Prescriptive Literature and the American Male: The Creation of a Middle-Class Mentality. This paper examines the duties of the middle- class at the time of this class's emergence in the economic spectrum in 1828 - 1840. These duties were developed in part through the introduction of "prescriptive literature", which helped establish perspectives for this new class of American male. 3 pgs. Bibliography lists 1 source. Pages: 3 Bibliography: 1 source(s) listed Filename: 7278 Creation Middle Class.doc Price: 26.85