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Excerpt ​

Excerpt from American Notes, by Charles Dickens

Prejudiced, I am not, and never have been, otherwise than in favour of
the United States. I have many friends in America, I feel a grateful
interest in the country, I hope and believe it will successfully work out
a problem of the highest importance to the whole human race. To
represent me as viewing AMERICA with ill-nature, coldness, or animosity,
is merely to do a very foolish thing: which is always a very easy one.

CONTENTS

DEDICATION OF “AMERICAN NOTES” v
PREFACE TO THE FIRST CHEAP EDITION OF “AMERICAN NOTES” vii
PREFACE TO THE “CHARLES DICKENS” EDITION OF “AMERICAN NOTES” ix
AMERICAN NOTES FOR GENERAL CIRCULATION
CHAPTER I
Going Away 3
CHAPTER II
The Passage out 10
CHAPTER III
Boston 22
CHAPTER IV
An American Railroad. Lowell and its Factory System 52
CHAPTER V
Worcester. The Connecticut River. Hartford. New Haven. To 60
New York
CHAPTER VI
New York 67
CHAPTER VII
Philadelphia, and its Solitary Prison 81
CHAPTER VIII
Washington. The Legislature. And the President’s House 94
CHAPTER IX
A Night Steamer on the Potomac River. Virginia Road, and a 107
Black Driver. Richmond. Baltimore. The Harrisburg Mail,
and a Glimpse of the City. A Canal Boat
CHAPTER X
Some further Account of the Canal Boat, its Domestic Economy, 121
and its Passengers. Journey to Pittsburg across the
Alleghany Mountains. Pittsburg
CHAPTER XI
From Pittsburg to Cincinnati in a Western Steamboat. 130
Cincinnati
CHAPTER XII
From Cincinnati to Louisville in another Western Steamboat; 137
and from Louisville to St. Louis in another. St. Louis
CHAPTER XIII
A Jaunt to the Looking-glass Prairie and back 147
CHAPTER XIV
Return to Cincinnati. A Stage-coach Ride from that City to 153
Columbus, and thence to Sandusky. So, by Lake Erie, to the
Falls of Niagara
CHAPTER XV
In Canada; Toronto; Kingston; Montreal; Quebec; St. John’s. 167
In the United States again; Lebanon; The Shaker Village; West
Point
CHAPTER XVI
The Passage Home 182
CHAPTER XVII
Slavery 189
CHAPTER XVIII
Concluding Remarks 202
Postscript 210

Explanation ​

Detailed Explanation of the Excerpt from American Notes by Charles Dickens ​

1. Context of the Source ​

American Notes for General Circulation (1842) is Charles Dickens’ travelogue documenting his five-month journey through the United States in 1842. Dickens, already a celebrated novelist (Oliver Twist, Nicholas Nickleby), was greeted with enthusiasm in America, but his observations were often critical, particularly regarding slavery, social inequalities, and the aggressive press. The book was controversial—many Americans resented his critiques, while others admired his honesty.

The excerpt provided is from the preface (or an introductory statement) to American Notes, where Dickens defends himself against accusations of bias. This was necessary because his book was met with hostility in the U.S., where some reviewers and readers claimed he had written with "ill-nature" or animosity toward America.

2. Themes in the Excerpt ​

The short passage touches on several key themes that recur in American Notes:

  • Defense Against Accusations of Prejudice Dickens explicitly denies holding any bias against America, emphasizing his personal connections ("many friends in America") and his hope for the nation’s future. This is a rhetorical strategy to preempt criticism—he acknowledges that some will misrepresent his work but insists that his observations are fair.

  • The "Problem" of Democracy and Slavery The phrase "work out a problem of the highest importance to the whole human race" is crucial. Dickens is alluding to America’s experiment with democracy and, more pressingly, its contradiction of slavery in a nation founded on liberty. This "problem" is a central concern in American Notes, particularly in Chapter XVII ("Slavery"), where he condemns the institution in harsh terms.

  • Public Perception and Misrepresentation Dickens suggests that those who accuse him of hostility are engaging in "a very foolish thing"—implying that his critics are either willfully misunderstanding him or reacting defensively. This reflects his broader frustration with how his work was received in America, where many expected uncritical praise rather than honest observation.

  • Optimism vs. Criticism While Dickens is critical of America, he also expresses hope ("I hope and believe it will successfully work out a problem"). This duality—acknowledging flaws while maintaining faith in progress—is a hallmark of his approach in American Notes.

3. Literary Devices and Rhetorical Strategies ​

Dickens employs several stylistic and persuasive techniques in this brief passage:

  • Direct Address and Tone

    • The opening "Prejudiced, I am not, and never have been" is a strong, declarative statement that immediately establishes his defense.
    • The phrase "to do a very foolish thing: which is always a very easy one" is sarcastic, subtly mocking his critics while making his point.

  • Parallel Structure

    • "I have many friends in America, I feel a grateful interest in the country, I hope and believe..."—this anaphora (repetition of "I") reinforces his personal connection to America, making his denial of prejudice more convincing.

  • Irony and Understatement

    • Calling his critics’ actions "a very foolish thing" is an understatement—he implies that their accusations are not just wrong but absurd.
    • The irony lies in the fact that, despite his protests, many Americans did perceive him as hostile, proving that his defense was necessary but not entirely successful.

  • Appeal to Ethos (Credibility)

    • By stating his personal ties to America and his hope for its future, Dickens builds his ethical appeal—he positions himself as a fair, well-intentioned observer, not a malicious detractor.

  • Allusion to a Greater "Problem"

    • The vague reference to "a problem of the highest importance to the whole human race" is deliberately ambiguous—it could mean democracy, slavery, industrialization, or social equality. This allows Dickens to critique America while framing his concerns as universal, not merely national.

4. Significance of the Passage ​

This excerpt serves several important functions:

  • Setting the Tone for the Book Dickens prepares readers for a work that is observational and critical, not a flattering travelogue. He warns that his honesty may be unpopular but insists it is not born of malice.

  • Defending His Reputation Given the backlash American Notes received, this passage acts as a preemptive strike against accusations of bias. Dickens knew his critiques would be contentious, so he frames himself as a friendly but honest critic.

  • Highlighting the Central Tension in American Notes The book oscillates between admiration for American energy and innovation (e.g., his praise for Boston’s education system) and horror at its injustices (e.g., slavery, brutal prisons, corrupt politics). This excerpt encapsulates that tension—he is not an enemy of America, but neither is he an uncritical admirer.

  • Reflecting Dickens’ Broader Social Concerns Dickens was deeply interested in social reform, and America represented both a hopeful experiment (democracy, industry) and a moral failure (slavery, inequality). His framing of America’s "problem" as one of global significance aligns with his lifelong themes in novels like Hard Times and Bleak House, where he critiques industrialization and social injustice.

5. Connection to the Rest of American Notes ​

The themes introduced here recur throughout the book:

  • Slavery (Chapter XVII) Dickens’ visit to American slave states left him appalled. He describes the brutality of slavery in visceral terms, calling it a "gigantic evil" that contradicts America’s founding principles. His hope that America will "work out" this problem is undercut by his pessimism about its willingness to do so.

  • Social Inequality and Industrialization In chapters like "An American Railroad. Lowell and its Factory System", Dickens critiques the dehumanizing effects of industrial labor, comparing American factories unfavorably to English ones.

  • Political Corruption and Sensationalism His observations on Washington politics and the American press (which he found intrusive and unethical) further illustrate his mixed feelings—admiration for democratic ideals, disdain for their imperfect execution.

  • Contrasts Between North and South Dickens often contrasts the progressive North (e.g., Boston’s schools) with the regressive South (e.g., slavery in Virginia), reinforcing the idea that America is a nation of contradictions.

6. Conclusion: Why This Passage Matters ​

This brief excerpt is a microcosm of American Notes—it captures Dickens’ defensive yet hopeful tone, his commitment to truth over flattery, and his belief in America’s potential despite its flaws. His insistence that he is "not prejudiced" is not just a personal defense but a literary strategy to frame his critiques as constructive rather than hostile.

Ultimately, American Notes is less a simple travelogue and more a moral and social critique, and this passage serves as Dickens’ manifest—a declaration that his observations, however sharp, come from a place of engaged concern, not malice. His hope that America will "work out" its problems reflects his broader faith in human progress, a theme that defines much of his work.

Would you like a deeper analysis of any specific chapter or theme from American Notes?