Nathaniel Hawthorne was an American novelist and short story writer who is best known for his works of historical fiction and dark romanticism. He was born on July 4, 1804, in Salem, Massachusetts, and was a descendant of a long line of Puritan ancestors, including John Hathorne, a judge in the Salem witch trials. This ancestry would later influence much of Hawthorne's work, as he often explored themes of guilt, sin, and the consequences of historical actions.
Hawthorne attended Bowdoin College in Maine, where he became friends with Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and future President Franklin Pierce. After graduation, he returned to Salem and began a career as a writer, publishing his first book, "Twice-Told Tales," in 1837. This collection of short stories established Hawthorne as a significant voice in American literature and launched his career as a writer.
Throughout his career, Hawthorne wrote several novels and collections of short stories, including "The Scarlet Letter," "The House of the Seven Gables," and "The Blithedale Romance." "The Scarlet Letter" is perhaps his most well-known work and is considered a classic of American literature. It tells the story of Hester Prynne, a woman who is publicly shamed and ostracized for having a child out of wedlock in Puritan New England. The novel explores themes of sin, redemption, and the human condition, and it remains a popular and enduring work to this day.
Hawthorne's writing is characterized by its moral and psychological depth, and he is often credited with helping to establish the genre of dark romanticism in American literature. His works often explore the dark side of human nature and the consequences of sin and wrongdoing. He was also a skilled craftsman, known for his meticulous attention to detail and his ability to craft compelling and complex characters.
In addition to his writing, Hawthorne served as a customs inspector and a consul in Europe, and he was also involved in politics. He died on May 19, 1864, at the age of 59, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most significant and influential writers in American literature.
Nathaniel Hawthorne's Literary Style & Short Biography
His growing relationship with the intellectual circle that included Ralph Waldo Emerson and Margaret Fuller led him to abandon his customs post for the utopian experiment at Brook Farm, a commune designed to promote economic self-sufficiency and transcendentalist principles. Aylmer shows himself to Georgiana as a brilliant scientist obsessed with perfection; he hides his faults from her. Raised by a widowed mother, Hawthorne attended Bowdoin College in Maine, where he met two people who were to have great impact upon his life: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, who would later become a famous poet, and Franklin Pierce, who would later become president of the United States. Some who called themselves Christians were hypocritical, and some incited witchcraft hysteria which accused more than two hundred people and executed twenty on trumped up charges fueled by the social pressures of the times. The literary style of Hawthorne is ordinary as compared to contemporary writers. Detroit: Thompson Gale, 2002: 319.
Nathaniel Hawthorne Biography, Works, and Quotes
Rose Hawthorne, who initially pursued a literary career like her father, converted to Roman Catholicism with her husband. Hawthorne used symbolism a great deal in his writing. Hawthorne and the Historical Romance of New England. The obvious meaning of this article will be found to smother its insinuated one. That day, Hawthorne left the White House feeling ambivalent about Lincoln. He wrote of gloom, guilt, and retribution. For instance, not a cheap date! Despite losing his father at a young age, Nathaniel indicated in his writings and letters that he had a good childhood thanks to the help of his wealthy uncles.
A Summary and Analysis of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s ‘The Minister’s Black Veil’
The scientist killed his wife because she was flawed. From 1821 to 1825, Hawthorne attended Bowdoin College with the aid of his wealthy uncles. Alymer, who has a stunning wife, Georgianna, who has a slight defect on her cheek which becomes an obsession to him. His father and some other male ancestors had been sea captains and it appears from his writings that he felt guilty about not following in their footsteps which would have provided a more prosperous life for his mother and sisters. This style of using overly formal and exaggerated Hawthorne was inspired by the British writer Sir Walter Scott. His tone is singularly effective—wild, plaintive, thoughtful, and in full accordance with his themes. In 1850, after having lost the job, he published The Scarlet Letter, which enjoyed critical acclaim and became an instant commercial success.
Nathaniel Hawthorne
He sees this tiny mark as being a fatal flaw in her beauty so much so that he can see nothing else but the mark when he looks at her. Ultimately, however, The House of the Seven Gables proved less popular with both readers and critics. American Bloomsbury: Louisa May Alcott, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Margaret Fuller, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Henry David Thoreau; Their Lives, Their Loves, Their Work. Now I am going to break from my biographical narrative to add a personal note. His health started deteriorating, and age factors started appearing. The couple settled in Concord, Massachusetts.
Nathaniel Hawthorne Disses Abe Lincoln
Many of his sea-faring relatives died at sea, including his father. Cambridge, UK; New York; and Melbourne, Australia: Cambridge University Press, 2004. The story is about two lovers who rebelled against the moral law of Puritans. Order now After college, Hawthorne returned to Salem to the home of his mother where he began working on writing earnestly, hoping to make his living. Each member of the congregation, the most innocent girl and the man of hardened breast, felt as if the preacher had crept upon them behind his awful veil and discovered their hoarded iniquity of deed or thought.
Nathaniel Hawthorne Biography and Works
It is very deliberate, with measured rhythms, marked by formal decorum. He published short stories, novels, and also a biography of his friend Franklin Pierce. They are The House of the Seven Gables, The Scarlet Letter, The Marble Faun, and The Blithedale Romance. He even thinks that he sees his wife-to-be in a compromised state. Most of his works feature moral metaphors with the inspiration of anti-puritanism.
10 Things You May Not Know About Nathaniel Hawthorne
The modern themes in the writing of Hawthorne were inspired by his religious beliefs. This novel made Hawthorne widely famous. For the sake of your holy office do away this scandal. He did not show much interest in transcendentalism, however, living in the Book Farm community allowed him to save money to marry Sophia. Then he, too, lies on his death bed, surrounded by other holy men and by his patient wife, Elizabeth, who has refused to wash her hands of him altogether and now sits tenderly nursing him in his dying moments.
