1. Nathaniel Hawthorne and the scarlet letter Honors/Pre-IB English II Mr. Moccia

2. Basics of the man Born on July 4, 1804, in Salem, MassachusettsBorn on July 4, 1804, in Salem, Massachusetts William Hathorne, the author's great-great-great- grandfather, a Puritan, was the first of the family to emigrate from EnglandWilliam Hathorne, the author's great-great-great- grandfather, a Puritan, was the first of the family to emigrate from England Hawthorne added the “w”Hawthorne added the “w”

3. Ambivalence toward ancestry He disagreed with the Puritan religion’s “hypocritical” overzealousness, its over involvement in personal lives, and theocracyHe disagreed with the Puritan religion’s “hypocritical” overzealousness, its over involvement in personal lives, and theocracy But he felt connected in the sense that he felt “influenced” by them: their “blood” ran in him; he also respected their strength and will powerBut he felt connected in the sense that he felt “influenced” by them: their “blood” ran in him; he also respected their strength and will power

4. College, in his own words “I was educated (as the phrase is) at Bowdoin College. I was an idle student, negligent of college rules and the Procrustean details of academic life, rather choosing to nurse my own fancies than to dig into Greek roots and be numbered among the learned Thebans.”“I was educated (as the phrase is) at Bowdoin College. I was an idle student, negligent of college rules and the Procrustean details of academic life, rather choosing to nurse my own fancies than to dig into Greek roots and be numbered among the learned Thebans.”

5. Sophia Peabody After three years of engagement, Hawthorne married Sophia Peabody on July 9, 1842After three years of engagement, Hawthorne married Sophia Peabody on July 9, 1842 Nathaniel and Sophia Hawthorne had three childrenNathaniel and Sophia Hawthorne had three children

6. Publishing the novel Hawthorne returned to writing and published The Scarlet Letter in mid- March 1850Hawthorne returned to writing and published The Scarlet Letter in mid- March 1850 The book became an immediate best-seller and initiated his most lucrative period as a writerThe book became an immediate best-seller and initiated his most lucrative period as a writer

7. death Hawthorne died in his sleep on May 19, 1864, in Plymouth, New HampshireHawthorne died in his sleep on May 19, 1864, in Plymouth, New Hampshire

8. Literary movements Hawthorne's works belong to romanticismHawthorne's works belong to romanticism Romanticism rejects the Reason, Progress, and Science of the Enlightenment, choosing instead Nature and the EmotionsRomanticism rejects the Reason, Progress, and Science of the Enlightenment, choosing instead Nature and the Emotions Hawthorne was more of a “dark romantic”Hawthorne was more of a “dark romantic” Cautionary tales that suggest that guilt, sin, and evil are the most inherent (or pronounced) natural qualities of humanityCautionary tales that suggest that guilt, sin, and evil are the most inherent (or pronounced) natural qualities of humanity

9. Themes Sin / Adam and EveSin / Adam and Eve Positive and negatives of eating the applePositive and negatives of eating the apple Ambivalence toward PuritanismAmbivalence toward Puritanism Personal Identity: socially or individually created?Personal Identity: socially or individually created? IsolationIsolation Guilt and BlameGuilt and Blame HypocrisyHypocrisy Compassion and ForgivenessCompassion and Forgiveness RevengeRevenge