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Literary
September 25, 1819
Edwardsville Spectator
Edwardsville, Madison County, Illinois
What is this article about?
Extracts from 'The Broken Heart' in the second number of the 'Sketch Book,' as printed in the Catskill Recorder. The passages compare men's and women's experiences of love and disappointment, emphasizing women's lives as histories of affections and greater vulnerability to heartbreak.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
FROM THE CATSKILL RECORDER.
The second number of the "Sketch Book," contains, among other articles, "The Broken Heart," from which the following extracts are made. The comparison of the sexes is beautiful, and as far as we know, just: But the female reader will be much better qualified to decide upon its truth or falsity than ourselves.
"Man is the creature of interest and ambition. His nature leads him forth into the struggle and bustle of the world. Love is but the embellishment of his early life, or a song piped in the intervals of the acts. He seeks for fame, for fortune, for space in the world's thought, and dominion over his fellow men. But a woman's whole life is a history of the affections. The heart is her world: it is there her ambition strives for empire; it is there her avarice seeks for hidden treasures. She sends forth her sympathies on adventure; she embarks her whole soul in the traffic of affection; and if shipwrecked, her case is hopeless, for it is a bankruptcy of the heart."
"To a man the disappointment of love may occasion some bitter pangs: it wounds some feelings of tenderness—it blasts some prospects of felicity; but he is an active being—he can dissipate his thoughts in the whirl of varied occupation, or plunge into the tide of pleasure; or, if the scene of disappointment be too full of painful associations, he can shift his abode at will, and taking, as it were, the wings of the morning, can fly to the utmost parts of the earth, and be at rest."
"But a woman's is comparatively a fixed, a secluded, and a meditative life. She is more the companion of her thoughts and feelings; and if they are turned to ministers of sorrow, where shall she look for consolation! Her lot is to be wooed and won; and if unhappy in her love, her heart is like some fortress that has been captured, and sacked, and abandoned, and left desolate."
The second number of the "Sketch Book," contains, among other articles, "The Broken Heart," from which the following extracts are made. The comparison of the sexes is beautiful, and as far as we know, just: But the female reader will be much better qualified to decide upon its truth or falsity than ourselves.
"Man is the creature of interest and ambition. His nature leads him forth into the struggle and bustle of the world. Love is but the embellishment of his early life, or a song piped in the intervals of the acts. He seeks for fame, for fortune, for space in the world's thought, and dominion over his fellow men. But a woman's whole life is a history of the affections. The heart is her world: it is there her ambition strives for empire; it is there her avarice seeks for hidden treasures. She sends forth her sympathies on adventure; she embarks her whole soul in the traffic of affection; and if shipwrecked, her case is hopeless, for it is a bankruptcy of the heart."
"To a man the disappointment of love may occasion some bitter pangs: it wounds some feelings of tenderness—it blasts some prospects of felicity; but he is an active being—he can dissipate his thoughts in the whirl of varied occupation, or plunge into the tide of pleasure; or, if the scene of disappointment be too full of painful associations, he can shift his abode at will, and taking, as it were, the wings of the morning, can fly to the utmost parts of the earth, and be at rest."
"But a woman's is comparatively a fixed, a secluded, and a meditative life. She is more the companion of her thoughts and feelings; and if they are turned to ministers of sorrow, where shall she look for consolation! Her lot is to be wooed and won; and if unhappy in her love, her heart is like some fortress that has been captured, and sacked, and abandoned, and left desolate."
What sub-type of article is it?
Essay
What themes does it cover?
Love Romance
Social Manners
What keywords are associated?
Broken Heart
Gender Comparison
Love Disappointment
Affections
Heartbreak
What entities or persons were involved?
From The "Sketch Book"
Literary Details
Title
The Broken Heart
Author
From The "Sketch Book"
Subject
Comparison Of The Sexes
Form / Style
Prose Reflections On Love And Disappointment
Key Lines
Man Is The Creature Of Interest And Ambition. His Nature Leads Him Forth Into The Struggle And Bustle Of The World. Love Is But The Embellishment Of His Early Life, Or A Song Piped In The Intervals Of The Acts. He Seeks For Fame, For Fortune, For Space In The World's Thought, And Dominion Over His Fellow Men. But A Woman's Whole Life Is A History Of The Affections. The Heart Is Her World: It Is There Her Ambition Strives For Empire; It Is There Her Avarice Seeks For Hidden Treasures. She Sends Forth Her Sympathies On Adventure; She Embarks Her Whole Soul In The Traffic Of Affection; And If Shipwrecked, Her Case Is Hopeless, For It Is A Bankruptcy Of The Heart.
But A Woman's Is Comparatively A Fixed, A Secluded, And A Meditative Life. She Is More The Companion Of Her Thoughts And Feelings; And If They Are Turned To Ministers Of Sorrow, Where Shall She Look For Consolation! Her Lot Is To Be Wooed And Won; And If Unhappy In Her Love, Her Heart Is Like Some Fortress That Has Been Captured, And Sacked, And Abandoned, And Left Desolate.