These novels define America
Roland Emmerich's "Independence Day: Resurgence" will hit the theater on June 24. But this is not the way to celebrate the Fourth of July.
The Declaration of Independence is the birth of the United States of America as an independent nation. There might be some problems when you press for details. The US government is looking at the sky since the Autumn of Nations. The Founding Fathers wished reality television existed during their heyday. And Hollywood did a disservice to some authors. As for the last one, most of us know the classics. They are supposed to represent the brash Americans. They're the brave ones, without a doubt. And they are big. The representatives from other nations can relate to it, but there are some details that will make America stand out. It will also mystify some outsiders.
Here are some novels to enlighten them:
The Scarlet Letter (1850) by Nathaniel Hawthorne. It's about adultery, which is pretty obvious to those who read the book. Hawthorne, a native of Salem, Massachusetts, would pen a novel that exposed an unflinching truth about America's ambivalent stance towards women. In fact, Hester Prynne's uneventful life would make an impact to succeeding generations of readers. She can be Hilary Clinton, who won't have any issues if she's a man. She may be Diane English's inspiration for Murphy Brown, whom Dan Quayle got involved in a controversy. Some would insist that the former vice president was right after all, but she happened to be a fictional character. (And reality television was nonexistent.) It can be an interesting study as American society is leaning towards political correctness. Some Americans may be too politically correct, which would prompt some to wonder if the 19th-century New England was hardly different from modern-day America. Hester Prynne won't say a word.
Moby-Dick (1851) by Herman Melville. This long novel will force readers to meditate about the vast sea. It might be a young American society trying to establish itself. It's still looking for beliefs to lean on, and the Old World wasn't assuring enough. As for the albino whale, it would depend on the reader. Religion could be one.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884) by Mark Twain. This was a coming-of-age tale of a young lad with the Mississippi River in the background. The setting and year of publication would reveal a lot. It won't be a pleasant sight for the young eyes, but it's really about the good and the bad.
The Grapes of Wrath (1939) by John Steinbeck. The background reveals the Gold Rush and its side effects. Some would label the author as a Communist as the Okies were depicted as victims of California's progress and (eventual) urbanization. But read the novel again. Steinbeck, who was born in Salinas, California, would describe another feature of American society. It was less than glamorous, but no one could ignore the virtue of hard work. Let's not forget familial ties.
The Catcher in the Rye (1951) by J.D. Salinger. Holden Caulfield inspired figures like George HW Bush. What would this mean to readers? All of us go through a phase of teenage angst. No one will contradict it. Caulfield may see something that most adults fail to do. It can be the loss of innocence, even the mundane existence defining adulthood. It might be something else. Whatever it is, readers wouldn't be the same.
