The Puritan Guilt in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Society Essay

Hester Prynne. Hester is shamed publicly for her sin of adultery, for which she bears the mark of

Nathaniel Hawthorne was a nineteenth century American writer that was born in Massachusetts with a Puritan Heritage. “Born in Massachusetts on the Fourth of July, 1804, he was the descendant of Puritan worthies and the son of a ship’s captain who died at sea in 1808” (Gollin). Allegories are portrayed in his writings to depict a vivid outlook of his moral themes. Many of his works describe the human conscience and how it deals with guilt. Hawthorne’s works describe his contemplation on sin and guilt. He believed it had an effect on one’s social behavior, as well

Nathaniel Hawthorne is noted for his religious connotations in his works. Young Goodman Brown, The Minister's Black Veil and The Birthmark is three exemplary stories. His writing technique uses ambiguity in that the reader is opened to many different ways of interpretation. In respect to religious methodology the main character's of these short stories all encounter some sort of revelation.

This change was something he agreed with because Hawthorne wasn’t very upcoming in religious stances. That was made very clear when he parted from his long-long line of puritan family members.

Nathaniel Hawthorne’s story was indeed a social commentary about the ways in which the Puritan’s lived a life which contradicted their beliefs. Although Puritanism no longer exist in today’s society, Hawthorne criticism about the Puritans is still applicable today in most religious societies. For Hawthorne, he wanted religion to stress more about acceptance rather then rigorous religious morals, something people are asking for today. Due to this outlook, more people are turning their backs away from the concept of religion, causing the decline of it.

Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter is a classic novel that portrays the punishment of sin and delivers a number of timeless themes and unique characters. Due to this novel being so widely known, numerous critics attempt to decipher Hawthorne’s original intentions for the primary traits of his main characters. A number of literary critics, such as Nina Baym and Judith Fryer, may claim that Hester Prynne is not rebellious and she is not portrayed as having individual strength; however, Hester can best be described as a contrast to typical Puritan society due to her lawlessness and individual strength.

Nathaniel Hawthorne is an author who often uses religion, guilt, and symbolism. He usually uses a lot of descriptions and gives enough information to provide the reader with a visual picture. His mind often turned to matters associated with human judgments on mortality, with guilt and its consequences (Turner). In the novel Hawthorne’s short stories he has a series of stories that have to do with things like suffering, honor, and religion. One good novel that deals with all of these things as well is The Scarlet Letter including loneliness, revenge, shame, and betrayal. Hawthorne is also known to strongly show Puritan beliefs. Hawthorne would search out moral implications, and whether he impaled his story with its moral or allowed the

"The scarlet letter was her passport into regions where other women dared not tread. Shame, Despair, Solitude! … [T]hey had made her strong, but taught her much amiss" (Hawthorne 190). The Scarlet Letter, a novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne, guides the reader through the story of Hester Prynne, a young adulteress who must rid herself and her lover of guilt. One of the most prominent themes in the novel is the idea of sin. This topic is best represented by the main character of the story, Hester herself. Her story, one of guilt and redemption, pain and punishment, is similar to the biblical account of the Fall of Adam and Eve, with Hester representing Eve and Dimmesdale, the town clergyman, representing Adam. Overall, the theme of sin is perfectly

Even though Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote some works that can be and are place under the category of Romanticism and then into another category of Transcendentalism, he is better known as just an author. In many of his works Hawthorne wrote a lot about the nature of sin, the problems of evil, and the conflict between pride and humility. (footnote readings on NH) This can largely be accredited to his upbringing, he lived in a stern and religious household-- but it was also a creative and artistic environment. (rNH 14&15)

Many American writers have scrutinized religion through their works of literature, however none had the enthusiasm of Nathaniel Hawthorne. A handful of Hawthorne's works are clear critiques of seventeenth century Puritan society in New England. Hawthorne's Young Goodman Brown and The Scarlet Letter illustrate his assessment by showing internal battles within characters, hypocrisy in religious figures, atypical punishment for crimes, and accenting women's roles in Puritan society. Firstly, Hawthorne's literature often stresses internal battles in main characters. In both Young Goodman Brown and The Scarlet Letter, these battles are

Nathaniel Hawthorne’s hatred of Puritanism was so big that he described in many of his writing such as The Scarlet Letter and The Minster Black Veil. He usually satirized them as evildoers and sin creators, not holy and Christ zealous as they described themselves. Hawthorne also used the effects of mysterious human mind and spontaneous action to describe the Puritan as satanic worship and God disobedience. In result, his writing reflected much of his Puritan ancestry affections.

Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter portrays a 17th century highly religious structured society in Boston, Massachusetts. The story tells about a societal and communal oppression against two sinners of adultery. Hester Prynne, the main character, was initially married at a young age to an elderly scholar and lived in Amsterdam. The couple decided to try fate in the New World, but Hester left first due to her husbands work. Not long after her arrival is that she commits to an affair with the minister of the town. Thus being Arthur Dimmesdale, the most spiritual-connected person in town, the one who engenders such sin. Nathaniel Hawthorne shows the reader that although both characters suffer considerably through the consequences of their

In 17th century America, society was largely structured around religion; society in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel The Scarlet Letter is structured around Puritanism. In the middle of chapter 9, he makes a statement about Reverend Dimmesdale, a respected minister, straying from Puritan thought. He draws an analogy between Puritan society and a dark, confining study where an open window letting in fresh air represents the only source of free thought. Throughout the passage, Hawthorne expresses both his dislike of Puritan society’s restrictions and its impact and influence on Reverend Dimmesdale.

When an author depicts a person or group of people in his or her work, the opinion of the writer most often sifts into the descriptions, whether intentionally or unintentionally. Some writers are very guarded regarding their feelings toward any particular subject, while others are very open and happy to share. Nathaniel Hawthorne belongs to the latter group. The purpose of the majority of his literary work was to share his view of the group of strict Christians known as the Puritans. Hawthorne himself was a direct descendent of Puritans, and he obviously held very particular views of his ancestors. These views are clearly demonstrated in his works

husband, Roger Chillingworth, is a businessman, therefore, she has a financial situation, but she doesn’t care about anything from that perspective. Although she has just about any material possession that she could ever want, she misses her husband very much. She misses having someone, in her love life, to fill the empty void. Some feminist theoreticians have spoken out concerning this problem, of having financial stability, but not having a very good love life. Most women, who live in situations like this, are not at all happy with it. One would have to have a heart made of stone to live a happy life and not take these details of their daily life into consideration. Hester, however, admits her sin, and she accepts the punishment without protest. She faces life with a ton of courage, and she does not care about anyone or anything who tried to