The Dark Romantics

Nathaniel Hawthorne

and

Herman Melville

Dark Romantic

“Dark Romantic” - believed that evil was the dominant force in the world and their literature expressed this gloomy vision

Nathaniel Hawthorne

Background

Born in Salem Descendant of Judge

Hathorne of the Salem Witch Trials

Changed the spelling and pronunciation of last name because of this shame

Education

Attended and graduated from Bowdoin College

After graduation he wrote first novel, Fanshawe (published anonymously in 1828)

Ashamed he found and burned most copies of it

Weird, but true!

Remained secluded in mother’s house for 12 years to work on his writing skills

In 1837, published Twice-Told Tales and ended his seclusion

Back on Track 1842-married and moved to Concord, Mass.

(cultural Mecca of Transcendentalism) Mosses from an Old Manse (1846) Hawthorne moved family back to Salem…a big

influence on him, he published: (1850) Scarlett Letter - masterpiece about

Puritanism and sin (1851) House of Seven Gables (1852) The Blithedale Romance

Friends in High Places

College friend, Franklin Pierce became president and appointed Hawthorne American consul at Liverpool

Towards the End

Spent much time in England and Italy

His time there inspired Marble Fawn (1860)

Died in 1864, leaving 4 unfinished novels

Herman Melville

Biographical Information

He was born in New York City Born wealthy, but due to father’s loss of

job, the family became impoverished His mentor was Nathaniel Hawthorne

(Melville dedicated Moby Dick to Hawthorne)

Education

Had NO formal education

Worked at age 19…began working on whaling ships

Melville was quoted as saying, “Whale ships were my Havard and Yale.”

He used these experiences to write books/novels

Works

Books about Cannibals:

Typee Omoo

Books about the seas: Mardi Moby Dick White Jacket Billy Bud Redburn

What goes around comes around

After his death, no one read his works anymore

In 1920, scholars and graduate students rediscovered Moby Dick, and it soon became recognized as one of the greatest American novels ever written

Hawthorne and Melville

Http://www.melville.org/hawthrne.htm