Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864) Nathaniel Hawthorne in the 1860s

Nathaniel Hawthorne Life of Hawthorne born in 1804 as Nathaniel Hathorne in a downfallen puritan family in Salem, Massachusetts Orphaned at 4 by his father’s death changing his name to “Hawthorne" to dissociate from relatives including John Hathorne, one of three judges during the Salem Witch Trials in 1692 The House of Seven Gables (1851) about John Hathorne his college classmates including future president Franklin Pierce and future poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow working at a Custom House through Franklin Pierce The Scarlet Letter ( died on May 19, 1864, leaving behind his wife and their three children

The House of Seven Gables The House of the Seven Gables in Salem, Massachusetts Detroit Publishing Company Photograph Collection ®, Library of Congress

Custom House Salem, Massachusetts

The Scarlet Letter The Scarlet Letter, painting by T. H. Matteson This 1860 oil-on-canvas was made under Hawthorne's personal supervision Dr. Neil K. Fitzgerald retains all rights to reproduce this image

Nathaniel Hawthorne Major works of Hawthorne The House of Seven Gables (1851) The Scarlet Letter (1850) Twice-Told Tales (1837) The Minister’s Black Veil (from Twice-Told Tales) Rappaccini’s Daughter (from Mosses from an Old Manse, 1846)

Nathaniel Hawthorne Literary features of Hawthorne Psychological analysis novel Poe: subconscious, even abnomal psyches; crime and terro VS Hawthorne: sin against religion and morality, and its influence on the criminal; internal conflict, psychological changes and their influences Poe: novel not sermonic or preaching; novel’s desired effect is the terror of the soul VS Hawthorne: not only psychological analysis, but also novels dealing with morality, ethics, society and history The depth of human soul and human soul’s dark side (dark Romanticism) Puritanism Ambiguous attitude toward puritanism Religious suppression on human minds.

Nathaniel Hawthorne Parables and symbolism Ambiguity of literary themes and authorial attitudes towards many things Criticism of society in light of puritanical evils Human soul is the source of all evils The barrier between human beings disabling communication Negating the scientific advancement Tight structure to create tension in reader Cold-minded narrative style Statement predominant Rich imagination

Nathaniel Hawthorne Hawthorne’s literary contribution Selection of odd, mysterious historical events as subject matter Literary creation intended to disclose meaning of life Preface to give clues for understanding a literary text (as in The Scarlet Letter) Dark romanticism Romantic novels

Nathaniel Hawthorne Reading of The Scarlet Letter Do you find any clear theme in this novel? What is Hawthorne’s attitude towards Puritanism? Do you find any symbol in this novel? What does the letter A symbolize? Do you find any supernatural element from this novel? Please give some example. How is this novel romantic instead of realistic? What kind of person is the heroine Hyster Prynne? What do you think about Dimmesdale? What does he symbolize? Is he evil?

Nathaniel Hawthorne What can you imagine form the name of the hero Dimmesdale? Who is the evil person in this novel? And what does Roger Chillingworth symbolize? What does Hawthorne want to suggest by the creation of Roger Chillingworth? Do you like the little girl Pearl, Prynne’s daughter? Why?