transcendental politics: Emerson's second thoughts 175 THE ACTOR, THE STUDENT, AND THE ELOQUENT MAN 179 THE GODLIKE ODYSSEUS 188 THE COMPLEMENTAL MAN 201 THAT TERRIBLE THOREAU 211 Epilogue: An unfinished and not unhappy ending 220 Index 227 Maurice S. Lee Demonstrates For The First Time How The Slavery Crisis Became A Crisis Of Philosophy That Exposed The Breakdown Of National Consensus And The Limits Of Rational Authority. Poe, Stowe, Douglass, Melville, And Emerson Were Among The Antebellum Authors Who Tried - And Failed - To Find Rational Solutions To The Slavery Conflict. Drawing On Antebellum Moral Philosophy, Political Theory, And Metaphysics, Lee Brings A Fresh Perspective To The Literature Of Slavery To Argue That Romantic, Sentimental, And Black Atlantic Writers All Struggled With Modernity When Facing The Slavery Crisis.--jacket. Absolute Poe -- Lord, It's So Hard To Be Good : Affect And Agency In Stowe -- Taking Care Of The Philosophy : Douglass's Commonsense -- Melville And The State Of War -- Toward A Transcendental Politics : Emerson's Second Thought -- Epilogue : An Unfinished And Not Unhappy Ending. Maurice S. Lee. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Maurice Lee demonstrates how the slavery crisis became a crisis of philosophy. Authors including Poe, Stowe, Douglass, Melville, and Emerson tried - and failed - to find rational solutions to the slavery conflict. Drawing on antebellum moral philosophy, political theory, and metaphysics, Lee brings a fresh perspective to the literature of slavery