After reading and rereading The Lowell Offering, trying to parse out the main emotions expressed in these pieces, I’ve come to realize that this collection of writing does not treat emotion the way I anticipated. Considering The Lowell Offering is a publication written entirely by young textile mill workers, I anticipated dreariness, a longing for … Continue reading The Coping Capabilities of Young Women: An Exploration of The Lowell Offering →

Sarah Collins A rather eye-opening tale of love and loss, the eighteenth century coming of age novel, Charlotte Temple by Mrs. Rowson, tells the story of a young American girl growing up in a vastly different way than most of us could relate too. She leads a normal life that most fifteen-year-old girl in that time … Continue reading Love, Loss, and Autonomy within “Charlotte Temple” →

Ashley Divens As individuals in the 21st century, we recognize adolescence as a stage of life, even though our views of adolescence continue to evolve. However, our views of this transitional state are challenged when we read older pieces such as “Charlotte Temple” and “The Lowell Offering”. While the authors may not have clearly understood … Continue reading A Lack of Autonomy Catalyzes the Transition to Adulthood →

by: Michaela Mahoney  In our current times, the agency and independence that women have is often talked about in politics, media, and literature. Women today can face harsh criticism when it comes to the decisions they make. For this reason, it can be interesting to look back at works from the past and see representations … Continue reading Autonomy in Charlotte Temple →

Jay Zimmerman The idea of autonomy is central in all literature about children, all fiction really. Independence and agency in one’s own life is something granted to most when they grow up and become an adult, barring extraneous circumstances. In a very general understanding, it is the result of leaving the adolescent stage. But when … Continue reading Autonomy of Young Protagonists →

Grace Campbell Through the dramatic downfall of the title character, Susanna Rowson’s Charlotte Temple portrays the expectations of adolescent women, and the lack of power attributed to young girls. Originally published in 1791, the novel uses the narrative structure to both display traditional societal norms and to educate girls in the dangers they may encounter … Continue reading Girlhood and Power Dynamics in Charlotte Temple →

Jayne Juffe When reading The Lowell Offering, I struggled a bit with the language, even though it was fairly easy to comprehend (I just over think and doubt myself when reading literature from at least a century ago), and I could easily relate to these girls. The anthology of the girls’ letters, poetry, and short … Continue reading Girlhood, Leisure, and Responsibility →

Kelsey Newman Imagine yourself as a high school student, sitting in your childhood bedroom. “A Teenager in Love” by Dion and the Belmonts plays in the background, as you read a note your crush passed to you in English class. Now… imagine the same scene, but approximately 227 years earlier. What difference does a couple … Continue reading Young Love in Charlotte Temple →