A Different Perspective

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Recommended: The impact of religion on American literature

When you assert that “The Gentle Boy” by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a “heart-wrenching story that presents an eloquent, sympathetic portrait of Quakers as they confront Puritan persecution in Colonial New England,” you are summarizing the story in an inaccurate manner. Although it may be true that within the short story there exists a sectarian tension between the religions, Catharine, the Quaker, is not idealized as a victim and Dorothy, the Puritan, is not portrayed as a persecutor. In actuality, Catharine is a wild, overzealous, and unpredictable woman who neglects her responsibilities as a mother. Dorothy, whom you would typecast as a narrow-minded Puritan persecutor, is an ideal mother, a tender and kind human being who puts her instincts before what her religion may dictate. Hawthorne uses the distinction between Dorothy and Catharine to convey the true meaning of the story; extremism and excessive devotion to religion not only dilutes the mind but also warps natural core beliefs that a person should hold and adhere to. Hawthorne consistently critiques the importance that people place on religion and redefines the role it plays in our lives. Although Dorothy may align herself with certain Puritan ideologies, she does not allow for her group’s bias to warp her personal beliefs on how one should be treated. Surrounded by a group of persecutors, Dorothy remains pure and innocent. She exemplifies this when she first meets Ilbrahim and treats him as her own child and reassures him to “Fear not, little boy, you shall not need a mother, and a kind one. Dry your tears, Ilbrahim, and be my child, as I will be your mother ”(114). Immediately after describing the gruesome manner in which the Puritans dispose of the Quakers, Dorothy meets ... ... middle of paper ... ...o influence her more valuable core beliefs, Dorothy is a clearer thinker and is more courageous than her fellow Puritans. Hawthorne points out that even Tobias, her husband who is clearly sporting “his military rank” is extremely hesitant and does not separate himself from the crowd. Hawthorne effectively uses the contrasting characters of Catharine and Dorothy to show how Ilbrahim flourishes in an environment in which the excessive attachment to religion is not encouraged. If my essay has not made it clear enough, I would also like to provide you with a new and revised book jacket for you to consider. In the powerful short story, “The Gentle Boy”, Nathaniel Hawthorne analyzes the importance of religion in one’s life and contrasts the mothers Catharine and Dorothy to emphasize that religious doctrine should never trump love, independent thought, and human relations.

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