Eng 48A
Journal on Paine
November 10th 2009
Thomas Paine
"Paine had turned Americans into radicals-and we have remained radicals at heart ever since." (Harvey J. Kaye)
The first quote, taken from Thomas Paine's Common Sense, exemplifies Paine as the gadfly of pre-revolutionary times. After describing the horrors of the British military occupation of Boston, he describes his true purpose -although vaguely- in writing Common Sense. As he says, his object is not to provoke revenge but to awaken the Colonists to the reality of British sovereignty, and define an object for which to pursue. Although seemingly straightforwards, this quote is far from your regular deep dish slice of American common sense. Although Paine say's: 'I mean not to exhibit horror for the purpose of provoking revenge' his disclaimer seems hollow, and devoid of any real substance to support it. So much for common sense, Paine is authorizing the reader to feel like he deserves revenge for the Boston occupation, but of course he has no real purpose in telling the reader this. A very subtle and manipulative disclaimer, this quote inevitably provokes anger, and although it may not be Paine's primary objective, it is most definitely part of the game-plan. Following this statement, he goes on to say that instead of provoking revenge, his true purpose is to 'awaken' us -as colonials- from our 'fatal' and 'unmanly' slumber so that we can pursue some fixed object. Obviously, his words are designed to provoke feeling. Words like 'fatal' and 'unmanly' incite the reader to react, they grab the reader by the throat, throw him out of bed, and force him to fight back against the accusation. He is not only saying that the colonists are 'slumbering' through British abuse, but that they are hiding from it, and being 'unmanly' in their servitude to their British Sovereign. Finally, after all of his subtle manipulations, Paine says that his true purpose is to lay us on the path, 'that we may pursue determinately some fixed object'. A vague purpose if I've ever heard one, we all know that Paine's 'fixed object' is freedom, but what does he get out of alluding to it? Naysayers crucify me, but I find that the reason he defines his true purpose as a 'fixed object' instead of freedom, is because to Paine, freedom shouldn't even be a necessary incentive to fight back against the British. He seems to be saying that even if you don't give a shit about freedom, you should be a man, and fight back against the British sovereignty that is holding you down, pillaging your country, and ultimately emasculating you.
The second quote describes the radical philosophy that Paine embodied and his lasting impression on the world of today. As Americans, we are enormously indebted to this man. Not only did Paine instigate the Revolutionary War, literally putting America on the map, he started the 'common man' American prose, putting American literature on the map with a bang. Most enduring however, is the American philosophy that he left behind, founded in his actions and beliefs, and laminated in the blood of revolution. Paine, was the ultimate rebel. He was not only against Authority, but Religion and Slavery as well, all of which were the biggest issues of the time, and would be for the next century and a half. He was the man that said "A government of our own is our natural right." (Norton Pg. 636), and, "That which we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly, it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as freedom should not be so highly rated."(My head). Paine was an amazing, and revolutionary man, but his power of manipulation can also be seen as disturbing. When it comes down to it, it is very reminiscent of Hitler. Especially his idea of American exceptionalism, which is going strong to this very day, Aryan race anyone?
1737-1809
"I mean not to exhibit horror for the purpose of provoking revenge, but to awaken us from fatal and unmanly slumbers, that we may pursue determinately some fixed object."(Norton Pg. 635)"Paine had turned Americans into radicals-and we have remained radicals at heart ever since." (Harvey J. Kaye)
The first quote, taken from Thomas Paine's Common Sense, exemplifies Paine as the gadfly of pre-revolutionary times. After describing the horrors of the British military occupation of Boston, he describes his true purpose -although vaguely- in writing Common Sense. As he says, his object is not to provoke revenge but to awaken the Colonists to the reality of British sovereignty, and define an object for which to pursue. Although seemingly straightforwards, this quote is far from your regular deep dish slice of American common sense. Although Paine say's: 'I mean not to exhibit horror for the purpose of provoking revenge' his disclaimer seems hollow, and devoid of any real substance to support it. So much for common sense, Paine is authorizing the reader to feel like he deserves revenge for the Boston occupation, but of course he has no real purpose in telling the reader this. A very subtle and manipulative disclaimer, this quote inevitably provokes anger, and although it may not be Paine's primary objective, it is most definitely part of the game-plan. Following this statement, he goes on to say that instead of provoking revenge, his true purpose is to 'awaken' us -as colonials- from our 'fatal' and 'unmanly' slumber so that we can pursue some fixed object. Obviously, his words are designed to provoke feeling. Words like 'fatal' and 'unmanly' incite the reader to react, they grab the reader by the throat, throw him out of bed, and force him to fight back against the accusation. He is not only saying that the colonists are 'slumbering' through British abuse, but that they are hiding from it, and being 'unmanly' in their servitude to their British Sovereign. Finally, after all of his subtle manipulations, Paine says that his true purpose is to lay us on the path, 'that we may pursue determinately some fixed object'. A vague purpose if I've ever heard one, we all know that Paine's 'fixed object' is freedom, but what does he get out of alluding to it? Naysayers crucify me, but I find that the reason he defines his true purpose as a 'fixed object' instead of freedom, is because to Paine, freedom shouldn't even be a necessary incentive to fight back against the British. He seems to be saying that even if you don't give a shit about freedom, you should be a man, and fight back against the British sovereignty that is holding you down, pillaging your country, and ultimately emasculating you.
The second quote describes the radical philosophy that Paine embodied and his lasting impression on the world of today. As Americans, we are enormously indebted to this man. Not only did Paine instigate the Revolutionary War, literally putting America on the map, he started the 'common man' American prose, putting American literature on the map with a bang. Most enduring however, is the American philosophy that he left behind, founded in his actions and beliefs, and laminated in the blood of revolution. Paine, was the ultimate rebel. He was not only against Authority, but Religion and Slavery as well, all of which were the biggest issues of the time, and would be for the next century and a half. He was the man that said "A government of our own is our natural right." (Norton Pg. 636), and, "That which we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly, it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as freedom should not be so highly rated."(My head). Paine was an amazing, and revolutionary man, but his power of manipulation can also be seen as disturbing. When it comes down to it, it is very reminiscent of Hitler. Especially his idea of American exceptionalism, which is going strong to this very day, Aryan race anyone?
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