Nathaniel HawthorneNathaniel Hawthorne

Major Themes, Influences, Major Themes, Influences,

and Popularityand Popularity

ThemesThemes

1. Alienation - a character is in a state of 1. Alienation - a character is in a state of isolation because of self-cause, or isolation because of self-cause, or societal cause, or a combination of both. societal cause, or a combination of both.

2. Initiation - involves the attempts of an 2. Initiation - involves the attempts of an alienated character to get rid of his alienated character to get rid of his isolated condition. isolated condition.

3. Problem of Guilt -a character's sense 3. Problem of Guilt -a character's sense of guilt forced by the puritanical heritage of guilt forced by the puritanical heritage or by society; also guilt vs. innocence. or by society; also guilt vs. innocence.

Themes (cont.)Themes (cont.)

4. Pride - Hawthorne treats pride as 4. Pride - Hawthorne treats pride as evil. He illustrates the following aspects evil. He illustrates the following aspects of pride in various characters: physical of pride in various characters: physical pride (Robin), spiritual pride (Goodman pride (Robin), spiritual pride (Goodman Brown, Ethan Brand), and intellectual Brown, Ethan Brand), and intellectual pride (Rappaccini). pride (Rappaccini).

5. Puritan New England - used as a 5. Puritan New England - used as a background and setting in many tales. background and setting in many tales.

Themes (cont.)Themes (cont.)

6. Italian background - especially in 6. Italian background - especially in The Marble FaunThe Marble Faun. .

7. Allegory - Hawthorne's writing is 7. Allegory - Hawthorne's writing is allegorical, didactic and moralistic. allegorical, didactic and moralistic.

8. Other themes include individual 8. Other themes include individual vs. society, self-fulfillment vs. vs. society, self-fulfillment vs. accommodation or frustration, accommodation or frustration, hypocrisy vs. integrity, love vs. hate, hypocrisy vs. integrity, love vs. hate, exploitation vs. hurting, and fate vs. exploitation vs. hurting, and fate vs. free will. free will.

InfluencesInfluences

1. Salem - early childhood, later work 1. Salem - early childhood, later work at the Custom House. at the Custom House.

2. Puritan family background - one of 2. Puritan family background - one of his forefathers was Judge Hathorne, his forefathers was Judge Hathorne, who presided over the Salem who presided over the Salem witchcraft trials, 1692. witchcraft trials, 1692.

Influences (cont.)Influences (cont.)

3. Belief in the existence of the devil. 3. Belief in the existence of the devil.

4. Belief in determinism.4. Belief in determinism.

Reasons for Hawthorne's Reasons for Hawthorne's Current PopularityCurrent Popularity

1. One of the most modern of writers, 1. One of the most modern of writers, Hawthorne is relevant in theme and Hawthorne is relevant in theme and attitude. According to H. H. Waggoner, attitude. According to H. H. Waggoner, Hawthorne's attitudes use irony, Hawthorne's attitudes use irony, ambiguity, and paradox. ambiguity, and paradox.

2. Hawthorne rounds off the Puritan cycle 2. Hawthorne rounds off the Puritan cycle in American writing - belief in the in American writing - belief in the existence of an active evil (the devil) and existence of an active evil (the devil) and in a sense of determinism (the concept of in a sense of determinism (the concept of predestination). predestination).

Reasons for Hawthorne's Reasons for Hawthorne's Current Popularity (cont.)Current Popularity (cont.)

3. Hawthorne's use of psychological 3. Hawthorne's use of psychological analysis (pre-Freudian) is of interest analysis (pre-Freudian) is of interest today. today.

4. In themes and style, Hawthorne's 4. In themes and style, Hawthorne's writings look ahead to Henry James, writings look ahead to Henry James, William Faulkner, and Robert Penn William Faulkner, and Robert Penn Warren. Warren.