John Brown: Hero? Villain?
Anthony Trabucco
Coming of the Civil War
Paper #2
Prof. Cimbala
November 29, 2012
John Brown and Spider-Man:
Hero? Villain? America Can’t Decide
Students of history and those merely interested in casual inquiry will often explore a topic, find a legitimate opinion, accept it at face value, and move on. Too often with young or inexperienced historians this is the case. It does, in a way, make sense. Many topics an individual will study have been researched and written on countless times. It is easy to accept an opinion as is and forget about it. John Brown is one of these subjects. Merrill D. Peterson’s John Brown explores the complicated nature of the legacy of this militant abolitionist. Brown has been, in the time since his departure, construed as a hero, a villain, an antihero, a well-meaning lunatic, and so on. The nature of his actions and the divisive context they are found in gives way to many different opinions. Peterson’s book explores these many definitions of John Brown. The opinions of historians, students, politicians, and the like are weighed against the validity of their status as historical interpreters, their knowledge of the subject, their biases, and Peterson’s own interpretations. John Brown’s legacy is an ambiguous and complicated one and Peterson’s book explores the warring opinions of observers on whether John Brown is hero, villain, or both. In the opening chapter, titled “The John Brown Epoch”, Peterson presents the story of John Brown’s life and his raid on Harper’s Ferry. He explores the circumstances by which John Brown came to devote his life to the cause of ending slavery. Peterson traces Brown’s different residences from his birth in Connecticut, to his time in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kansas, and Virginia, among other places. John Brown’s belief in racial equality seems to have been a theme throughout his life. Peterson writes: “He truly believed that black people were the equals of whites, and he conducted himself
Coming of the Civil War
Paper #2
Prof. Cimbala
November 29, 2012
John Brown and Spider-Man:
Hero? Villain? America Can’t Decide
Students of history and those merely interested in casual inquiry will often explore a topic, find a legitimate opinion, accept it at face value, and move on. Too often with young or inexperienced historians this is the case. It does, in a way, make sense. Many topics an individual will study have been researched and written on countless times. It is easy to accept an opinion as is and forget about it. John Brown is one of these subjects. Merrill D. Peterson’s John Brown explores the complicated nature of the legacy of this militant abolitionist. Brown has been, in the time since his departure, construed as a hero, a villain, an antihero, a well-meaning lunatic, and so on. The nature of his actions and the divisive context they are found in gives way to many different opinions. Peterson’s book explores these many definitions of John Brown. The opinions of historians, students, politicians, and the like are weighed against the validity of their status as historical interpreters, their knowledge of the subject, their biases, and Peterson’s own interpretations. John Brown’s legacy is an ambiguous and complicated one and Peterson’s book explores the warring opinions of observers on whether John Brown is hero, villain, or both. In the opening chapter, titled “The John Brown Epoch”, Peterson presents the story of John Brown’s life and his raid on Harper’s Ferry. He explores the circumstances by which John Brown came to devote his life to the cause of ending slavery. Peterson traces Brown’s different residences from his birth in Connecticut, to his time in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kansas, and Virginia, among other places. John Brown’s belief in racial equality seems to have been a theme throughout his life. Peterson writes: “He truly believed that black people were the equals of whites, and he conducted himself