Difference between revisions of "Nathaniel Hawthorne"
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Hawthorne's ''The Scarlet Letter'' is favored by [[liberals]] for its tendency to weaken codes of [[morality]] against sex outside of [[marriage]]. | Hawthorne's ''The Scarlet Letter'' is favored by [[liberals]] for its tendency to weaken codes of [[morality]] against sex outside of [[marriage]]. | ||
| − | Hawthorne and author [[Herman Melville]] struck up a friendship as neighbors, in which the two forged a deep connection, but | + | Hawthorne and author [[Herman Melville]] struck up a friendship as neighbors, in which the two forged a deep connection, but Hawthorne ultimately rejected Melville's attempts to continue to the friendship. Nonetheless, Hawthorne was deeply influential to Melville's literary career,<ref>http://www.melville.org/hawthrne.htm</ref> and Melville later depicted Hawthorne in a negative way in Melville's poem ''Clarel''. |
Hawthorne was one of the founders and first directors of the failed [[utopia]]n community of [[Brook Farm]],<ref name=britannica>[https://www.britannica.com/topic/Brook-Farm Brook Farm], [[Encyclopedia Britannica]]</ref> but left after six months.<ref name=britannica /> | Hawthorne was one of the founders and first directors of the failed [[utopia]]n community of [[Brook Farm]],<ref name=britannica>[https://www.britannica.com/topic/Brook-Farm Brook Farm], [[Encyclopedia Britannica]]</ref> but left after six months.<ref name=britannica /> | ||
Revision as of 21:33, September 15, 2021
Nathaniel Hawthorne (born 1804 in Salem, Massachusetts, died 1864) was one of the most prominent American novelists of the 19th century. He also wrote many short stories, and most of his work dealt with depressing topics such as guilt and shame. His best-known novel, The Scarlet Letter, dealt with both of these themes, as did his well-known short story The Minister's Black Veil. His own religious faith was shallow or non-existent, but some Christians like his work because he wrote about morality, read the Bible regularly, and cited Pilgrim's Progress as his favorite book.
Hawthorne style is that of dark romanticism, dwelling on the evil side of life. He is revered in Salem to this day, where there is a "Hawthorne Hotel" named in honor of him, which is located on Hawthorne Boulevard.[1]
Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter is favored by liberals for its tendency to weaken codes of morality against sex outside of marriage.
Hawthorne and author Herman Melville struck up a friendship as neighbors, in which the two forged a deep connection, but Hawthorne ultimately rejected Melville's attempts to continue to the friendship. Nonetheless, Hawthorne was deeply influential to Melville's literary career,[2] and Melville later depicted Hawthorne in a negative way in Melville's poem Clarel.
Hawthorne was one of the founders and first directors of the failed utopian community of Brook Farm,[3] but left after six months.[3]
Ancestors
His father was Nathaniel Hathorne, Sr., born in Salem in 1775 but died as a captain at sea while Nathaniel was only 4 years old. His widowed mother then moved her family (Nathaniel had two sisters also) into the homes of her wealthy brothers, and Nathaniel was raised there in Salem and in Raymond, Maine along Sebago Lake.
On his paternal side Nathaniel's ancestors included Major William Hathorne (c. 1606/7-1681), who persecuted Quakers and even ordered the public whipping of one, and John Hathorne (1641-1717), son of Major William and Anna Hathorne, who was a magistrate of the Court of Oyer and Terminer. John Hathorne was a fierce interrogator of accused witches at the Salem Witch Trials, and the only presiding judge who did not apologize later for his role. The conduct of these ancestors in persecuting others bothered Nathaniel immensely, and inspired multiple passages in his writings.