As the title on the novel entails , transformation and constant change are big themes that appear in the novel. This transformation is evident in one of the main characters, Theodore. Theodore transitions from the picture-perfect father figure to a religious lunatic that kills his wife and children, and even later on attempts to murder his own sister Clara.
This novel can be considered as an early American novel. So what does this the novel say about the newly founded American society ? If we read the novel as an allegory of the changes the American society was going through at the time, we can deduce two other forms of change that played a role in shaping modern-day America
Firstly, change in society and family dynamics
The original Puritan settlers called the family a “little commonwealth.” This title insinuates that families were simply collections and clusters of households living side by side, isolated from one another. However, this changes in the developing American society, households became more connected and are able to form a community that is somewhat codependent. This can be observed in the Wieland family’s initial acceptance of Carwin into the family and treating him as one of their own , even though Carwin is not related to them by blood. Clara describes this as the development of this relationship as his “visits were frequently repeated. Each day introduced us to a more intimate acquaintance with his sentiments” (Brown 57).
In addition, there is apparent power shift within the typical structure of the American Family, this change was fundamentally in the concept of the patriarch. In the novel, there is no mention of an ‘absolute patriarch’ in each household. For instance, Clara lives alone with her maidservant, Judith.Even if there was a presence of a patriarch, these patriarchs differed from the typical patriarchal figure of earlier times.For example, Theodore does not incarnate a rigid patriarchal authority, he in contrast quite affectionate and he is “tenderness” (Brown 23) itself to his children.
Secondly, Transition in how religion is viewed
To understand the relationship between religion and society in the novel, we must to go back to the origin of the Wieland “Puritanical” family. Theodore and Clara’s father was a descendent of a noble family in Saxony and was devoted to the Camissards (an apocalyptic protestant sect). In fact one of his main goals when moving to the new world was to convert native Americans into his faith.
On the other hand, Theodore and Clara have created a family characterized by rationalistic attitudes toward life, particularly in matters regarding religion. Clara acknowledges this rationalistic somewhat secular view on life when she says “Our education had been modelled by no religious standard” (Brown 20). However, she doesn’t dismiss the influence and presence of religion in their lives but in a sense limits it to its spiritual significance rather than using it to guide their mundane lives.
You make really good points in your analysis! Do you think religion (or religious belief) is the key factor that triggers the transformation of the family dynamic in Wieland? If so, would that be considered a critique about how religious beliefs destabilize the family dynamics in Wieland?
I find the patriarchy thread most suggestive here — the paragraph suggests that the novel is a critique of patriarchal forms of authority. What other evidence might we use to support this claim? (for example, Clara’s authorial voice?)
And while Theodore Wieland does seem to be an “enlightened” father that rebels against his own father’s influence, he does ultimately murder his own family – a violent reassertion and claim of patriarchal power. What do we do with this?
Note on Puritans: The Wielands aren’t descended from the Puritan settlers (English who split from the Church of England and settled in what is now Massachusetts)- though there is some commonality in the elder Wieland’s beliefs and those of the Puritans. And the “little commonwealth” is more about the Puritan family as a sort of governing entity (authority located within the family with the father) – Puritan families and communities were intimately connected by ties of kinship and faith. They couldn’t be isolated from one another or they wouldn’t survive. So we need to do a bit more thinking on the status of the “family” in Brown’s novel — it’s an important topic to bring up.
Very interesting post about the transformation as a theme. It is very prominent in the novel and one can argue that all characters, not just Wieland, undergo a transformation at some point in the story (For example Clara’s character and her battle with reason and the senses: she used to be much more rational in the beginning of the book and gets controlled by her emotions as the story progresses).
The reader’s opinions about the characters transform too as the story evolves (An example could be Carwin’s schemes and his deceit. Our perception of him along with Wieland and the reader’s opinion on who the criminal is might also undergo a transformation in this novel).
I agree and am extremely interested in the theme of gender within the novel. Clara seemed to deviate from traditional gender norms in the sense that she has her own voice, control and personality. In contrast, you can complicate and juxtapose Clara and Catherine as they individually represent diverse examples or positions of women in society.
Clara on one hand seems to be independent, strong willed and educated, although due to the era or time she lived in, she was evidently prone to patriarchal and chauvinistic exploitation. On the other hand, Catherine symbolizes a highly conventional and standard women of her time as she was constantly shielded and sheltered as she was treated like soft, fragile and innocent child who had to constantly be protected and taken care of. I feel as if these attitudes and behaviours all contribute to the overall changes in familial dynamics and views regarding religion and societal development.