Native American Values In Early American Literature

Values in Early American Literature

"We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their creator with inherent and inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," says the Declaration of Independence. This phrase encompasses three major values shown throughout early American literature. The strong belief in religion, freedom, and a strong will for a better life. Each piece had one or more of these themes within them. A strong value within almost all the writing was religion, both Native American and Puritan. Most Native American tales are based around a god or a moral expressed by a god. In "Coyote Finishes His Work" Coyote does all his work because
Without the tree, there can be no life. I must follow it." from "The Sky Tree." The Old Chief had fallen ill and was about to die when a vision came to him. To save his life and the lives of others there was a fruit on top of the Sky Tree. So Ancient woman went to cut down the tree for her husband, in the process the tree fell through a hole in the sky. Instead of turning around and letting her husband die, she went after the tree. She maintained hope that she would able to retrieve the tree as well as her own life. She was willing to risk her life so that others may have a better life as well. America has been known as the land of opportunity. It is viewed as a place to make life better. Even Native American folktales are about ways to make a better life. People worked hard to better themselves and their lives. They set high goals and always achieved them. No matter the risk the early Americans were willing to take it. To better themselves and the country they were forming. "I wish to live without committing any fault at any time," from Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography. A better life comes from within. It starts with an inner understanding of what you want. Then you take the necessary actions to make it a reality. That is where America comes in. For many a better life could not be found in England. To fully reach happiness some wanted religious freedom and some wished for political freedom. Happiness came in many forms both big and small. A large one was moving to an unknown continent where you didn't know if you would live or die. The choice to join any religion you wanted is a smaller, but no less important happiness. The pursuit of happiness is still true in this nation