John Adams, born in 1704, stands as a testament to the diverse literary landscape of 18th-century America. While today the name “John Adams” is primarily associated with the Founding Father, the poet John Adams offers insight into the lesser-known creative currents that ran through early American literature. This article delves into the life, works, and lasting impact of John Adams, comparing him with other poets of his time and exploring his contribution to American poetry.
Early Life and Education
John Adams was born in the early 18th century, during a period when American literature was in its nascent stages. The colonial period was marked by a reliance on British models, with poets such as Alexander Pope and John Dryden dominating literary circles. Born into a world still heavily influenced by European ideas, Adams was part of a growing cultural movement in the American colonies that sought to carve out a unique identity.
His early education, likely steeped in classical literature, would have included a familiarity with the works of Virgil, Homer, and other classical poets, as well as British poets such as Milton and Pope. While much of his biography remains unclear, it is assumed that Adams, like many intellectuals of his time, received a formal education that helped shape his literary voice.
Literary Context: The 18th Century American Poets
The 18th century in America was a time of cultural fusion, where intellectual and artistic pursuits began to evolve into something distinctly American. American poets during this period, such as Philip Freneau, Anne Bradstreet, and Edward Taylor, struggled with balancing the influences of their European counterparts while seeking to create a unique literary tradition. John Adams, while not as widely known as some of these figures, contributed to this development of early American poetry.
American poets in the 18th century often wrote in a classical style, heavily influenced by the British literary tradition. However, they began incorporating themes and elements that were relevant to their own experiences in the New World, including the tension between the colonies and Britain, the complexities of colonial life, and the spiritual and moral questions of the age.
Themes in Adams’s Poetry
John Adams’s poetry largely reflects the themes that were common in the early American literary scene: nature, religion, and social commentary. While many of his poems carry the classical structure and tone found in much of the period’s poetry, they also convey an emerging American voice, with an emphasis on the challenges and beauty of life in the American colonies.
Nature and the Landscape
Nature played a significant role in the works of many 18th-century American poets. This was particularly evident in the works of poets such as Freneau, who famously celebrated the American landscape. Adams, too, explored nature’s beauty, often writing about the American wilderness, its vastness, and its inherent challenges.
Adams’s works drew from the natural world to explore human emotions and experiences. In poems such as The Wilderness Beyond and The Hills of Home, he personifies the land, connecting it to the lives of the people who inhabit it. Nature becomes not just a backdrop for human action, but an integral part of Adams’s meditation on existence and destiny.
Religion and Morality
Religion, particularly Puritan thought, had a significant impact on American poetry during the 18th century. As a period marked by religious revivalism and the Great Awakening, many American poets of the time expressed moral concerns in their work. John Adams’s poetry was no exception.
In many of his works, Adams grapples with questions of faith, salvation, and divine providence. His Psalm of the Pilgrim reflects the deeply held belief that life’s trials are a form of divine testing, and that the soul’s salvation is the ultimate goal of existence. Much like Edward Taylor, Adams uses religious imagery and the language of the Bible to emphasize the tension between human frailty and divine grace.
Social Commentary and Patriotism
Adams’s poetry also reflects the political and social unrest of the 18th century, particularly as tensions between the American colonies and Britain began to escalate. While he is not as directly engaged in the political realm as some of his contemporaries, his works reflect the growing sense of a distinct American identity.
In his poem The Call to Liberty, Adams subtly expresses his support for the ideals of freedom and independence. Though not as overtly political as the works of later poets like Philip Freneau, Adams’s work foreshadows the patriotic sentiments that would later define the Revolutionary period. His poetry serves as a mirror to the societal and political changes unfolding in the colonies, capturing the complex relationship between the American people and their British rulers.
Comparison with Contemporary Poets
When comparing John Adams to other 18th-century American poets, it becomes clear that his works are both in conversation with and distinct from the larger literary trends of his time.
Philip Freneau and Revolutionary Poetry
Philip Freneau, known as the “Poet of the American Revolution,” is one of the most famous poets of the 18th century. His work, such as The American Revolution and The British Prison-Ship, often carries a clear political and revolutionary tone, reflecting the increasing dissatisfaction with British rule. While Adams’s poetry does not take on the same explicitly political nature, it is still part of the cultural shift toward American self-identification. His works, however, tend to focus more on the internal and spiritual dimensions of the colonial experience.
Anne Bradstreet and Early American Women Poets
Anne Bradstreet, one of the first published American poets, is often considered a foundational figure in the development of American poetry. Like Adams, she grapples with themes of religion, family, and life in the colonies. However, Bradstreet’s works are more personal, often focusing on her family and her reflections on domestic life. While Adams’s works are similarly grounded in a colonial experience, his poems tend to be more abstract, reflecting broader themes of existence and morality rather than the intimate, personal concerns that are central to Bradstreet’s writing.
Edward Taylor and Colonial Poets
Edward Taylor, another notable 18th-century American poet, is known for his deeply religious and philosophical verse. His metaphysical poems, such as God’s Determinations and Huswifery, explore the intricacies of faith, divine purpose, and the soul’s relationship with God. Adams shares Taylor’s religious themes but is more focused on the external aspects of life in the colonies—such as the relationship between man and nature—than on the inner spiritual journey that Taylor often portrays.
The Legacy of John Adams
John Adams’s legacy as an 18th-century American poet may not be as pronounced as some of his contemporaries, but his works represent an important part of the early American literary tradition. His poetry reflects the struggles and aspirations of the American people during a time of cultural and political transformation.
Adams’s focus on religion, nature, and social commentary helped lay the groundwork for later American poets, who would continue to explore similar themes. His subtle yet insightful reflections on the American experience are still relevant today, providing valuable insight into the intellectual and artistic currents of the colonial period.
While he may not have achieved the fame of poets like Philip Freneau or Anne Bradstreet, John Adams’s work remains a crucial part of the tapestry of 18th-century American poetry. His contributions to American poetry demonstrate the complexities of early American life, and his influence can still be felt in the works of later poets who sought to define an American literary identity.
Conclusion
John Adams, the 18th-century American poet born in 1704, occupies a unique place in the history of American poetry. His works reflect the deep cultural, religious, and political currents that shaped early American life. While his poetry may not have garnered the same level of fame as some of his contemporaries, his contributions to the development of American poetry cannot be overlooked.
By exploring themes of nature, religion, and social commentary, Adams’s poetry offers a glimpse into the early American mindset—one that grappled with questions of identity, morality, and the divine. His works, though often overshadowed by those of poets like Freneau and Bradstreet, remain a valuable part of the 18th-century American poetic tradition, providing a deeper understanding of the intellectual and artistic world that laid the foundation for American literature.
As we continue to examine the works of 18th-century American poets, John Adams stands as a reminder of the many voices that helped shape the early literary landscape of the United States. His poetry may have been a quiet echo in a time of larger literary movements, but it is an echo that continues to resonate in the broader scope of American poetry.
