19th Century American Literature

Paper Summary:

During the period of 1830-1860, a new genre in America literature emerged, called the Southwestern Humor genre. This new form of literature illustrates and discusses issues and themes that are depicted effectively through humor and exaggeration. Southwestern humor is also remarkable in its ability to effectively mirror the social landscape of the Southwestern region of the United States. In the study and analysis of Southwestern Humor genre, important themes that can be found are the social, political and psychological illustrations and portrayals in the story, all of which are reflections of the writer's perception of his or her society. This paper uses as an example the work of Thomas Bangs Thorpe, entitled, "The Big Bear of Arkansas." This short story focuses on Jim Doggett, who earned the title of "The Big Bear of Arkansas" because of his extraordinary skill in hunting bears. The story tackles the themes of the protagonist's affinity with nature, the rural and natural life and Arkansas, as well as the conflict between nature and civilization. This paper discusses these three themes in accordance to its social, political and psychological perspectives. The paper also shows that the short story illustrates the social issues of rural life and conflict between civilization and development and nature; the political orientation of Arkansas as a rural society; and the character portrayal of Jim Doggett as an individual who has close affinity with nature.

From the Paper:

"Hunting and planting are both symbols of the social progress that human civilization has undergone for many years. Hunting is a symbol for man's primitive nature, while planting is equated with progress (as man learned to live a sedentary life). Thus, Thorpe illustrates Arkansas as a place where nature takes control instead of human civilization and wherein hunting and leading a "primitive life" with nature is still evident through Jim Doggett's character. Doggett's failure to plant crops in his place illustrates how progress did not develop in Arkansas. In effect, because of the underdevelopment of urbanism, the state remained one of the "primitive" regions in America where humans are one with nature."

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