Nathaniel Hawthorne The Scarlet Letter

Puritanism/Scarlet Letter Timeline In History: -Pilgrims/Puritans come to America -Harvard founded-religious higher education -Christmas Celebration outlawed by Puritans -Salem Witch Trials: dissent, love triangles, landlust=breakdown of Puritan theocracy ; w/Judge John Hathorne In the novel: -Ch. 1-4 public scaffold scene Pearl=baby in mother’s arms -Scene at Governor Bellingham’s Pearl=3 years old -Novel’s climax at scaffold Pearl=7 years old -Last Chapter of novel (sort of) 1620-1628 1638 1642 1645 1649 1655 1692 1850 Hawthorne publishes Scarlet Letter (200 years later, during Romantic Era, so written in romantic style, but with Puritan influences and themes)

Hawthorne Bio Info 1804-Childhood = College 1821-1825 = Isolation 1825-1837 = 1837 = 1839 = 1842 = 1846-1849 = 1850 = 1851 = 1852 = 1853-1860 = 1860 = 1863 = 1864 = Salem: born, father dies, family poor, single mom, adds w Bowdoin, Maine w/F. Pierce, goofed off, mediocre student “dismal chamber” to learn how to write well Twice Told Tales, about secrets of violence in heart Engaged; utopian farm-Brook Farm w/Transcendentalists Marries Sophia, moves to Concord where famous writers job at Custom House; mom dies, loses job Scarlet Letter $ and success “hellfire story” House of Seven Gables and Snow Image Blithedale Romance U.S. Counsel at Liverpool, Marble Faun—travel log Pierce defeated; Lincoln=Civil War, H. out of place journals Our Old Home dies (of solitude, according to Emerson)

HISTORICAL CONTEXT To what “period” of American Literature does Hawthorne belong?? Lets take a look at the history of American Literature….. Have students answer question with partner

HISTORICAL CONTEXT English Heritage (Elizabethan Age) 1570-1650: Early Colonial period- Puritan writings, no distinctive American literature 1750-1800: Later Colonial period- Age of Reason/Enlightenment (Neoclassicism, Rationalism)

HISTORICAL CONTEXT 1800-1850: American Renaissance/ Romanticism- slave narratives, inner feelings, the burden of a Puritan past, the rejection of Neoclassicism Transcendentalism was a part of this…

HISTORICAL CONTEXT TRANSCENDENTALISM Boston-centered movement, led by Emerson, was an important force in New England circles Human existence transcends the sensory realm Belief in individual choice and consequence Focus on the positive

Turn,Talk, Write What element of Transcendentalism have you seen through “Minister’s Black Veil” and “Devil and Tom Walker”? Provide an example from the text Hint: Look at Tom and Mr. Hooper

HISTORICAL CONTEXT SUBDIVISION OF ROMANTICISM: GOTHIC LITERATURE, the “dark romantics”(1800-1850) -use of supernatural -motif of double (both good and evil in characters; sin and evil does exist) -depression, dark forests -Poe, Hawthorne, Melville -emphasis on symbolism (which we will discuss later)

NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE “The Scarlet Letter is powerfully written but my writings do not, nor ever will, appeal to the broadest class of sympathies, and therefore will not obtain a very wide popularity.” -Hawthorne, after finishing the novel

NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE As a literary artist… First American “pro writer”: college educated, familiar with the great European writers 4,000 copies of The Scarlet Letter sold in the first 10 days

Turn,Talk, Write Why do you believe The Scarlet Letter is still popular today?

LITERARY ELEMENTS Characters Mood Setting Plot Symbolism Themes

LITERARY ELEMENTS: MOOD The SOMBER, DARK mood is well-defined from the beginning: “sad-colored garments” of spectators, the prison door which is “heavily timbered and studded with iron spikes”

LITERARY ELEMENTS: SETTING 17th century Puritanical New England (Mass.) What was America like then?

LITERARY ELEMENTS: SETTING Life in the Mid 1600s Boston was founded just 2 decades earlier 1st governor was John Winthrop, who governed based on religious and civic ideals People were hardworking and devoted 1630s- Puritans established a number of settlements in Massachusetts PURITANISM involved belief that the church of England was too much influenced by the Catholic church Strict code, on which people were expected to act and judged upon Rejected belief that divine authority is channeled through any one single person (i.e. the pope) THEOCRACY- state governed by the church

Turn and Talk What is the importance of knowing the historical background surrounding The Scarlet Letter? Describe Puritanism in your own words.

Theocracy as Extremism Ironically, it is largely because of the Puritans – who themselves established a theocratic government in the New World – that we in America tend to view most theocratic governments as extremist.

Puritanism Began in England in the mid-1500’s A sect of Calvinists Calvinism named after Swiss theologian John Calvin Calvinism = predetermination no religious authority BUT Scripture

“Puritans” “Puritans” intended as a derogatory term “Puritans” usually referred to themselves as “the Godly” Puritans fell quickly out of favor in England, where the king was the head of the Church of England. They recognized neither the king’s secular or religious authority, and so quickly became enemies of civil and religious leaders.

So… All of which were discouraged in the Old World become the basis of “American Rugged Individualism” This is probably why most Americans disagree so strongly with theocracies The Puritan emphasis on: self-reliance independence individual achievement individual responsibility personal accountability power through ability (education)

Turn, Talk, Write

Puritan “Crime and Punishment” Because Puritan Boston c. 1690 was still a theocratic society, crime against church (or God) was the equivalent of a crime against another person or against “the State.” Yes… it was illegal to miss church on Sabbath days. It was also illegal to sleep during sermons that could run 3 or more hours long – during each session (morning and afternoon) on a Sabbath. http://www.materialreligion.org/objects/dec96obj.html

Puritan “Crime and Punishment”, cont. Virtually any offense The Stocks http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/2100/2111/pillory_1_md.gif

Puritan “Crime and Punishment”, cont. 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. In 1637, as punishment for writing an essay that criticized the archbishop, William Prynne (no relation to the central character in The Scarlet Letter) – after being put in the stocks – had the letters “SL” (for “seditious libeler”) branded onto his cheeks. http://history.wisc.edu/sommerville/367/367-06.htm

Turn, Talk, Write Based on the era’s crime and punishment, What can you assume will happen in The Scarlet Letter? [Predict who/what will be punished]

How did his life affect the writing of the novel? John Hathorne presided over the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 Major William Hathorne (1608-1681) persecuted quakers 1. Influences on Hawthorne: Puritan background

MAJOR THEMES PURITAN MORALITY v. PASSION AND INDIVIDUALISM /Adultery Individual Rights/Self-trust v. accommodation to authority Conventional v. unconventional gender roles Guilt: sense of guilt forced by puritanical heritage/society Hypocrisy v. Integrity Moral Pride v. Intellect The penalties of isolation/ isolation because of self-cause and societal cause Patriarchal power Belief in fate/free will Impossibility of earthly perfection

How did his life affect the writing of the novel? 2) Salem- childhood, later work at the Custom House, as Surveyor of the Port “The Custom House” introduction creates a FRAME STORY This introduction gives an account of his experience as surveyor; he attacks the officials who connived in his dismissal… Like his heroine Hester, Hawthorne emerges from confrontation with a self-righteous society as an individual of integrity,passion, and moral superiority.

Pre-Reading Questions What is the difference between sin and crime? What is the difference between how things are viewed today and how Puritans viewed them? [Refer to your notes] What do you know about women’s role in Puritan’s society