Classism In The Brown's 'Edgar Huntly Or'

In August of 1799, Charles Brockden Brown published his fourth novel, Edgar Huntly Or, memoirs of a Sleep-Walker. Brown’s American Gothic novel follows the narrator, later named Edgar Huntly, as he labors to find the mysterious murderer of his beloved friend, Waldgrave. Throughout the novel, Brown begins to challenge the status quo of “Classism.” In her 2011 book Using Critical Theory: How to Read and Write About Literature, Lois Tyson defines classism as the “belief that our value as human beings is directly related to the social class to which we belong: The higher our social class, the higher our natural, or inborn superiority” (112). The belief goes on to state those of the highest class should assume the roles of leadership as they are

Lorimer’s home, Clithero begins to rise within her household. He “enjoyed, equally with [her son], all the essential benefits of education” (37). Unlike most treatment of a servant in this time period, Clithero is given the opportunity to better himself and learn alongside the heir of the estate. He does acknowledge “there were certain accomplishments, from which I was excluded, from the belief that they were unsuitable to my rank and station” (37). While he is being educated, he still “knew the duty of [his] station” and what is acceptable and unacceptable to his station (38). He knows he is not of the highest echelons of society and his place is in service to Mrs. Lorimer and her family. Brown begins challenging classism when having Mrs. Lorimer educate Clithero in a very much American ideal. She is breaking one of the barrios between the classes by educating her servant. The idea of education and bettering himself follows the ideas Benjamin Franklin presents in his 1784 essay “Information to Those Who Would Remove to America.” Franklin’s essay presents ideas that are the complete opposite of classism, representing truly specific American ideals. He believes to succeed, young men need to be willing to work and apply themselves to make a name for themselves. According to Franklin, only those who are willing to work and strive for a better life are the American ideal. In American, there is the opportunity to better one’s self and rise within the hierarchy “which Europe does not afford” (Franklin