Margaret Fuller: U.S. Literary Vision and European Dispatches

National Literary Identity in "American Literature, Its Position in the Present Time, and Its Prospects for the Future" (1846). Margaret Fuller’s 1846 article, originally compiled in her collection Papers on Literature and Art from her contributions to the Tribune, presents a timely critique of American literary independence. Despite being labeled a snob by critics due to her classical education and deep appreciation of European culture, Fuller was dedicated to fostering an authentic national voice. She argued that true literary expression could not exist without a distinct national foundation to express, asserting that U.S. authors relied too heavily on British literary models suited for a limited monarchy rather than a democratic republic. Remarkably, Fuller recognized the importance of racial diversity and cultural fusion as vital components of a vibrant American literature over a century before these concepts gained widespread critical attention.

Fuller emphasized that developing a strong sense of place and personal identity served as the necessary first step toward creating a mature national canon. She maintained that individual and national originality were essential, noting that truth is the foundation of genius and that authentic self-expression ensures long-term literary prospects. Furthermore, she argued that a true national voice would only fully emerge when moral and intellectual freedom were prized alongside political liberty. Beyond defining national literature, Fuller concluded her essay with a call for intellectual honesty, urging writers to passionately pursue truth and justice despite commercial or social pressures toward censorship.

Pedagogical Inquiry on American Literary Criticism. The questions below prompt critical reflection on Fuller’s literary theories, journalistic ethics, and broader movement dynamics.

· 1st question: After reading this essay, do you agree with Ralph Waldo Emerson’s criticism that Fuller abandoned the Transcendentalist movement by moving to New York City and becoming a journalist?

· 2nd question: Is a journalist ethically obligated to present all aspects of a topic under investigation? Do you think Fuller’s passionate hope for reform prevents her from presenting a balanced assessment of the state of literature in the United States, or do you believe that all writing is inherently biased? Support your contentions by citing examples from any of Fuller’s newspaper articles.

International Journalism and Political Realism in Things and Thoughts in Europe (1850). By 1846, technological advances enabled transatlantic reports to travel between Europe and the East Coast of the United States in just 10 days, creating a competitive market for international news. Fuller became America's first female international correspondent, earning widespread readership for her passionate analysis of European society, literature, and politics. During her travels, she engaged with prominent figures like William Wordsworth, George Sand, and the legacy of Ludwig van Beethoven, while actively reporting on impoverished and politically unstable regions. Between August 1846 and January 1850, she sent 37 dispatches back to the New-York Daily Tribune, later published as Things and Thoughts in Europe, focusing on social upheavals rather than traditional travelogue historical summaries.

By 1848, Fuller became immersed in the revolutionary movements sweeping continental Europe, specifically aligning herself with Giuseppe Mazzini and the struggle to establish a unified Italian republic. Moving to Rome, her dispatches captured the heightened emotions of the population, describing how nature itself seemed in sympathy with the democratic struggle for freedom. During this period, she engaged in a romance with the Italian nobleman Marchese Giovanni Angelo Ossoli, leading to the birth of their son, Angelo, in the mountain village of Rieta on September 5, 1848. Despite personal physical hardships and societal pressures, Fuller continued her active role as a participant-observer, pioneering a form of engaged, firsthand immersion journalism.

Following the military conflict and siege of Rome, Fuller took direct charge of hospital care at the Hospital of the Trinity of the Pilgrims, tending to wounded republican soldiers as documented by American chargé d'affaires Lewis Cass, Jr.. Her late dispatches reflected both the grim trauma of battlefield medical operations and a persistent hope for universal democratic freedom. In her final correspondence from Florence, entitled "Italy," she offered philosophical reflections on international justice, love, and human dignity. Tragically, upon returning to the United States with her husband Ossoli and young son in 1850, their ship was destroyed in a hurricane off the coast of New York, taking the lives of the entire family. In 1852, Emerson and her contemporaries compiled and edited her writings into Memoirs of Margaret Fuller Ossoli, honoring her legacy as one of the most distinguished figures in American letters.

Analytical Topics on European Dispatches and Journalistic Integrity. The following prompts invite deeper analysis of Fuller’s revolutionary reporting style and ethical framework.

1st question: At what point, if ever, does a journalist have a moral obligation to remove himself or herself from a story being covered? Are there examples from Fuller’s European dispatches that speak to your contention?

2nd question: Sometimes following your convictions can put you in harm’s way. Do you agree with the decisions Fuller made to pursue the causes she believed in? Might you have done some things differently? Cite examples to support your point of view.

3rd question: Examine the journalistic writings of Walt Whitman (many are available online) and compare his style and emphasis on issues to those of Fuller during her career with the New-York Tribune. What similarities exist in their use of voice?