Violence & Freedom

Many of the texts on our syllabus contain scenes of graphic and often abrupt and brutal violence. The prevalence and frequency of these scenes beg consideration of the function of violence in the American literary tradition. Observing the requirements outlined above, write an essay in which you explore the relationship
between violence and freedom in the American literary context. Do these scenes of violence problematize idealistic notions of freedom? Do some writers conflate freedom with violence, and if so, why? It may be useful to distinguish between different kinds of violence (i.e. racial, sexual, legislative, etc.) to help support your argument