Apocalyptic Sentimentalism: Love and Fear in U.S. Antebellum Literature

271 Pages·2015·1.67 MB·English

by  Kevin Pelletier

Apocalyptic Sentimentalism
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Apocalyptic
Sentimentalism
Love and Fear in
U.S. Antebellum Literature
Kevin Pelletier
The University of Georgia Press Athens and London
© 2015 by the University of Georgia Press
Athens, Georgia 30602
www .ugapress .org
All rights reserved
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Library of Congress Cataloging- in-Publication Data
Pelletier, Kevin, 1975–
Apocalyptic sentimentalism : love and fear in U.S. antebellum literature / Kevin Pelletier.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references and index.
isbn 978-0-8203-3948-1 (hardback) — isbn 978-0-8203-4773-8 (e- book) 1. American
literature—19th century—History and criticism. 2. Slavery in literature. 3. Antislavery
movements in literature. 4. Apocalyptic literature. 5. African Americans in literature.
6. Emotions in literature. 7. Literature and society—United States—History—19th century.
I. Title. II. Title: Love and fear in U.S. antebellum literature.
ps217.s55p45 2015
810.9'003—dc23
2014021694
ISBNfordigitaledition:978-0-8203-4773-8
British Library Cataloging- in-Publication Data available
For Kendra
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Contents
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction: The Sentimental Apocalypse 1
part one. Black Abolition and the Ideological Roots
of Apocalyptic Sentimentalism
One. David Walker, Nat Turner, and the Logic of Sentimental Terror 35
Two. “The Wrath of the Lamb”: Maria W. Stewart and the
Domestication of Apocalypse 59
part two. Salvation through Motherly Vengeance: The
Sentimentality of Harriet Beecher Stowe
Three. Uncle Tom’s Cabin and the Fictionalization of
Apocalyptic Sentimentalism 97
Four. “Can Fear of Fire Make Me Love?”: Dred and the Incarnation
of Apocalypse 120
part three. John Brown and the Legacy of
Apocalyptic Sentimentalism
Five. Sentimental John Brown 153
Coda: The Civil War and Modern Apocalyptic Sentimentalism 181
Notes 193
Bibliography 229
Index 245
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Acknowledgments
Having spent so long thinking and writing about vengeance and wrath and ter-
ror, I am relieved finally to be able to express my affection and gratitude for the
colleagues, teachers, students, family, and friends that helped make this book
possible.
I began to develop this project at suny Buffalo, and I received expert guid-
ance from many gifted teachers, especially Neil Schmitz, Robert Daly, and
Stacy Hubbard. I am particularly indebted to Carrie Tirado Bramen, who pro-
vided indispensable instruction and support as this project evolved. I hope this
book lives up to her expectations.
I could not have completed this manuscript without generous financial sup-
port from the University of Richmond and the intellectual support of my in-
credible department. My thanks to Suzanne Jones who, as my department chair,
always made sure I had enough time to research and write, and to Bert Ashe,
Laura Browder, Abigail Cheever, Daryl Dance, Terryl Givens, Libby Gruner,
Brian Henry, Ray Hilliard, Peter Lurie, Joyce MacAllister, Anthony Russell,
Ilka Saal, Louis Schwartz, Julietta Singh, Nathan Snaza, David Stevens, Louis
Tremaine, Nicole Sackley, Eric Yellin, and Doug Winiarski, who have all en-
hanced my intellectual life and selflessly provided emotional sustenance when
I needed it. My ideas for this book were sharpened over many lunches (and
even more desserts) with Rob Nelson. He is a valued friend and dependable
interlocutor. Thanks to Marcia Whitehead, Lucretia McCulley, and the entire
library staff at the University of Richmond for locating and retrieving essential
documents.
I have taught some extraordinary students at the University of Richmond.
However, my fall 2012 U.S. Apocalyptic Literature and Culture seminar—
which included Scott Rockensies, Miles McKemy, Denise Parker, Austin
ix