Weyler Article Abstract

Jeannina Perez
Dr. Logan
23 February 2009

Weyler, Karen A. "An Actor in the Drama of Revolution: Deborah Sampson, Print, and Performance in the Creation of Celebrity." Feminist Interventions in Early American Studies. Ed. Mary C. Carruth. New York: University of Alabama P, 2006. 183-93.

Weyler’s chapter, included in Feminist Interventions in Early American Studies, explores how Deborah Sampson was “successful in her masquerade” (184) and gained public support despite her disruption of gender norms. Weyler frames this discussion by beginning with three accounts of women that cross-dressed as male soldiers in the American Revolution. Other female impersonating officers, Ann Bailey and an anonymous woman, faced severe punishment and denunciation for deviating from traditional female roles. As a result, Weyler questions how Sampson’s experience could be so dissimilar from the experience of these two women.

Weyler outlines four main factors she attributes to Sampson’s success and popularity. The four sections are retaining the image chastity, allowing men to speak for her publicly, awareness of gender performaty, and understanding the importance of print culture.

The preservation of chastity occurs in connection with Sampson’s understanding of gender roles. According to Weyler, Sampson’s cross-dressing is elevated as a patriotic gesture. By making her “masquerade,” a patriotic gesture Sampson’s asserts culturally that her actions are not an attempt to emasculate white men, making her actions acceptable. Weyler also connects cross-dressing to theatrics, the American Revolution posing as the main stage. Under this understanding of theater, Sampson acts like the masculine soldier only to return to traditional feminine attire and behavior upon completing her patriotic duty. The use of male voice and influence is another tool Weyler outlines. Sampson approaches both Freneau and Mann, influential male voices, to speak for her cause. Sampson understood that is these men spoke well of her actions that it would be more acceptable.

One of the elements that most interested me in Weyler’s article was Sampson as “a humanized version of the chaste goddesses Liberty and Columbia” (188). Weyler argues that this tactic was part of Sampson’s understanding of print culture. Print makes possible the exaggeration of Sampson’s chastity to a celestial level. Weyler points out that Mann goes as far as to call her the “orphaned daughter of Columbia” (189).

Weyler text also addresses the economic reasons behind Sampson’s actions. Upon being discovered, Sampson seemed “uninterested in capitalizing on her renown” (186). Economic hardships are what drive Sampson to seek compensation from the military. It is this search for compensation that leads to Mann’s text and Sampson’s speaking tour. Overall Weyler’s essay was illuminating. It has given me a lot of novel ideas for research and has helped me better understand the implications of Mann’s involvement.