Audrey Hales - "Summer on the Lakes" by Margret Fuller

 The first five chapters of Margaret Fuller’s Summer on the Lakes cover a broad range of topics, including the human relationship with nature, Indigenous peoples, American expansion, and the lives of women. Fuller expresses deep empathy for Indigenous populations, criticizing their mistreatment and displacement due to American expansion and development. Her tone when discussing Indigenous peoples is one of admiration and respect, as reflected in her statement: “How happy the Indians must have been here! It is not long since they were driven away, and the ground, above and below, is full of their traces” (26). This quote highlights her respect for Native Americans and her sense of loss for their presence. Her tone shifts to one of criticism when she says, “The fate of these poor Indians affected me much. These remnants of a once powerful people are left, like the broken columns of a great temple, to record the lapse of centuries and the change of circumstances.” Her comparison of their fate to the ruins of a once-great temple reflects a sense of loss and injustice, emphasizing that their suffering is not just a historical event but a moral issue. Fuller’s approach differs from that of Thoreau and Emerson. Emerson often viewed Native Americans as symbols of broader philosophical ideas, while Thoreau admired their connection to nature but also largely saw them symbolically, without addressing their cultural struggles. In contrast, Fuller not only acknowledges the cultural mistreatment of Native Americans but also expresses empathy for their suffering.

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