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13. How and why did Hawthorne expose the hypocrisies of puritan life
Puritan society and belief salem women
13. How and why did Hawthorne expose the hypocrisies of puritan life
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Taking an even further step back in time, Nathaniel Hawthorne’s culture was also very evident through his writing. To discuss his culture though, his familial background must be touched on. Hawthorne was born in Salem, Massachusetts, the home of the Salem Witch Trials. His family had many ties with these trials and also with the Puritan religion itself. Hawthorne recalled that “the most memorable aspect of his powerful forefathers was their sternness and their penchant for persecution." (Sterling) Because of this involvement and Hawthorne’s recollection of his family’s demeanor, he took a great interest in reading about the history of the Puritan religion. Upon his research, Hawthorne discovered aspects of the religion that he didn’t see just,
Nathaniel Hawthorne’s writings have been read for many years, and many of his books have been on the required reading lists in the school curricula. His works convey themes of psychology and human nature through his crafty use of allegory and symbolism. These were essential tools in addressing topics that were too radical to be publicly addressed in the nineteenth century (Magill 1). He used these techniques to criticize some part of society, which is evident in his use of satire in the religious world (Hilton 1). Nathaniel Hawthorne’s writings impacted his contemporary society, despite the fact that his criticism and ideas weren’t widely popular and accepted.
Another issue that influenced Nathaniel Hawthorne was his ancestry. His family had spent five generations in Salem. A couple of Nathaniel’s ancestors of whom he was especially ashamed were William and John Hathorne. William Hathorne was a Puritan who showed fierce prejudice against the Quakers. He ordered a public beating for Ann Coleman’s punishment, and she almost died consequently (Shepherd iv). John Hathorne was a judge who sentenced many people to death during the Salem witch trials. He was the ...
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.
Nathaniel Hawthorne was born on July 4, 1804 in Salem, Massachusetts, the descendent of a long line of Puritan ancestors, including John Hathorne, a presiding magistrate in the Salem witch trials. After his father was lost at sea when he was only four, his mother became overly protective and pushed him toward more isolated pursuits. Hawthorne's childhood left him overly shy and bookish, and molded his life as a writer. Hawthorne is one of the most modern of writers who rounds off the puritan cycle in American writing
Nathaniel Hawthorne was raised in the Puritan Calvinist religion. He had a lot of viewpoints against the religion that were of the Christian beliefs and faith.
Before the novel actually begins, there is a section of the book entitled "The Custom House". While this is not an essential part of the novel, it provides insight into Nathaniel Hawthorne and the story itself. Here the reader learns that Hawthorne’s ancestors were strict Puritans. One of his ancestors, Judge Hawthorne, was an actual judge during the Salem Witch Trials. Although Hawthorne did not actually live during the Puritan era, he still felt guilty of his ancestors’ actions. He was angered by the hypocrisy of the Puritan government and the Puritan church which condemned sins, yet committed them. This becomes apparent to the reader throughout the course of the novel.
Nathaniel Hawthorne’s writings show how sin is sin until it is publicized. He goes into great depth to show both sides of private and public sin. People still sin and judge others today. However, the ways that sin is seen today is much different in a historical type of way. The idea of sin never really seemed to make sense to Hawthorne. Hawthorne’s writings are still relevant today because the world is full of sex symbolism and sin. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s writings show how people tend to overlook their own sin but speak loudly about other’s sin. Hawthorne understood that sin is unconsciously committed, but people are still judged by others for something they also tend to commit privately.
In addition to financial worries, another influence on the story is Hawthorne's rejection of his ancestors. His forefathers were strict Puritans, and John Hathorne, his great-great-grandfather, was a judge presiding during the Salem witch trials.( Hoeljte, pps 36-37...
The puritan roots that ran in the northeastern part of the country was a way that Hawthorne used to show his underlying messages in many of his works. However, as opposed to the previous works that the country produced, Hawthorne’s used the puritan religion as a means to an end, not as an example or testimony of how to live. A keen example of this is in Hawthorne’s 1835 work, “Young Goodman Brown.” The symbolism is evident as first simply from the title. Hawthorne is attempting to write a story about a young, good man, creating this persona by creating the image of a devout person, first hinting at this through his location, Salem (Hawthorne 87). Salem is the location of the witch trials that Hawthorne’s ancestors were a part of, and from this location Hawthorne is showing that Brown is a puritan, but also that he is a part of a society that can lose sight of their shortcomings. This is something that would not be evident in earlier American writings. Writing about the shortcomings of devout people was not widely recognized as religion to these people was life
Nathaniel Hawthorne was an early American writer that has had a powerful influence on literature for literally centuries. He was known for penning short stories that still have a powerful impact. This writer had a unique style and incorporated definite themes in his writings. This essay will explore Nathaniel’s early life, writings and delve into his specific style of storytelling.
One of the most influential parts of history that helped Hawthorne write is The Salem Witch Trials. The Salem Witch Trials started in 1692 in Salem, Massachusetts. During this time many women and men were accused of being witches by signing their life off to the devil. Most if not all of the accusers and accused during the Salem Witch Trials were from the northern frontier. This was the location of fighting “in both King Philip’s War 1675-1678 (called the First Indian War) and King William’s War of 1689-1699 (called the Second Indian War”. Within five months 144 people were persecuted as witches. “Violent fighting on the Maine frontier was a major causative factor in producing the witchcraft crisis” (Lewis). During The Salem Witch Trials an accused witch would be humiliated by either making the accused witch confess of being a witch or they would be publicly hung. In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter Hester is publicly humiliated for committing adultery. Even though Nathaniel Hawthorne did not grow up when the Salem Witch Trials happened he was influenced by it because he grew up in Salem, Massachusetts.
Nathaniel Hawthorne was born in Salem in 1804 and was descended from the original founders of Salem. His most notable ancestors were William Hathorne and his son John Hathorne. William Hathorne was a zealous magistrate who had fled from Europe with other Puritans to escape religious persecution. Once Salem was established he became well known for his cruelty against Quakers, most notably having them whipped in public. His son John Hathorne was one of the judges responsible for the conviction and execution of witches during the mass panic of the Salem Witch Trials, and became known as "The Hanging Judge." Due to his family's sordid history Hawthorne added a "W" to his name in order to distance himself, yet he used his ancestry in his writing.
Nathaniel Hawthorne was and is hands down one of our greatest American Literature novelists; he wrote poems, short stories and his most famous novel The Scarlet Letter. Nathanial Hawthorne’s works were known for his way of looking into how human nature affecting things, more commonly known for looking at the darker side of human nature. Many of his stories were set in New England, as that is where his heritage lies. Hawthorne’s works are so well known that they are used every day in academia and used to evaluate other poets and novelists. Almost every high school in the Western culture uses The Scarlet Letter for research papers. So his work is still very much alive and well to this
Nathaniel Hawthorne was born on July 4, 1804 in Salem, Massachusetts. He was the only son of Nathaniel and Elizabeth Clark Hathorne and he had two sisters. Nathaniel’s father was a sea captain who died of yellow fever at sea in 1808. With the death of his father, his family was left with poor financial support so they moved in with his wealthy uncles. He was left immobile for several months due to a leg injury and that is where he gained his love for reading and writing. His uncles sent him to Bowdoin College from 1821-1825 where he met and became friends with Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and future 1853 president Franklin Pierce. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s life was full of Puritan legacy. An ancestor, William Hathorne, came to America from England
Nathaniel Hawthorne was born into a family that possessed prominent Puritan ancestors, and the shame he experienced as a result of their actions, as well as his odd fascination with them, had a significant impact on his life and his writings. Though it would be an overstatement to say that Hawthorne's knowledge of the Puritan way of life was his only source of inspiration, this knowledge was certainly influential as it is often reflected in the majority of his work. Born in Salem, Massachusetts in 1804, Hawthorne was born in a town whose Puritan past is well-known as a result of the infamous Salem witch trials. Though he was born well after the time of the Puritans, growing up in a town so steeped in Puritan history is likely why his knowledge of Puritan life was so extensive (Means 1). The reason why Hawthorne was so interested in his Puritan ancestors of Salem was the fact that his great-great grandfather, John Hathorne, was a judge during the Salem witch trials.