Reading Transatlantic Pride and Prejudice From Literary Journals to Antebellum New York City: Kemble, Trollope, and Dickens

Abstract

To English people, America was a new country, but the country had made rapid economic and cultural growth. Still, in the nineteenth century English pride for its own culture and nobility was sustained, while Americans' pride had begun to appear in many aspects of their life along with its prejudice against England. This kind of thought can be grasped by looking at several journals written by British writers after their travel to America: Fanny Kemble, Fanny Trollope, Charles Dickens, and Anthony Trollope. Among other places, New York City was one of the most important cities that they never failed to visit and mention as a typical American city. Although English writers intends to express in their journals the negative aspects of American culture and tradition which seemed shallow and superficial to them, some other positive views of the cultural status quo of antebellum New York City can be read from their vivid depictions on Broadway, its theaters and culture. Above all, the thing that Americans took pride in was its spirit of liberty, freedom, and equality. The free blacks walking along Broadway, the public schools crowded with boys and girls, and the omnibuses full of passengers were symbols of the spirit of liberal New York City. As the busiest part of this beautiful city, Broadway is still the central route across Manhattan Island from Downtown through Mid-town to Up-town. Times Square was also the heart of the dynamic New York City, where new arts and culture are created and consumed. In that sense, the New Yorkers' pride has been justified, despite the arrogant European prejudice. As a 'transatlantic study,' my research has examined the prejudice and pride that both countries' people began to have against the other country.