A Little Background on our man, Nathaniel Hawthorne

A Little Background on our man, Nathaniel

Hawthorne lived between 1804-1864 Born in Salem, MA Ancestors were wealthy and influential One was Judge William Hathorne, who persecuted

Quakers Another was John Hathorne, who sentenced women to

death for witchcraft Hawthorne was obsessed with the sins of his family

His Beliefs

He struggled between the belief in the perfectibility of humanity and the essential evil nature of humankind.

Hawthorne’s Style

He is typical of nineteenth century romantics. His stories deal with: The strange and mysterious. Stories or situations from the past.

He focuses on evil and sin and its impact on his characters.

Nineteenth Century Literature

Gothic

Combines horror and romance.

Romantic

Reflects a return to nature.

Sin, Sweet, Sin

Hawthorne focuses his attention on evil and sin.

He wants to analyze the impact of evil and sin on his characters.

He wants to examine the question, “What is sin?”

Importance of Setting

All of the action takes place in the center of Boston, the scaffold.

There are three scenes where the main characters are present.

Hawthorne’s Writing Style

Formal and precise diction, and long and complex sentences.

Uses lots of images to create mood and emphasize ideas. Loves to describe lighting.

Historical References and What’s What in Puritan

Life Historical references are accurate to that of the Massachusetts Bay Colony

(There are actual governors, ministers, and practices in the novel). Puritan ideas are there too. The role of both ministers and judges were there to enforce God’s laws. All members of the community were judges of faith. Any sin committed by ANY member of the community would bring God’s

wrath to all. Sometimes, children were “put out” to other families so that they could

raise them properly. For the most part, people could get to Heaven by receiving God’s grace;

however, there were those who still believed in predestination.

Themes Explored

Civil law versus Natural Law: Marriage is a civil institution (governed by the state), but one can violate Natural law by marrying someone they don’t love.

The nature of sin and the effects of sin on the individual. Sin affects each character (Hester, Dimmesdale, and Chillingworth) differently.

The individual’s relationship to society. We need to feel a connection to others. (Pearl is an example of this by the end of the novel)

NarratorWe learn from the Custom

House chapter, that he found a manuscript of Hester’s story and decided to write a novel

from it.

Not unlike Hawthorne, he is very interested in America’s history, especially when it

comes to the Puritans.

Hester PrynneThe Protagonist

Has a child, Pearl, with man other than her husband

Was sent ahead of her husband to Boston, but her husband never showed up…

until now!

(cue dramatic music)

Reverend Arthur

DimmesdaleA minister in Boston

He is internally conflicted

Befriends the new stranger in town

ChillingworthHester’s husband who shows up unexpectedly while Hester is standing on the scaffold in

the town square holding a baby…that’s not his!

He is bent on finding out the identity of Pearl’s father

Governor Bellingham

He’s rich

He’s strict with the laws

He behaves like an English aristocrat

Surprise! His sister’s a witch. (supposedly. But Hawthorne

capitalizes on this belief)

Mistress Hibbins

Governor Bellingham’s sister

She likes to hang with the “Black Man” in the forest.

PearlShe is a character that acts

as a symbol.

She is a constant reminder of Hester’s sin.

She is a representation of the natural world, since she has little contact with the town.

Your Homework Tonight

You will be given a list of allusions to research. For each allusion, write the meaning of the allusion AND how it seems to relate to the novel.

DO NOT COPY. YOU MUST DO YOUR OWN WORK.

Allusions to Research Hutchinson, Anne (1591-1643) referred to in chapter 1

and other chapters Daniel in chapter 3. Who was this person in the bible? Lethe and Nepenthe referred to in chapter 4. Cadmus and the “dragon’s teeth” in chapter 6. Who is

Cadmus an what is the “dragon’s teeth.” Eden in chapter 6.What is it? John the Baptist in chapter 8. Who was he? Mathew 13:45-46 specifically its connection to the quote

“a pearl of great price” in chapter 8 (King James Version). Research the meaning and origin of this phrase.

Dryad used in chapter 18 define “necromancer” chapter 24