Comparative Analysis: Edwards' and Hawthorne's Religious Narratives

736 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: John Edwards sinners in the hands of an angry god

In the passages “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” by Jonathan Edwards and “Minister’s Black Veil” by Nathaniel Hawthorne are both powerful text. Edwards used more of an effective style to get his point through. He used a harsh and blunt tone to prove the God is a powerful man and can strike at any time but does not. This is why his text is better that Hawthornes.
In Edward’s text his theme was God is a very powerful man and can strike and any time but does not, and in Hawthorne's text his theme was don’t judge someone by the way they look. Edward used 2nd person, which uses the word “you” a lot. He also had a very harsh and blunt tone about it. Using this point of view and style it makes it seem like the was directing it towards the reader. he used real life situations to relate what was happening to the reader. “It gave him,to the very depth of his kind heart ,to observe how the children fled from his approach.”(Hawthorne,Pg,109) To this day people still have to deal with situations similar to this, therefore he could relate to some of the readers. “Such was the effect of this simple piece of crape” He used an outdated style so some of the readers might not of been able to get the full picture if was trying to present.
Edwards style was more effective in his case because he made it seem like it was directed to the reader and used many rhetorical devices like “the bow of God’s wrath is bent and the arrow made ready on the strings…” (Edwards,Pg,25) (which is a metaphor) has a very powerful effect on the reader. His diction was blunt,straight forward and aggressive also something that made it a very powerful text.
Although Edwards style was more effective some may think that argue that Hawthorne's style is better. Since he used 3rd person omniscient the reader could see all the feelings and actions of many people. “Lift the veil but once and look me in the face” (Hawthorne,Pg,109) this is a line that someone said the the main character. It also gives you a look into what others

Show More
Related

  • Comparing Edwards' Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God and Patrick Henry's Speech in the Virginia Convention: Who Made the Best Argument?

    737 Words  | 2 Pages

    Jonathan Edwards creates a more effective argument for the intended audience in “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” than “The Speech in the Virginia Convention” written by Patrick Henry, by utilizing various techniques. Patrick Henry makes a strong argument however in the end, Edwards’ sermon grows to be more effective. Edwards creates the argument by strengthening the writing through tone, structure, fallacies and knowledge of the congregation that became his audience. Henry’s piece uses methods of oratory persuasion but the actual topic of “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” has an advantage from the start by appealing to fear, a fallacy of logic. Even with the strong basis “The Speech in the Virginia Convention” by Patrick Henry, Edwards’ “Sinners in the hands of an Angry God” proves the more effective piece in the end.

    Read More

  • The Similarities and Differences of Jonathan Edwards and Patrick Henry's Speech Styles

    284 Words  | 1 Pages

    Jonathan Edward's sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," was an example of a persuasive speech in which Edwards used scare tactics to persuade his audience. Jonathan Edwards' purpose was simply to convey a message to the people of the church with intentions of changing their moral and religious views. Edwards often appealed to reason and logic and highly emotional "fire and brimstone" techniques to convey his point.

    Read More

  • Use of Rhetoric in Jonathan Edwards' Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God

    574 Words  | 2 Pages

    On July 8th 1741, Jonathan Edwards preached the sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” in Enfield, Connecticut. Edwards states to his listeners that God does not lack in power, and that people have yet not fallen to destruction because his mercy. God is so forgiving that he gives his people an opportunity to repent and change their ways before it was too late. Edwards urges that the possibility of damnation is immanent. Also that it urgently requires the considerations of the sinner before time runs out. He does not only preach about the ways that make God so omnipotent, but the ways that he is more superior to us. In his sermon, Edwards uses strong, powerful, and influential words to clearly point out his message that we must amend our ways or else destruction invincible. Edwards appeals to the spectators though the various usages of rhetorical devices. This includes diction, imagery, language/tone and syntax. Through the use of these rhetoric devices, Edwards‘s purpose is to remind the speculators that life is given by God and so they must live according to him. This include...

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God

    881 Words  | 2 Pages

    Edwards use of parallelism in the quote “The devil is waiting for them, hell is gaping for them, the flames gather and flash about them” serves two purposes: to instill a sense of fear in the audience and he also gives the audience their first taste of the the pain they will feel throughout this piece. His uses of parallelism allows Edwards to exponentially build a sense of fear and it is maintained throughout this sermon. The audience also begins to feel a sense of fear and helplessness in Edward 's first paragraph, which he will also maintain throughout this piece. Additionally, Edward engages repetition in his speech in order to continuously build fear and suspense in his audience. Edward begins to use the noun “you” after the second paragraph in order to make his argument more personal and more emotional. By saying the words “you” and “your” Edwards is speaking directly to his audience, in doing so he makes the audience envision themselves in the positions that Edwards describes and will make them subconsciously feel the need to convert to christianity because they are now fearful of god, and the only way to abate this fear is to repent and

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast The Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God

    1045 Words  | 3 Pages

    Hawthorne's text was more effective because, he taught his congregation a lesson. They saw that when you sin and do things that you aren't supposed to do it will reveal itself soon enough. You will have to repay for your sins, which hawthorne wore for the rest of his life. They described the black veil as a grievous affliction and a sign of mourning. Edward’s text was nothing but yelling and offending his congregation. No lesson was really taught like it was in “The Minister’s Black

    Read More

  • A Comparison of The Ministers Black Veil and the Birthmark

    795 Words  | 2 Pages

    Both of these stories revolve around a lot of symbolism. These stories, since they really don't make a lot of sense on their own, force the reader to look deeper in an attempt to understand the ideas that Hawthorne tries to get across.

    Read More

  • Judge Pycheon in The House of the Seven Gables

    828 Words  | 2 Pages

    The style of Hawthorne is deft and effective. His examination of Pyncheons two-facedness is formatted like a courtroom interrogation with Pyncheon on the witness chair. The climatic last tirade of the narrator releases all of Hawthorne’s disgust and revulsion in a captivating fashion. The organization and attention to what the reader is expecting keep the argument subtle and critical.

    Read More

  • Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God

    942 Words  | 2 Pages

    As many religious leaders before and after him, Edwards's source of inspiration and guidance is the Bible. His understanding of this cornerstone of New England society enables him to reinforce a persuasive dissertation with biblical quotes and passages; however, not all the quotes cited by Edwards support his interpretations exclusively. Often Edwards uses parts or sections of biblical verse rather than complete text because too much information might diminish the importance of his primary intent. These instances of manipulation occur in the doctrinal section where Edwards attempts to prove the basis of his application. "Cut it down, why cumbereth it in the ground?", Luke 13:7, is used by Edwards to illustrate God's justifiably immediate destruction of those guilty of sin. Absent from his selection is any mention of the moderation and patience that continues in Luke 13:8-9: "let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. And if it bears fruit, well." By omitting these verses of scripture, Edwards hopes to move his audience by his calling rather than at their own leisure. Another example of manipulation occurs as Edwards proposes that sinners are already Satan's property. In section five he states that Satan "stands ready to fall upon them and seize them...

    Read More

  • Ambiguity of The Minister’s Black Veil

    3124 Words  | 7 Pages

    Since ours is an age that has found irony, ambiguity, and paradox to be central not only in literature but in life, it is not surprising that Hawthorne has seemed to us one of the most modern of nineteenth century American writers. The bulk and general excellence of the great outburst of Hawthorne criticism of the past decade attest to his relevance for us(54).

    Read More

  • Hawthorne On Puritanism

    1312 Words  | 3 Pages

    Nathaniel Hawthorne's knowledge of Puritanism and his close relationship with the religion has impacted his views on those in the society. Hawthorne is critical of the Puritans and he thinks that they are hypocrites for having rules and morals that they do not follow. He sees the underlying sin that others may not. Through his many writings he makes known to his readers that everyone is guilty of sin. The Puritan's main goal was to save themselves from the sin in the world, but Nathaniel Hawthorne portrays their morals and society as troublesome through his works, "Young Goodman Brown," "The Minister's Black Veil," and The Scarlet Letter.

    Read More

  • A Comparison Of Washington Irving, Nathaniel Hawthorne, And Edgar Allan Poe

    1201 Words  | 3 Pages

    Nathaniel Hawthorne made out his life a source of inspiration. Every event that happened in his life made him think of a way to write about it. The Scarlett Letter was written after his mother died, and it focused on his society and it was used as a strong accusation against the Puritan Americans (Gollin 2605). His works were the results of long-term contemplations of humans and the society of his time, The Minister’s Black Veil is an example of this. A story about a man who decides to walk around his town cover in a black veil that symbolizes sin, and more importantly, “how the guilt we hide from one another and about the dangers of self-absorption” (Gollin 2604). Every major event in his life brought a new theme to his writings and that made it stand out. Just like Irving, he decided that he wanted to pursue of life full of

    Read More

  • The Minister's Black Veil Analysis

    1188 Words  | 3 Pages

    In “The Minister’s Black Veil,” for example, Hawthorne describes how, “perhaps the pale­faced congregation was almost as fearful a sight to the minister, as his black veil to them”(2). This directly contrasts the “light” faces of the members of the congregation with the darkness of the minister’s veil. By stating that the minister was just as afraid of the people as the people were of him, Hawthorne indicates that the people fear the minister due to the abrupt reveal of his mysterious sin, but the minister also somewhat fears the people and the secrets they hold deep within their hearts. The people of the town are supposedly pure and innocent, yet it is clear that many of the citizens carry the burden of their own evils. Although the minister boldly comes forward with his own sin, he still feels the pain of the loneliness, scorn, and spite that has come with his statement. Hawthorne represents the discomfort the guilty townspeople feel when in the presence of Mr. Hooper when he describes how they were, “conscious of lighter spirits the moment they lost sight of the black veil” (3). Once again, this use of light and dark imagery supports Hawthorne’s argument that people, even those who claim to be pure and innocent, are capable of sin. The townspeople in Mr. Hooper’s community feel the burden of their own sins when they come in

    Read More

  • Where Not To Base Your Faith: Nathaniel Hawthorne's Young Goodman Brown

    1413 Words  | 3 Pages

    Lathrop, G. P., ed. "Hawthorne, Nathaniel." The Reader's Encyclopedia of American Literature. Binghamton, New York: Vail-Ballou, 1962. 439-40. Print.

    Read More

  • Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God Style Analysis

    588 Words  | 2 Pages

    In contrast, some may argue that Hawthorne's style was more effective because of the way the story was told and the incidents that happened in the story. Such as the black veil that the minister puts over his head, meaning that he has a secret sin or hiding something. Also it could be because the theme that is put off from the story which is “ Secret Sin”.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Hawthorne And Jonathan Edwards

    510 Words  | 2 Pages

    Jonathan Edwards, the author of “Sinners in the hands of an angry God” cunningly made his style more effective than Nathaniel Hawthorne's style in “The Ministers of the Black Veil.” Edwards used more of an aggressive style which worked better than Hawthorne’s sad and laid back style.

    Read More

More about Comparative Analysis: Edwards' and Hawthorne's Religious Narratives

Open Document