Theme Of Sympathy In Edgar Huntly

Do not look for sympathy in Edgar Huntly. Do not even want it because, as Charles Brockden Brown illustrates through Edgar, sympathy is dangerous. This emotion, "a feeling of support for something", can override reason (Sympathy). Although, for this novel, sympathy may be considered interchangeable with emotions and will also be used as such. Sympathy is unacceptable in the novel in relation to the early American government. The American government is a democracy, a "rule of the majority" where each citizen has a voice (Democracy). A democracy is dependent on the citizens to make the right choices for the nation. If the citizens cannot reason for themselves, then a democracy will have problems functioning. A lack of reason will lead to bad

For example, in Clithero 's very first appearance, Edgar was "struck upon [his] heart" (Brown 11). He "beheld...an object of compassion" instead of Waldegrave 's murderer (Brown 11). When Clithero tells his tale, Edgar is again moved so much that his eyes are actually full of tears. He finds Clithero 's life "unspeakably more valuable than that of his antagonist" (Brown 87). Interestingly enough, Edgar does not seem to be aware of his actual sympathy for Clithero. He declares that the "magic of sympathy...might work a gradual and secret revolution" for Clithero, taking sympathy as a tool of apprehension (Brown 107). However, the text reveals that Edgar 's sympathy is more genuine and dangerous than he realizes. For one thing, Edgar 's change of duty already highlights his belief in Clithero 's story. Edgar believes that Clithero is full of virtue, and he becomes fully engrossed with Clithero, to the point that his "mind [is] fully occupied by schemes and reflection relative to Clithero", even to the extent that he "think[s] only of Clithero" (Brown 124). Edgar is so consumed by sympathy that he cannot reason and see that Clithero is not what he professes himself to be, that Clithero is not truly a good

At the start of the novel, he was able to conclude that Clithero was the possible murderer of Waldegrave after eliminating the other servants. After all, Clithero "was an exception to the rule" by his level of education and emigrant status (Brown 14). However, Edgar 's reasoning abilities declined in the second half of the novel. When Edgar is fighting the Native Americans, he comes to the erroneous conclusion that his uncle and family were killed by the Native Americans. Sarsefield even asks Edgar, "what has filled you with these hideous prepossessions?" because his family are safe and alive (Brown 235). Edgar was unable to think clearly and come up with a better idea of what might have actually happened. His reasoning skills are no longer