Given its point in time, The
Contrast serves as both a window
into the society of the time and an example of something attempting
to change that society. As I said in my original post about The
Contrast, America was developing its own culture at the time, and the
most important part of that to them was to be distinctly
not-European. This idea is maintained in the portrayal of Dimple,
who shows us American culture at the time. At the same time there is
Manly, who exists as the attempt to change society.
Dimple
is clearly an analogue for European society. He sings the praises of
Europe, such as the superior theater and mannerisms, while going out
of his way to point out the inferiority of America's. He is also the
villain of the play, a manipulative and moralless man. Dimple is
easy for the people to hate, as he indulges in everything the
American people have come to associate with oppression.
Manly,
on the other hand, is a staunch patriot. In addition to being a
veteran, he launches into a defensive speech of America at Dimple's
provocation. The quality of his character is solidified in scenes
such as his interactions with Maria. With these things he earns the
trust of the audience, and that makes him a suitable vessel to
deliver the primary idea of the play. Through Manly, Tyler expresses
his belief that while Europe is no role model, America should define
itself by what it is rather than what it isn't. Essentially, America
can't expect to be its own by simply saying that it isn't European.
I agree with your desciptions of both Manly and Dimple. Dimple is clearly representative of how European nations looked at the practices of Americans in the late 18th Century. By trashing everything American, Dimple is easy for the audience to hate. Manly on the other hand is not only loved by the audience because he defends his nation when it is being trashed by Dimple or when he separates himself from Maria after he hears she is engaged, but because he is a soldier who still honors the men he fought along side during the war. I believe the audience would have shown some love for Manly even before he said a word when this play was performed simply because of his military background.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. The character of Dimple was written to show just how foolish Americans look when they copy Europeans; despite their copying European behavior, they simply are not Europeans, and the European behavior is just not appropriate outside of Europe. Americans more naturally act like Manly, honorable and down to earth. Manly respects simple values. The American society at this time was just forming and wasn't sure what it would turn into. Tyler clearly hoped in his play would influence the fledgling American society to be more like Manly than the complete fool Dimple.
ReplyDeleteOn many levels, the text validates the new "American-ness" while undercutting or mocking those who lionize European ideals. I agree with Olivia that the text demonstrates that those who copy European society lose--certainly an important aspect of the text vis a vis Frye's Final Cause.
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