Charles Brockden Brown's Edgar Huntly is about the need to survive either in a society or with savages. Brown explains that
"In order to survive in a society we must adapt to our surroundings, and sometimes this could mean the disappearance of our true nature"
In reading Edgar Huntly, we learn that the majority of the people will act with what society has determined to be "right and wrong". Even though Edgar Huntly ultimately goes back to what society believes is "right and wrong" however Brown does not disregard human's potential of intelligence and wisdom.
This idea of human's potential and the need to survive with or without society are prominent points in John Locke's Two Treatises of Government.
While Locke believed that humans were basically self-centered, he did not discount that they could be rational or even moral. This can be showed in this quote: "[men] have a mind to unite for the mutual preservation of their lives, liberties, and....property."
This quote shows us Locke's belief in men's potential ability for intelligence and wisdom.
Locke also believed in the need to survive with a society of savages. This idea is shown throughout his treatises, especially in this quote: "When any one, or more, shall take upon them to make laws whom the people have not appointed so to do, they make laws without authority, which the people are not therefore bound to obey; by which means they come again to be out of subjection, and may constitute to themselves a new legislature."
This shows Locke's belief as he states that if the society is unwilling to give you your UNALIENABLE RIGHTS, then you have the right to not obey their laws and create a new government
Also in John Locke's first treatise he criticizes Robert Filmer's Patriarcha which defends the divine rights of kings and that all men are born as slaves to the kings. Locke counters Filmer by stating that all men can govern oneself by God's law. This is shown in Edgar Huntly by both Edgar Huntly and Clithero as they go through the wilderness and begin to become savages. Throughout each character's journey Edgar and Clithero both encounters obstacles. While Edgar uses moralistic values to deal with these obstacles, Clithero uses his impulse to deal with them.
Edgar's moralistic values are shown by this quote: "No alternative was offered, and hunger was capable to be appeased, even by a banquet so detestable" (Brown 160).
While Clithero's impulsiveness is shown in this quote: "It was probable that Clithero had fled far away, but, should he have concealed himself in some nook or cavern within these precincts" (Brown 91)
This shows Clithero as a tyrannical ruler due to his impulsiveness and would lead to revolts by his people. While it shows Edgar as a moralistic leader which would make him more prone to being attacked.
Neither of these characters has the ideal characteristics in order to have became a successful ruler.
The main character in the book that has the ideal characteristics to have become a successful ruler was Sarsefield because of Sarsefield would have both the morals and impulse to lead his people into a more stable condition compared to Edgar and Clithero..
"In order to survive in a society we must adapt to our surroundings, and sometimes this could mean the disappearance of our true nature"
In reading Edgar Huntly, we learn that the majority of the people will act with what society has determined to be "right and wrong". Even though Edgar Huntly ultimately goes back to what society believes is "right and wrong" however Brown does not disregard human's potential of intelligence and wisdom.This idea of human's potential and the need to survive with or without society are prominent points in John Locke's Two Treatises of Government.
While Locke believed that humans were basically self-centered, he did not discount that they could be rational or even moral. This can be showed in this quote:
"[men] have a mind to unite for the mutual preservation of their lives, liberties, and....property."
This quote shows us Locke's belief in men's potential ability for intelligence and wisdom.
Locke also believed in the need to survive with a society of savages. This idea is shown throughout his treatises, especially in this quote:
"When any one, or more, shall take upon them to make laws whom the people have not appointed so to do, they make laws without authority, which the people are not therefore bound to obey; by which means they come again to be out of subjection, and may constitute to themselves a new legislature."
This shows Locke's belief as he states that if the society is unwilling to give you your UNALIENABLE RIGHTS, then you have the right to not obey their laws and create a new government
Also in John Locke's first treatise he criticizes Robert Filmer's Patriarcha which defends the divine rights of kings and that all men are born as slaves to the kings. Locke counters Filmer by stating that all men can govern oneself by God's law. This is shown in Edgar Huntly by both Edgar Huntly and Clithero as they go through the wilderness and begin to become savages. Throughout each character's journey Edgar and Clithero both encounters obstacles. While Edgar uses moralistic values to deal with these obstacles, Clithero uses his impulse to deal with them.
Edgar's moralistic values are shown by this quote:
"No alternative was offered, and hunger was capable to be appeased, even by a banquet so detestable" (Brown 160).
While Clithero's impulsiveness is shown in this quote:
"It was probable that Clithero had fled far away, but, should he have concealed himself in some nook or cavern within these precincts" (Brown 91)
This shows Clithero as a tyrannical ruler due to his impulsiveness and would lead to revolts by his people. While it shows Edgar as a moralistic leader which would make him more prone to being attacked.
Neither of these characters has the ideal characteristics in order to have became a successful ruler.
The main character in the book that has the ideal characteristics to have become a successful ruler was Sarsefield because of Sarsefield would have both the morals and impulse to lead his people into a more stable condition compared to Edgar and Clithero..