America's “Mythique” as Redeemer Nation

Abstract

The Good Gallic adjective “mystique” has been transmogrified into a not uncommon American noun. Why? Because we needed a name for those sets of transcendental or mystical beliefs and attitudes that attach to certain elusive ideas, persons, institutions, objects, events, and so on that fascinate us. We need just as badly a name for those complexes of legendary or mythical stories and meanings that express certain, equally elusive and fascinating things, ideas, experiences, and expressions. We need a name for the sense of American destiny and identity—a sense that first seized the Puritans and that their successors have changed and recombined into the stuff of a patriotic tradition. This paper will explore two systems within that mythical complex, stories about American destiny and about American identity, tales that tell us where we are going and who we are who are going wherever we are going.