2. A Little Background on our man, Nathaniel Hawthorne
lived between
Born in Salem, MA
Ancestors were wealthy and influential
One was Judge William Hathorne, who persecuted Quakers
Another was John Hathorne, who sentenced women to death for witchcraft
Hawthorne was obsessed with the sins of his family

3. His Beliefs
He struggled between the belief in the perfectibility of humanity and the essential evil nature of humankind.

4. Hawthorne’s Style
He is typical of nineteenth century romantics. His stories deal with:
The strange and mysterious.
Stories or situations from the past.
He focuses on evil and sin and its impact on his characters.

5. Nineteenth Century Literature
Gothic
Romantic
Combines horror and romance.
Reflects a return to nature.

6. Sin, Sweet, Sin Hawthorne focuses his attention on evil and sin.
He wants to analyze the impact of evil and sin on his characters.
He wants to examine the question, “What is sin?”

7. Importance of Setting
All of the action takes place in the center of Boston, the scaffold.
There are three scenes where the main characters are present.

8. Hawthorne’s Writing Style
Formal and precise diction, and long and complex sentences.
Uses lots of images to create mood and emphasize ideas. Loves to describe lighting.

9. Historical References and What’s What in Puritan Life
Historical references are accurate to that of the Massachusetts Bay Colony (There are actual governors, ministers, and practices in the novel).
Puritan ideas are there too.
The role of both ministers and judges were there to enforce God’s laws.
All members of the community were judges of faith.
Any sin committed by ANY member of the community would bring God’s wrath to all.
Sometimes, children were “put out” to other families so that they could raise them properly.
For the most part, people could get to Heaven by receiving God’s grace; however, there were those who still believed in predestination.

10. Themes Explored
Civil law versus Natural Law: Marriage is a civil institution (governed by the state), but one can violate Natural law by marrying someone they don’t love.
The nature of sin and the effects of sin on the individual. Sin affects each character (Hester, Dimmesdale, and Chillingworth) differently.
The individual’s relationship to society. We need to feel a connection to others. (Pearl is an example of this by the end of the novel)

11. Narrator
We learn from the Custom House chapter, that he found a manuscript of Hester’s story and decided to write a novel from it.
Not unlike Hawthorne, he is very interested in America’s history, especially when it comes to the Puritans.

12. Has a child, Pearl, with man other than her husband
Hester Prynne
The Protagonist
Has a child, Pearl, with man other than her husband
Was sent ahead of her husband to Boston, but her husband never showed up…until now!
(cue dramatic music)

13. Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale
A minister in Boston
He is internally conflicted
Befriends the new stranger in town

14. He is bent on finding out the identity of Pearl’s father
Chillingworth
Hester’s husband who shows up unexpectedly while Hester is standing on the scaffold in the town square holding a baby…that’s not his!
He is bent on finding out the identity of Pearl’s father

15. Governor Bellingham He’s rich He’s strict with the laws
He behaves like an English aristocrat
Surprise! His sister’s a witch. (supposedly. But Hawthorne capitalizes on this belief)

16. Mistress Hibbins Governor Bellingham’s sister
She likes to hang with the “Black Man” in the forest.

17. Pearl She is a character that acts as a symbol.
She is a constant reminder of Hester’s sin.
She is a representation of the natural world, since she has little contact with the town.

18. Your Homework Tonight
You will be given a list of allusions to research. For each allusion, write the meaning of the allusion AND how it seems to relate to the novel.
DO NOT COPY. YOU MUST DO YOUR OWN WORK.

19. Allusions to Research
Hutchinson, Anne ( ) referred to in chapter 1 and other chapters
Daniel in chapter 3. Who was this person in the bible?
Lethe and Nepenthe referred to in chapter 4.
Cadmus and the “dragon’s teeth” in chapter 6. Who is Cadmus an what is the “dragon’s teeth.”
Eden in chapter 6.What is it?
John the Baptist in chapter 8. Who was he?
Mathew 13:45-46 specifically its connection to the quote “a pearl of great price” in chapter 8 (King James Version). Research the meaning and origin of this phrase.
Dryad used in chapter 18
define “necromancer” chapter 24