“Tribulations of a Cheerful Giver”: Political Economy of William Dean Howells

Abstract

The article is a close reading of the autobiographical sketch “Tribulations of a Cheerful Giver” by William Dean Howells in the context of the discourses of benevolence and charity in the 19 th century United States. It argues that Howells was both a successor to the so-called sentimental “benevolence literature” and a contemporary of the anti-sentimental postbellum philanthropic practices. Describing different instances of alms-giving and charitable work from his personal experience, Howells comments on the dramatic situation of a contemporary philanthropist who faces complex ethical dilemma tackling controversies of charity from the perspective of political economy. “Tribulations of a Cheerful Giver” reflects on the century-long discussions about charity — namely how it is possible to do good without multiplying social evil. The title and the final of the sketch disclose it as a secular version of the “apostolic letter,” an ultimate appeal to be charitable even when charitable activities do not bring desirable results. The article is dedicated to the memory of Ekaterina A. Stetsenko, author of the chapter on Howells in the History of American Literature (IWL RAS Publ., 2013).

Keywords

• philanthropy
• gift
• William Dean Howells
• sentimentalism
• realism
• American literature at the verge of the 19 th and 20 th centuries
• political economy