theme+analysis

__**Author's Background**__ In order to gain insight into the author's argument we must understand the reason for his thinking and his personal style. [|brief summary of his life] __**Theme**__ The basis Charles Brockden Brown argument lies in his perspective of human nature: The need to survive: whether it be survival amongst a society of 'civilized' people, amongst 'savage' people, or with yourself. "In order to survive in a society we must adapt to our surroundings, and sometimes this could mean the disappearance of our true nature"; Charles Brockden Brown attempts to reveal human nature in Edgar Hunlty's actions. Edgar's sleep walking leads him into situations where his initial impulse counteracts what he thinks to be 'proper' and lead him to realize that "A life of uniform hypocrisy.." at not acting in accordance to our true nature through solely relying upon what society has told us to be right and wrong,"..or a sudden loss of reason were the only suppositions to be formed" a loss of what society has told us to be "reasonable logic" or propriety. The majority of people will act in accordance to what society has told them to be right and wrong: which is the basis of Huntly's character. His adventures between deciding bewteen the two, but ultimately reverting back to a 'civilized' society. Yet Charles Brockden Brown does not disregard the potential of human intelligence and human wisdom. He does not simply differentiate between human nature being good or human nature being evil. There is far more complexity to the reason for our actions and this complexity is characterized through Edgar Huntly. Although his actions in general show a rash man whom acts in order to survive with those around him, yet he also comes to question that although the actions he takes allow him to survive in society, they may not permit him to live with himself. In Edgar's search for the person responsible for the death of Waldegrave he encounters Clithero, Edgar wishes, "to restore him to peace, but a thorough knowledge of his actions is necessary, both to show that he is worthy of compassion, and to suggest the best means of extirpating his error. Although the author's view of human nature is pessimistic, it cannot be labeled as 'evil'. 'Good and evil is too much of a broad and somewhat simplistic manner by which to divide human nature into. This is the basis for Brown's view of our instinct of survival, because sometimes instincts overpower our sense of "right" and "wrong": a sense which is established from a 'civilized' society, a 'savage' society or our own personal thoughts.

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Bibliography
 * Brown, B. Charles. __Edgar Huntly: Memoirs of a Sleep-Walker.__ Penguin Classics, 1799.
 * http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/n2/n10985.jpg