Nathaniel Hawthorne & Dark Romanticism American Literature

Nathaniel Hawthorne Nathaniel Hawthorne (born Nathaniel Hathorne; July 4, 1804 – May 19, 1864) was an American novelist and short story writer. Nathaniel Hawthorne (born Nathaniel Hathorne; July 4, 1804 – May 19, 1864) was an American novelist and short story writer.short storyshort story Changed his last name so he would be disassociated with relatives that were involved in the Salem Witch Trials Changed his last name so he would be disassociated with relatives that were involved in the Salem Witch Trials

Much of Hawthorne's writing centers around New England, many works featuring moral allegories with a Puritan inspiration. Much of Hawthorne's writing centers around New England, many works featuring moral allegories with a Puritan inspiration.New EnglandallegoriesPuritanNew EnglandallegoriesPuritan His fiction works are considered part of the Romantic movement and, more specifically, dark romanticism His fiction works are considered part of the Romantic movement and, more specifically, dark romanticismRomantic movementdark romanticismRomantic movementdark romanticism

His themes often center on the inherent evil and sin of humanity, and his works often have moral messages and deep psychological complexity. His themes often center on the inherent evil and sin of humanity, and his works often have moral messages and deep psychological complexity.moral

As he looked back on this period of his life, he wrote: "I have not lived, but only dreamed about living". As he looked back on this period of his life, he wrote: "I have not lived, but only dreamed about living". He contributed short stories, including "Young Goodman Brown" and "The Minister's Black Veil", to various magazines and annuals, though none drew major attention to the author. He contributed short stories, including "Young Goodman Brown" and "The Minister's Black Veil", to various magazines and annuals, though none drew major attention to the author.Young Goodman BrownThe Minister's Black VeilYoung Goodman BrownThe Minister's Black Veil

Salem Custom House where Hawthorn Worked... Salem Custom House where Hawthorn Worked... Describe the architecture Describe the architecture

Hawthorne returned to writing and published The Scarlet Letter in mid-March 1850 Hawthorne returned to writing and published The Scarlet Letter in mid-March 1850The Scarlet LetterThe Scarlet Letter This is probably his most famous work. This is probably his most famous work.

Literary style and themes Literary style and themes Hawthorne was predominantly a short story writer in his early career. His four major romances were written between 1850 and 1860: The Scarlet Letter (1850), The House of the Seven Gables (1851), The Blithedale Romance (1852) and The Marble Faun (1860). Hawthorne was predominantly a short story writer in his early career. His four major romances were written between 1850 and 1860: The Scarlet Letter (1850), The House of the Seven Gables (1851), The Blithedale Romance (1852) and The Marble Faun (1860).short storyromancesThe Scarlet Letter The House of the Seven Gables The Blithedale RomanceThe Marble Faunshort storyromancesThe Scarlet Letter The House of the Seven Gables The Blithedale RomanceThe Marble Faun

Hawthorne's works belong to romanticism or, more specifically, dark romanticism, cautionary tales that suggest that guilt, sin, and evil are the most inherent natural qualities of humanity. Hawthorne's works belong to romanticism or, more specifically, dark romanticism, cautionary tales that suggest that guilt, sin, and evil are the most inherent natural qualities of humanity.romanticismdark romanticism dark romanticism Many of his tales and novels focus on a type of historical fiction, though Hawthorne's depiction of the past is used only as a vehicle to express themes of ancestral sin, guilt and retribution. Many of his tales and novels focus on a type of historical fiction, though Hawthorne's depiction of the past is used only as a vehicle to express themes of ancestral sin, guilt and retribution.

Statue of Hawthorne in Salem, Massachusetts. Statue of Hawthorne in Salem, Massachusetts.

Some Works Selected short stories Selected short stories "My Kinsman, Major Molineux" (1832) "My Kinsman, Major Molineux" (1832)My Kinsman, Major MolineuxMy Kinsman, Major Molineux "Young Goodman Brown" (1835) "Young Goodman Brown" (1835)Young Goodman BrownYoung Goodman Brown "The Gray Champion" (1835) "The Gray Champion" (1835) "The White Old Maid" (1835) "The White Old Maid" (1835) "The Ambitious Guest" (1835) "The Ambitious Guest" (1835)The Ambitious GuestThe Ambitious Guest "The Minister's Black Veil" (1836) "The Minister's Black Veil" (1836)The Minister's Black VeilThe Minister's Black Veil "The Man of Adamant" (1837) "The Man of Adamant" (1837)The Man of AdamantThe Man of Adamant "The Maypole of Merry Mount" (1837) "The Maypole of Merry Mount" (1837)The Maypole of Merry MountThe Maypole of Merry Mount "The Great Carbuncle" (1837) "The Great Carbuncle" (1837)The Great CarbuncleThe Great Carbuncle "Dr. Heidegger's Experiment" (1837) "Dr. Heidegger's Experiment" (1837)Dr. Heidegger's ExperimentDr. Heidegger's Experiment "A Virtuoso's Collection" (May 1842) "A Virtuoso's Collection" (May 1842)A Virtuoso's CollectionA Virtuoso's Collection "The Birth-Mark" (March 1843) "The Birth-Mark" (March 1843)The Birth-MarkThe Birth-Mark

DARK ROMANTICISM AMERICAN LITERATURE

WHAT IS IT? Dark romanticism is a literary subgenre that emerged from the Transcendental philosophical movement popular in nineteenth-century America. Dark romanticism is a literary subgenre that emerged from the Transcendental philosophical movement popular in nineteenth-century America.TranscendentalAmericaTranscendentalAmerica Works in the dark romantic spirit were influenced by Transcendentalism, but did not entirely embrace the ideas of Transcendentalism. Works in the dark romantic spirit were influenced by Transcendentalism, but did not entirely embrace the ideas of Transcendentalism.

SAY WHAT? DARK ROMANTIC works are notably less optimistic than Transcendental texts about mankind, nature, and divinity. DARK ROMANTIC works are notably less optimistic than Transcendental texts about mankind, nature, and divinity. Authors considered most representative of dark romanticism are Edgar Allan Poe, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Herman Melville, poet Emily Dickinson and Italian poet Ugo Foscolo. Authors considered most representative of dark romanticism are Edgar Allan Poe, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Herman Melville, poet Emily Dickinson and Italian poet Ugo Foscolo.Edgar Allan Poe Nathaniel HawthorneHerman MelvilleEmily DickinsonUgo FoscoloEdgar Allan Poe Nathaniel HawthorneHerman MelvilleEmily DickinsonUgo Foscolo

ORIGIN Dark Romanticism's birth was a mid- nineteenth-century reaction to the American Transcendental movement. Dark Romanticism's birth was a mid- nineteenth-century reaction to the American Transcendental movement.

CHARACTERISTICS OF DARK ROMANTICISM Dark Romantics are much less confident about the notion that perfection is an innate quality of mankind, as believed by Transcendentalists. Dark Romantics are much less confident about the notion that perfection is an innate quality of mankind, as believed by Transcendentalists. Dark Romantics present individuals as prone to sin and self-destruction, not as inherently possessing divinity and wisdom. Dark Romantics present individuals as prone to sin and self-destruction, not as inherently possessing divinity and wisdom.sinself-destructiondivinitywisdomsinself-destructiondivinitywisdom

More Characteristics The Dark Romantics adapted images of anthropomorphized evil in the form of Satan, devils, ghosts... vampires, and ghouls. The Dark Romantics adapted images of anthropomorphized evil in the form of Satan, devils, ghosts... vampires, and ghouls. anthropomorphizedevilSatan devilsghostsvampiresghouls anthropomorphizedevilSatan devilsghostsvampiresghouls Secondly, while both groups (T & DR) believe nature is a deeply spiritual force, Dark Romanticism views it in a much more sinister light than does Transcendentalism, which sees nature as a divine and universal organic mediator. Secondly, while both groups (T & DR) believe nature is a deeply spiritual force, Dark Romanticism views it in a much more sinister light than does Transcendentalism, which sees nature as a divine and universal organic mediator. nature

How Dark Romantics Portray the World For Dark Romantics, the natural world is dark, decaying, and mysterious; when it does reveal truth to man, its revelations are evil and hellish. Finally, whereas Transcendentalists advocate social reform when appropriate, works of Dark Romanticism frequently show individuals failing in their attempts to make changes for the better For Dark Romantics, the natural world is dark, decaying, and mysterious; when it does reveal truth to man, its revelations are evil and hellish. Finally, whereas Transcendentalists advocate social reform when appropriate, works of Dark Romanticism frequently show individuals failing in their attempts to make changes for the bettersocial reformsocial reform

Examples of Dark Romantics The Birth-Mark" (1843) The Birth-Mark" (1843) The Birth-Mark The Birth-Mark "The Minister's Black Veil" (1843) by Nathaniel Hawthorne "The Minister's Black Veil" (1843) by Nathaniel HawthorneThe Minister's Black VeilThe Minister's Black Veil Moby-Dick (1851) by Herman Melville Moby-Dick (1851) by Herman Melville Moby-DickHerman Melville Moby-DickHerman Melville Bartleby the Scrivener" (1856) by Herman Melville Bartleby the Scrivener" (1856) by Herman Melville Bartleby the Scrivener Bartleby the Scrivener "Tell-Tale Heart" (1843) "Tell-Tale Heart" (1843)Tell-Tale HeartTell-Tale Heart “The Fall of the House of Usher" (1839) “The Fall of the House of Usher" (1839) “The Fall of the House of Usher “The Fall of the House of Usher “Dream-Land” (1844) “Dream-Land” (1844) “Dream-Land "The Raven" (1845) by Edgar Allan Poe "The Raven" (1845) by Edgar Allan PoeThe RavenThe Raven