Tabitha Gilman Tenney
Tabitha Gilman Tenney was a prominent American author in the early nineteenth century, known for her contributions to social literature and satire. Born in the 1760s in Exeter, New Hampshire, she came from an educated family active in political discourse. Her marriage to Dr. Samuel Tenney in 1788 led her to edit "The New Pleasing Instructor: Or, The Young Lady's Guide to Virtue and Happiness" in 1799, a guide aimed at young women in female colleges, emphasizing the importance of family values and virtuous upbringing. Tenney believed that women played a crucial role in shaping future citizens and instilling moral values through education.
In 1801, she published her most recognized work, "Female Quixotism," a satire that critiques romantic notions and promotes Victorian moral ideals through the adventures of the character Dorcasina Sheldon. The book's fictional vignettes serve to highlight behaviors perceived as threats to societal stability. Despite the popularity of her works, Tenney did not publish further literature after her husband’s death in 1816, choosing instead to live the remainder of her life in Exeter. Her writings reflect the complexities of women's roles in early American society and the cultural values of the time.
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Tabitha Gilman Tenney
- Born: April 7, 1762
- Birthplace: Exeter, New Hampshire
- Died: May 2, 1837
Biography
Tabitha Gilman Tenney was a nineteenth century American author who wrote a social novel and a satire. Her writing reflects her belief in the importance of the role of women in shaping the citizens of America by their protection and promotion of family values. Tenney was concerned that the greed and selfishness exhibited by many citizens during the years of Jefferson’s presidency would weaken and possibly dissolve the nation. She felt that the women had an obligation to instill social mores in their children with the goal of creating strong citizens.
The author was born in the 1760’s in Exeter, New Hampshire. She was raised in a family that was well-educated and deeply involved in politics. In 1788 when she was twenty-six, she married Dr. Samuel Tenney, a former Revolutionary War surgeon who moved to Exeter to resume private practice. Her first visible endeavor in literature appeared in 1799 when she edited The New Pleasing Instructor: Or,TheYoung Lady’s Guide to Virtue and Happiness, a guide for young women who were attending female colleges. The book instructed women in the art of raising virtuous families. Since it was accepted that the survival of the republic depended upon an educated citizenry, the first section of the guide stressed the importance of geography, music, and grammar as sources of virtue. Tenney used tales in which the characters behaved morally to teach her principles. She entrusted the transmission of social mores such as compassion and generosity to mothers. A year after the publication of The New Pleasing Instructor, Tenney’s husband was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and the couple relocated from Exeter, New Hampshire, to Washington, D.C., where they resided for the next seven years.
In 1801, Tenney released her own original tome on Victorian moralistic ideals in a satire titled Female Quixotism: Exhibited in the Romantic Opinions and Extravagant Adventures of Dorcasina Sheldon. Like the format of The New Pleasing Instructor, Tenney attempted to communicate her points through fictional vignettes. However through the satire in these vignettes, readers could identify inappropriate behaviors that threatened the social order and, therefore, endangered the republic. The main character, Dorcasina Sheldon, becomes the role model for different groups of characters who appear in each of the three episodes in the book. Tenney satirizes the behaviors of the naïve Dorsacina who believes in love at first sight. The book proved to be popular, and several editions were released. However, Tenney never released another book, and after her husband’s death in 1816, she returned to Exeter, where she remained the rest of her life.