Abstract This paper examines how NathanielHawthorne was a prolific writer of short stories, novels, and children's books, and how his works cover a variety of different subjects. It looks at how there are several themes that recur in his works and how one of these themes relates to sin and depravity. It shows how it is one of the major themes of his best known work, "The ScarletLetter", and how the same theme also surfaces in a number of other works, including the short story, "Young Goodman Brown", and the short story, "The Minister's Black Veil." It explores how, in all of these works, Hawthorne communicates a similar view of human nature as it relates to sin and depravity and how he always shows sin and depravity as natural parts of human nature, parts that people must constantly battle.
From the Paper "As Hawthorne's best known work, it is fitting that the analysis begins with The Scarlet Letter. As well as being his best known work, The Scarlet Letter, is also a work with sin as the central theme. One source describes it as "an outstanding study of attitudes to sin and guilt, and of human psychology" (Kamm 204). Another source creates the link between the themes of sin and the study of human psychology by stating that the story is really about the character's personal battle between good and evil (Van Doren 10). This view of the story recognizes that the tendency toward sin is part of every person, where sin can also be described as evil. The good side of the person battles to control this desire to sin, but often the battle cannot be won. In the story, this is seen with the characters of Chillingworth, Dimmesdale, and Hester."
Abstract This paper looks at how NathanielHawthorne was an Eighteenth-century American author who, through his works, explored the subject of human sin, punishment, and guilt. It examines how themes of pride, guilt, sin, punishment, and evil are evident in all of his works and how the wrongs committed by his ancestors play a particularly dominant force in Hawthorne's literary career, including in his most famous piece, ?The ScarletLetter? .
From the Paper "Regarding his workroom, Hawthorne once wrote, "This deserves to be called a haunted chamber, for thousands and thousands of visions have appeared to me in it" (Nathaniel Pp). He was one of the first American writers to explore the hidden motivations of his characters, such as in the ?Scarlet Letter,? a story describing the early victims of Puritan obsession with spiritual ferocity and the effect of guilt, anxiety and sorrow as its central theme (Nathaniel Pp). "The House of the Seven Gables" focused on a family that has inherited a curse by one of the victims of the Seventeenth Century Salem witchcraft trials (Nathaniel Pp). Hawthorne based this story on the legend of a curse that was pronounced upon his own family by a woman who was condemned to death during the Salem trials (Nathaniel Pp)."
Abstract This paper discusses the ideas expounded by NathanielHawthorne, often thought of today as a reflection of Puritan values, although in Puritan times, he would have been recognized as a reformer at best and a heretic at worst. The paper discusses several of his works, "The ScarletLetter," "The House of Seven Gables," "Young Goodman Brown,, "The Birthmark," and "Rappaccini's Daughter," claiming they show evidence of countless examples of a stretching of strict values. The paper contends that, by rejecting the ideals of the Puritan and the Victorian eras, Hawthorne acts as a soothsayer of the coming age of cyclical relaxation that can be seen, respectively, in the Flapper Era and in the 1960s.
From the Paper "Much of Hawthorne's message in his most well known work, The Scarlet Letter is one of feminine independence. The structure of Hester's society was such that she was challenged by her circumstances and even more challenged by the community in which she lived. Her social standing fell to that of a relative harlot when her very public fall from grace was revealed by her pregnancy, a pregnancy clearly begotten outside of her marriage bed. As has been clearly pointed out countless time the work is steeped in the biblical traditions of the Puritan Era and Hawthorne himself interweaves countless analogous meanings in his work."
Abstract In this analysis of NathanielHawthorne's novel "The Scarlett Letter," the concept of sin and puritanical society is examined. The reviewer focuses on the protagonist, Hester Prynne, and her development and eventual transcendence of her punishment for adultery. The paper also examines the role of Hester's daughter, Pearl, linking her symbolically with the concept of original sin. The paper concludes by contrasting Hester's strength with Reverend Dimmesdale's downfall.
From the Paper "Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel The Scarlet Letter addresses the issue of sin, responsibility, and even salvation in the Puritan society of North America. Sentenced to wear her sin of adultery in the form of the letter 'A' on the outside of her dress, Hester Prynne is forced to live with the ignominy of having borne a child out of wedlock. Hawthorne initially uses the scarlet letter as a symbol of Hester's sin, but the meaning of the letter evolves throughout the novel as Hester is eventually empowered and her secret lover is enfeebled by the sin they had both committed. The evolution of the letter shows the power of accepting punishment and persevering over the enervating capacity of trying to hide and escape sin."
Abstract This paper examines and analyzes NathanielHawthorne's "House of the Seven Gables", and "The Marble Faun". It presents the author's criticism of both works and supports that criticism with published criticism.
Abstract This paper compares of the ideas of Cotton Mather and the themes of NathanielHawthorne's short story,"Young Goodman Brown."
From the Paper " From the perspective of it is difficult to credit such an idea until one is reminded of the fundamentalist zeal of Nazis or religious fanatics who blather about great Satans and howl for death to this ..."
Abstract The paper provides an analysis of four critics' views on NathanielHawthorne's short story, "Ethan Brand." The paper reviews the plot of the story and examines Brand's innate value system and the value system of his society. The paper concentrates on Brand's quest to commit the "unpardonable sin."
From the Paper "Critical Analysis of Nathaniel Hawthorne's "Ethan Brand." Nathaniel Hawthorne's short story "Ethan Brand" is the tale of a man who upsets the balance between his own innate values system and that of a society whose applause he craves. He is presented by Hawthorne as having a heart of marble, impenetrable by real morality and solidified by the workings of pride. The Biblical concept of the Unpardonable Sin is used as the target of the protagonist's quest to locate himself in a world steeped in intellect and reason."
Abstract The paper discusses the book "The Scarlett Letter", by NathanielHawthorne. The paper analyzes how Hester's resilience as a condemned woman in her town is also extremely heroic, as it is clear that she will never be free from the scarletletter. The paper examines how Hester undergoes an extreme and unnecessary humiliation under strict patriarchal rules. The writer proposes that she is a hero, since she also must follow rules that place an extremely harsh punishment for women for the crime of adultery.
From the Paper "The evolution of the symbol of the scarlet letter changes dramatically throughout the novel. Hawthorne makes initially makes it a symbol of the penalty of adultery, which Hester must wear in order to identify her crimetp the townspeople. In this manner, she appears victimized by her 'badge', but is able to win their tolerance because her sincere respect for breaking marital tradition. In Chapter XIII, Hawthorne writes on how Hester felt about her badge: The effect of the symbol--or rather, of the position in respect to society that was indicated by it--on the mind of Hester Prynne herself, was powerful and peculiar (para.6). The 'power' of the symbol is initially strong, and Hester bows to the town's laws. This reflects the societal view of the adulteress symbol, through Hester's initial response to the scarlet letter."
Abstract This paper discusses the basis of NathanielHawthorne's approach to the novel "The ScarletLetter". The paper analyzes and reflects the romantic and non-fiction qualities that are imparted thorough his first person narrative through Hester Prynne. It presents the reality of Hawthorne's narrative as is reflected through Woolf's interpretation of novel form, which allows an outward and changing perspective of the Puritanical laws that force Hester to wear the symbolic badge of adultery.
From the Paper "Literary Symbolism: Understanding the Premise of Reality and Romanticism within The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne In this literary study the symbolic 'letter' in the novel The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne will be analyzed. By examining a passage from the novel, one can realize the sense of unreality in the romantic symbol worn by Hester Prynne; alongside the harsh reality of the crime of adultery that the symbol also represents. In this manner, the evolutionary changes that the symbol represent will examine the seemingly impossible 'romanticized' punishment that Hester must suffer; and the cold rule of Puritanical law that imparts a grim reality upon those that break the societal religious norms of Hawthorne's novel. The evolution of the symbol of the scarlet letter changes dramatically throughout the novel's romanticized and non-fiction qualities."
Abstract Elaborates on the question of sin in NathanielHawthorne's "The ScarletLetter". The author reveals that what is viewed as sinful throughout the book has underlying connotations and meanings. The author discusses this with reference to the two main characters of the book.
From the Paper "Hawthorne seems to intimate throughout the Scarlet Letter that what Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale shared wasn?t quite as sinful as is supposed. Many passages in the book tend to substantiate this premise. In short, I wish to reiterate some of these passages and rationalize using them in support of this paper's overall theme."
Tags: adultery, hawthorne, prynne, dimmesdale, hester, chillingworth, love
Abstract A critical biography of NathanielHawthorne. The writer shows why Hawthorne is considered to be the epitome of the American Romantic writer. Discusses his life, and early works, his upbringing and education and how these influenced the development of his unique writing style. Discusses his works "The Birthmark" and "The ScarletLetter".
From the Paper "Nathaniel Hawthorne is one of early America's greatest authors. He was born on July 4, 1804, in Salem, Massachusetts, where he spent his childhood with his mother and two sisters. When Hawthorne was four years old, his father died of yellow fever, leading to a somber childhood. 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."
Abstract This paper is a literary analysis of Nathanial Hawthorne's tale about love, sin and redemption, "The ScarletLetter". The author looks at the various themes in the novel, examines the symbolism and discusses the role of Puritan women in their society.
From the Paper "While others mock her, gossip about her and whisper her name, Hester stands, a strong woman, unintimidated by their threats. Nathaniel Hawthorne, in his book The Scarlet Letter presents the reader with a number of contrasting images to reinforce the themes in the book. Three themes he presents are: The nature of women, the problem of guilt, and the contrast between sin and grace. John Calwell Stubbs discusses some of these themes and images in his critical essay, ?The Scarlet Letter: A Tale of Fraternity and Sorrow.?
Abstract This paper looks at NathanielHawthorne's "The ScarletLetter". The author looks at the transformations that the characters undergo which affects the outcome of their lives. The transformation is a direct result of sin, guilt, and hatred and their influence on the human spirit. Sin and guilt can greatly affect the human heart and are often a catalyst for change within a human being.
From the Paper "The sin of Hester and Dimmesdale has the greatest effect on Roger Chillingworth. Originally, Chillingworth was a decent and much better as a person. He is angered by the actions of his wife and wants revenge more than anything else. "Not thy soul, he answered, with another smile. No, not thine" (74). Chillingworth plans from the start to ruin the soul of the Reverend. He lets his anger turn itself into evil and that evil embeds itself in his heart. Chillingworth begins to explore the soul of Dimmesdale in an attempt to draw out a confession. "He now dug into the poor clergyman's heart like a miner searching for gold; or, rather like a sexton delving into a grave, possibly in quest of a jewel that had been buried on the dead man's bosom" (125). Chillingworth has let his evil feelings take over his mind and actions. He wants nothing more than to torment the priest. He turns into a "chilling" person as his name implies and comes to symbolize the devil himself. Eventually, his hatred takes its toll on Chillingworth himself. "All his strength and energy"all his vital and intellectual force"seemed at once to desert him; insomuch that he positively withered up" (254). "
Abstract This paper explains that NathanielHawthorne lived at a time when science was viewed with equal parts awe and suspicion. Hawthorne was, in fact the descendant of a Protestant minister which may have led to the cautionary tone of his works when writing of science. The paper examines how this cautionary tone is evident in "The Birthmark" and is made apparent by Hawthorne's use of symbolism in the story.
From the Paper "The birthmark in question is a tiny strawberry mark in the shape of a "singular mark" that "bore not a little similarity to a human hand" (Hawthorne 3). Hawthorne's narrator suggests that this tiny hand was a fairy mark. However, given that the union between Aylmer and Georgiana was deemed a spiritual one and that the mark was "deeply interwoven [. . .] with the texture and substance of her face" the power behind that hand would seem to be a much greater one indeed."
Abstract This paper discusses NathanielHawthorne's, "The ScarletLetter". The paper claims that, although there are multiple themes and recurring ideas throughout the novel, Hawthorne most exquisitely presents the theme of development through anguish, with such elements as character development, symbolism and conflict. The paper focuses on the character of Hester Prynne and her development with the scarletletter.
From the Paper "Hester Prynne is a superb illustration of the way one progresses through misery and the alteration they endure through suffering. When Hester is first introduced in the novel, Hawthorne first describes her, after her bout in prison, emerging "as if by her own free will." This act displays Hester's superiority to the situation at hand, and defies the idea that she would emerge weak, and defeated by the judgment of the people in the town. However, as the novel progresses, Hester does begin to physically embody the typical Puritan woman. After a few years have passed, her character is described as "withered up," which left a "barren harsh outline." This indicates the metamorphosis she has undergone from being superior to her sin, to becoming overshadowed by the supremacy of its ignominy. This change also occurs with Hester's new focus in life, pertaining more so "thought", than "passion and feeling." The most vital shift in Hester's character occurs after Dimmesdale's death, which Hawthorne exhibits as not "for her own profit and enjoyment," and leads to her sought-after wisdom."
