Help! I Need A Nightlight!

As Julie has prompted us to delve deeper into the meanings behind nature within this text, I found several instances that evoked a sort of fear/anxiety/terror that actually didn't include a lot of physical description. We discussed in class the possible meaning behind these feelings and the symbolic nature of these settings, and I believe Charles Brockden Brown did an excellent job portraying the current American condition (upheaval, uncertainty, entrapment) through the settings in his novel. Keeping this idea in mind, let's jump into the text.

So, the scene I have decided to discuss is the part where Edgar is about to "re-examine [the] cave" (93). It struck me as an amusing point in the story because he had chosen to come back to this unknown place in the dark, and didn't even notice his lack of proficient lighting until he actually reached the mouth of the cave (94). Edgar is so completely enveloped by his obsession to find out what Clithero is doing whilst he sleepwalks that his common sense has clearly taken the back seat. At the beginning of his venture into the cave, Edgar's mind begins to race: "I began to fear that I should be involved in a maze, and should be disabled from returning" (95). Ok, so Edgar can't see, he senses danger, he fears getting lost, and he recognizes the possibility he won't be able to find his way out- yet he still walks on, unable to save his curiosity for another time. STOP FOOL!

Even though this was pretty stupid to begin with, the quote I'd like to draw your attention to comes after he's decided to sally forth- "Intense dark is always the parent of fears" (95). This is it, my friends. This is the point where we should realize (with Edgar) that while his surroundings are indeed creepy and terrifying and stupidly played with by our hero, we are told that it is the darkness itself that FEEDS the anxiety of his situation. What does this mean? Why is this significant? Get ready. . .

AMERICA IS IN THE DARK AT THIS TIME!!! Wow. But seriously. Charles Brockden Brown fails to include more physical details about Edgar's surroundings on purpose!! He wants his readers to be able to draw connections and recognize his political statements. If he had indeed been more descriptive and focused on evoking fear using more detailed illustrations, then we would have just accepted nature to be seen for what it is instead of what is represents!

So that is why nature is depicted the way it is within the novel. Even if we read it for fun at first, we are easily able to critically analyze it later because of the way that Charles Brockden Brown sets it up for us.