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| − | '''Nathaniel Hawthorne''' (b. 1804 in [[Salem, Massachusetts]], d. 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 as he felt his own family was cursed due to his direct ancestor's pivotal, unrecanted role as a presiding judge in the [[Salem Witch Trials]]. Hawthorne's best-known novel, ''[[The Scarlet Letter]]'', dealt with both guilt and shame, as did his well-known short story ''The Minister's Black Veil''. His own religious [[faith]] was as a believer but relatively shallow, though some [[Christian]]s like his work because he wrote about [[morality]], read the [[Bible]] regularly, and cited ''[[Pilgrim's Progress]]'' as his favorite book. | + | '''Nathaniel Hawthorne''' (b. 1804 in [[Salem, Massachusetts]], d. 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 as he felt his own family was cursed due to his direct ancestor's pivotal, unapologetic, and never-recanted role as a presiding judge in the [[Salem Witch Trials]]. Hawthorne's best-known novel, ''[[The Scarlet Letter]]'', dealt with both guilt and shame, as did his well-known short story ''The Minister's Black Veil''. His own religious [[faith]] was as a believer but relatively shallow, though some [[Christian]]s like his work because he wrote about [[morality]], read the [[Bible]] regularly, and cited ''[[Pilgrim's Progress]]'' as his favorite book. |
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| − | 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.<ref>https://www.historichotels.org/us/hotels-resorts/hawthorne-hotel/history.php</ref> Some consider Hawthorne's writing style to be borderline [[Gothic]], with both of his top novels displaying a concern by Hawthorne with supernatural retribution for sins by a father.<ref>https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/educational-magazines/gothic-literature</ref> | + | Hawthorne's 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.<ref>https://www.historichotels.org/us/hotels-resorts/hawthorne-hotel/history.php</ref> Some consider Hawthorne's writing style to be borderline [[Gothic]], with both of his top novels displaying a concern by Hawthorne with supernatural retribution for sins by a father.<ref>https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/educational-magazines/gothic-literature</ref> |
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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'' was favored by [[liberals]] throughout much of the 20th century for its tendency to weaken codes of [[morality]] against sex outside of [[marriage]]. But today [[feminist]]s consider ''The Scarlet Letter'' to be "riddled with sexist quips and stereotypes,"<ref name="TFL">https://thefeministletter.weebly.com/was-nathaniel-hawthorne-a-feminist.html</ref> and Hawthorne himself is criticized by feminists for supposedly being a “misogynist based on his sexist critique of Fuller and other female authors of the time, with comments made such as 'damned mob of scribbling women.'”<ref name="TFL"/> Similarly, Hawthorne's description of Miss Hepzibah Pyncheon in ''[[The House of the Seven Gables]]'' could be considered to be sexist today. |
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| | 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 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''. |
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| | == Works == | | == Works == |
| − | ''The House of Seven Gables'' is a novel by Hawthorne inspired by his own ancestors' role in the [[Salem Witch Trials]]. A searchable version is available online, and here is a sample paragraph using the concept of [[infinity]] in a delightful way:<ref>Chapter 10, "The Pyncheon Garden."</ref> | + | ''[[The House of Seven Gables]]'' is a novel by Hawthorne inspired by his own ancestors' role in the [[Salem Witch Trials]]. A searchable version is available online, and here is a sample paragraph using the concept of [[infinity]] in a delightful way:<ref>Chapter 10, "The Pyncheon Garden."</ref> |
| | {{cquote|"Ah, Mr. Clifford Pyncheon!" said the man of patches, "you may scheme for me as much as you please; but I'm not going to give up this one scheme of my own, even if I never bring it really to pass. It does seem to me that men make a wonderful mistake in trying to heap up property upon property. If I had done so, I should feel as if Providence was not bound to take care of me; and, at all events, the city wouldn't be! I'm one of those people who think that infinity is big enough for us all--and eternity long enough."}} | | {{cquote|"Ah, Mr. Clifford Pyncheon!" said the man of patches, "you may scheme for me as much as you please; but I'm not going to give up this one scheme of my own, even if I never bring it really to pass. It does seem to me that men make a wonderful mistake in trying to heap up property upon property. If I had done so, I should feel as if Providence was not bound to take care of me; and, at all events, the city wouldn't be! I'm one of those people who think that infinity is big enough for us all--and eternity long enough."}} |
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