Susan Strehle's I Am A Thing Apart
Susan Strehle’s article “I Am a Thing Apart”: Toni Morrison, A Mercy, and American
Exceptionalism” argues that Morrison’s novel criticizes the notion of American exceptionalism because it directly links to the emergence of racism from the concept of otherness. Another important argument in Strehle’s article addresses Morrison’s use of historical events such as Nathaniel Bacon’s rebellion, the Salem witch trials, and the spread of smallpox to the Native Americans to emphasize the exploitation of Others and the effects of American exceptionalism and “binary logic” on those who do not meet the definition of God’s chosen people. Finally, Strehle argues that the consequences of American exceptionalism include isolation, alienation, and lack of …show more content…
While discussing this hypocrisy, Strehle writes, “American exceptionalism assumes that the chosen people and the God who chooses them are white; racist to its core, such an assumption camouflages prejudice under the guise of piety” (112). The first American settlers, believers in God and Christianity, embraced American exceptionalism by making decisions that benefited the selected but had no qualms about ostracizing those deemed as outsiders. To be “chosen” means to be specially selected. The exclusivity associated with this notion automatically divides people into two groups: chosen and not chosen. Those who are not chosen become inferior and do not benefit from the rules created by the chosen. The use of “assumption” represents the settlers’ justification of superiority without basing it on actual facts or evidence. Even though the lack of proof presents questions for many, the Christian settlers conveniently believe that God picked them over the others and, therefore, should reap the benefits from it. The images of “camouflage” and “guise” represent how the white settlers hide behind the veil of American exceptionalism to mask their greed and dishonest intentions. Finally, the notion of religion, Christianity, and God’s work allows the white settlers to use “piety,” a word usually associated with faith and loyalty, as
Exceptionalism” argues that Morrison’s novel criticizes the notion of American exceptionalism because it directly links to the emergence of racism from the concept of otherness. Another important argument in Strehle’s article addresses Morrison’s use of historical events such as Nathaniel Bacon’s rebellion, the Salem witch trials, and the spread of smallpox to the Native Americans to emphasize the exploitation of Others and the effects of American exceptionalism and “binary logic” on those who do not meet the definition of God’s chosen people. Finally, Strehle argues that the consequences of American exceptionalism include isolation, alienation, and lack of …show more content…
While discussing this hypocrisy, Strehle writes, “American exceptionalism assumes that the chosen people and the God who chooses them are white; racist to its core, such an assumption camouflages prejudice under the guise of piety” (112). The first American settlers, believers in God and Christianity, embraced American exceptionalism by making decisions that benefited the selected but had no qualms about ostracizing those deemed as outsiders. To be “chosen” means to be specially selected. The exclusivity associated with this notion automatically divides people into two groups: chosen and not chosen. Those who are not chosen become inferior and do not benefit from the rules created by the chosen. The use of “assumption” represents the settlers’ justification of superiority without basing it on actual facts or evidence. Even though the lack of proof presents questions for many, the Christian settlers conveniently believe that God picked them over the others and, therefore, should reap the benefits from it. The images of “camouflage” and “guise” represent how the white settlers hide behind the veil of American exceptionalism to mask their greed and dishonest intentions. Finally, the notion of religion, Christianity, and God’s work allows the white settlers to use “piety,” a word usually associated with faith and loyalty, as