In the footsteps of Thoreau: The evolution of the Native American as character and symbol in the works of Warren, Cather, and Faulkner (Henry David Thoreau, Robert Penn Warren, Willa Cather, William Faulkner).

摘要

Throughout American Literature, descriptions of Native American characters have appeared often, as white settlers moved into already occupied lands. Many depictions in the 17th, 18th, and 19 th centuries reinforced stereotypes regarding the Native American. However, as the frontier vanished, and many of the native peoples along with it, writers began to question the stereotypes and investigate these people more closely. By the 20th century, canonical writers began to flesh out their Native American characters, making a distinct effort to avoid primitivistic depictions. In particular, the works of Robert Penn Warren, Willa Cather, and William Faulkner demonstrate the attempt to focus on portrayals of complex Native American individuals. These writers brought previously untold or overlooked events in history regarding Indian people, making them central to the stories of American history. In so doing, they have become examples that writers today continue to follow.