The concept of virtue in Colonial America was a multifaceted mosaic of various attributes and values. Its definition was complex and included a series of expectations coming mainly from women, perceived as the weak point of the social order of the new republic. The most virtuous women in society were understanding, pure, innocent, compliant, domestic, graceful, emotional, and balanced, along with a number of additional traits. Virtue was instilled in women during this period through a variety of cultural mechanisms, including literature, paintings, and household creations such as samplers. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay One of the most explicit statements on the importance of virtue to the new republic was Susanna Rowson's cautionary and sentimental novel, Charlotte Temple. Subtitled "A Tale of Truth", Rowson prefaced his work by stating that the fictional story was "not simply an outpouring of fantasy", but rather a real-life problem facing his respective society. Rowson saw her role in developing virtue in young women as extremely important. It claims to provide the "service" to "direct" young women "through the various and unexpected woes that attend them in their first entry into life." Throughout the novel, Rowson presents the concept of virtue boldly and directly. Perhaps the clearest evidence of this is in his direct addresses to the reader. At these points in the book, Rowson steps away from the story and characters to explicitly engage with the reader. “Oh my dear girls,” he writes, “…pray for the strength of mind to resist the impulse of inclination when it goes against the precepts of religion and virtue.” (29) Rowson uses concise but memorable statements to convey to readers the nature of virtue, for example: “Pleasure is a vain illusion; it drags you into a thousand follies, errors and I might say vices, and then leaves you to deplore reckless credulity. (34) Rowson continues to describe the character Belcour as the manifestation of this vice. “He paid little regard to moral duties and even less to religious ones,” he writes. Rowson also added that he was "eager in the pursuit of pleasure" and demonstrated other questionable personality traits. As a young woman, Charlotte embodies the perceived weakness of the new republic. The main character is naive and is easily deceived by charming men like Montraville. Therefore, Rowson presents Charlotte as a bad example for all women. His mistakes serve as a warning to readers of the book. In John Trumbull's 1771 poem, “Advice to Ladies of a Certain Age,” virtue plays a key role in the message conveyed to women in colonial society. Trumbull recommended that women focus not on appearance – although this was important, as seen in the artwork of the time – and instead realize the beauty of age. Trumbull considered beauty fleeting and believed that “when beauties lost their gay appearance,” virtue would remain eternal. “Virtue alone, with lasting grace, embalms the beauties of the face,” he said. The poet also warned of the threat that beauty posed to men due to its ability to diminish their rational sense. Because of this perceived threat, Trumbull warned women against the coquette lifestyle. This specific fear mirrored the universal concern of deception in colonial America and the new republic. Philip Freneau's 1797 poem, “Constantia,” describes a woman who has become “sick of the world” and decides to enter a convent to.”