Megan Taylor Shockley
- Published in print:
- 2010
- Published Online:
- March 2016
- ISBN:
- 9780814783191
- eISBN:
- 9780814786529
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- NYU Press
- DOI:
- 10.18574/nyu/9780814783191.003.0003
- Subject:
- History, American History: 19th Century
This chapter discusses two journals which reflect Rebecca's life following her childhood entries in Flowers in Frolic. In the first journal Rebecca wrote of her experiences with William and ...
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This chapter discusses two journals which reflect Rebecca's life following her childhood entries in Flowers in Frolic. In the first journal Rebecca wrote of her experiences with William and reminisced about him immediately after his departure. In the second, Rebecca reflected on her relationship with her husband and her role as a wife while William was away, as well as her concern that William continue to act as a faithful husband. Throughout these two journals Rebecca established important components of her life narrative. She defined her husband's personality and character, created her own persona, located her own position in society, and finally illustrated the nature of her relationship with her husband.Less
This chapter discusses two journals which reflect Rebecca's life following her childhood entries in Flowers in Frolic. In the first journal Rebecca wrote of her experiences with William and reminisced about him immediately after his departure. In the second, Rebecca reflected on her relationship with her husband and her role as a wife while William was away, as well as her concern that William continue to act as a faithful husband. Throughout these two journals Rebecca established important components of her life narrative. She defined her husband's personality and character, created her own persona, located her own position in society, and finally illustrated the nature of her relationship with her husband.
Megan Taylor Shockley
- Published in print:
- 2010
- Published Online:
- March 2016
- ISBN:
- 9780814783191
- eISBN:
- 9780814786529
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- NYU Press
- DOI:
- 10.18574/nyu/9780814783191.003.0001
- Subject:
- History, American History: 19th Century
This introductory chapter details an overview of the life of Rebecca Burgess and the life she had presented through her journals, autobiographies, and other personal documents, citing arguments for ...
More
This introductory chapter details an overview of the life of Rebecca Burgess and the life she had presented through her journals, autobiographies, and other personal documents, citing arguments for and against the credibility of her accounts as well as her efforts and those of her community at Sandwich, Massachusetts, at immortalizing her legacy. Through the art of journal writing, Rebecca defined her core values and her identity for an audience that extended beyond herself and her family. Her journal writing falls within the bounds of Victorian practices. Many scholars of women's autobiography suggest that women often form their self-definitions in relation to others—family and friends—and even portray themselves more passively than men. Although Burgess defined her actions as those of a perfect wife and then grieving widow, frequently she used those conventions to justify her extremely independent actions.Less
This introductory chapter details an overview of the life of Rebecca Burgess and the life she had presented through her journals, autobiographies, and other personal documents, citing arguments for and against the credibility of her accounts as well as her efforts and those of her community at Sandwich, Massachusetts, at immortalizing her legacy. Through the art of journal writing, Rebecca defined her core values and her identity for an audience that extended beyond herself and her family. Her journal writing falls within the bounds of Victorian practices. Many scholars of women's autobiography suggest that women often form their self-definitions in relation to others—family and friends—and even portray themselves more passively than men. Although Burgess defined her actions as those of a perfect wife and then grieving widow, frequently she used those conventions to justify her extremely independent actions.
