Nathaniel Hawthorne

Born in Salem, Massachusetts Puritan Background Ancestor of John Hathorne – one of the three judges in the Salem Witch Trials Began writing after college at Bowdion College in Maine Spent many years in seclusion – starving artist Held many jobs including writer, publisher, working at a custom house, and consul in England Hawthorne’s family came from Boston. He was descendant of a judge in the Salem witch trials (named Hathorne). Hawthorne changed the spelling of his name to distance himself from his relative’s unsavory reputation. Nathaniel Hawthorne

The novel is set in the mid 1600s in Boston, Massachusetts. The plot encompasses a seven year period. The plot involves the love triangle of wife-lover- husband. Like other Puritan settlements in New England, the local and colonial governments were theocracies. The Setting

word comes from Greek theo = God cratos = rule a theocracy is a government where the civil laws are based (in whole or in part) on religious laws; civil leaders in theocracies are probably also important religious leaders Theocracy

An emphasis on private study of the Bible A desire to see education and enlightenment for the masses (especially so they could read the Bible for themselves) Simplicity in worship, the exclusion of vestments, images, candles, etc. Did not celebrate traditional holidays which they believed to be in violation of the regulative principle of worship. Believed the Sabbath was still obligatory for Christians, although they believed the Sabbath had been changed to Sunday Some approved of the church’s involvement with the courts The Puritans

Because Puritan Boston c was still a theocratic society, crime against church (or God) was the equivalent of a crime against another person or against “the State.” Virtually any offense could land you in the pillory, or stocks. The Puritans imported this punishment to New England from England. The Puritans

Entire purpose was public display and public humiliation. Stocks were built on a scaffold in the center of the village, where townspeople could mock the offender, and throw rotten vegetables or stones. Aside from the offender’s hands being immobilized, his ears would frequently be nailed to the board behind his head. The Puritans

After serving time in a jail and then on the pillory, a convicted criminal would often be required to wear some outward sign of his or her offense. The Puritans

After serving time in a jail and then on the pillory, a convicted criminal would often be required to wear some outward sign of his or her offense.

The Puritans Contribution to "American" Character self-reliance independence individual achievement individual responsibility personal accountability power through ability (education) The Puritans

Romanticism

return to nature belief in goodness of humanity rediscovery of artist as a supremely individual creator exaltation of the senses and emotions over reason and intellect Romanticism

The Romantic Period lasted from Literary contemporaries: Emerson, Thoreau, Melville, Stowe, Poe, Whitman The Scarlet Letter is considered a piece of American Romantic literature because it is set in a remote past (the Puritan era 200 years prior to Hawthorne’s time) and because it deals with the interior psychology of individual characters Revolt against rationalism/logic Romanticism

The “scarlet letter” of the novel’s title refers to a scarlet letter “A” that the novel’s main character is made to wear on her clothing as punishment for her crime of adultery.

"The Custom House" The introductory chapter to The Scarlet Letter is called “The Custom House”. Nathaniel Hawthorne tells of his time as a clerk in the Salem, Mass. Government Custom House. He claims to have found a letter written by Hester Prynne (the novel’s main character) and an embroidered scarlet A. The letter tells of Hester’s experiences, which Hawthorne relates in the novel. The novel is NOT based in historical fact, but Hawthorne uses “The Custom House” to give his story credibility.

"The Prison-Door" This chapter sets the scene (17th century Boston) Drably dressed Puritans gathered in front of the prison In front of the prison is a growth of weeds, and beside it grows a wild rose bush. The rust, decay, and ugliness foreshadow the gloom of the novel. Two landmarks ---the prison & cemetery– point to themes of punishment & death. Although the rose is beautiful, it is a striking contrast to everything else.