The Specter of Oppression and National Identity in Hobomok
Lydia Maria Child’s Hobomok (1824) advances a national model predicated on tolerance and inclusivity. The novel suggests that the oppressive strictures of Puritanism derive from the psychical trauma of banishment from England. This compels the protagonist Mary to rebel against Salem’s social codes b...
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European Association for American Studies
2022-07-01
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| Series: | European Journal of American Studies |
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| Online Access: | https://journals.openedition.org/ejas/18047 |
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| author | Alex McDonnell |
| author_facet | Alex McDonnell |
| author_sort | Alex McDonnell |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Lydia Maria Child’s Hobomok (1824) advances a national model predicated on tolerance and inclusivity. The novel suggests that the oppressive strictures of Puritanism derive from the psychical trauma of banishment from England. This compels the protagonist Mary to rebel against Salem’s social codes by marrying Hobomok. Her elopement and later return as an accepted member of the community are implicated in Child’s national vision of tolerance. However, the novel’s resolution is ethno-centric as Hobomok chooses self-imposed exile while his son with Mary loses his racial identity. Exploring Child’s narrative through a postcolonial psychoanalytic lens reveals how her narrative reflects upon American identity formation which draws upon yet disavows the Native figure in nineteenth-century literature. Significantly, Child’s novel anticipates a space for Native American subjectivity, which conflicts with her national vision and casts doubt on the legitimacy of the American State. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0ed88f1aa8a7419e89b4661e202bc72c |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1991-9336 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | European Association for American Studies |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Journal of American Studies |
| spelling | doaj-art-0ed88f1aa8a7419e89b4661e202bc72c2025-01-06T09:08:25ZengEuropean Association for American StudiesEuropean Journal of American Studies1991-93362022-07-0117210.4000/ejas.18047The Specter of Oppression and National Identity in HobomokAlex McDonnellLydia Maria Child’s Hobomok (1824) advances a national model predicated on tolerance and inclusivity. The novel suggests that the oppressive strictures of Puritanism derive from the psychical trauma of banishment from England. This compels the protagonist Mary to rebel against Salem’s social codes by marrying Hobomok. Her elopement and later return as an accepted member of the community are implicated in Child’s national vision of tolerance. However, the novel’s resolution is ethno-centric as Hobomok chooses self-imposed exile while his son with Mary loses his racial identity. Exploring Child’s narrative through a postcolonial psychoanalytic lens reveals how her narrative reflects upon American identity formation which draws upon yet disavows the Native figure in nineteenth-century literature. Significantly, Child’s novel anticipates a space for Native American subjectivity, which conflicts with her national vision and casts doubt on the legitimacy of the American State.https://journals.openedition.org/ejas/18047Native AmericanHobomokLydia Maria Childnineteenth-century American literaturepostcolonial psychoanalysis |
| spellingShingle | Alex McDonnell The Specter of Oppression and National Identity in Hobomok European Journal of American Studies Native American Hobomok Lydia Maria Child nineteenth-century American literature postcolonial psychoanalysis |
| title | The Specter of Oppression and National Identity in Hobomok |
| title_full | The Specter of Oppression and National Identity in Hobomok |
| title_fullStr | The Specter of Oppression and National Identity in Hobomok |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Specter of Oppression and National Identity in Hobomok |
| title_short | The Specter of Oppression and National Identity in Hobomok |
| title_sort | specter of oppression and national identity in hobomok |
| topic | Native American Hobomok Lydia Maria Child nineteenth-century American literature postcolonial psychoanalysis |
| url | https://journals.openedition.org/ejas/18047 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT alexmcdonnell thespecterofoppressionandnationalidentityinhobomok AT alexmcdonnell specterofoppressionandnationalidentityinhobomok |