NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE Hawthorne's Life

NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE Born July 4, 1804 in Salem, MA Education- Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine (38 freshmen, 5 faculty members) Married Sophia Peabody in 1842 Job at Custom House 1839-40, 46-49 3 Children Moved to England, France, and Rome after Salem Died in 1864 Do you want to learn more?

NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE “The Scarlet Letter is powerfully written but my writings do not, nor ever will, appeal to the broadest class of sympathies, and therefore will not obtain a very wide popularity.” -Hawthorne, after finishing the novel

NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE As a literary artist… First American “pro writer”: college educated, familiar with the great European writers 4,000 copies of The Scarlet Letter sold in the first 10 days

HISTORICAL CONTEXT The Scarlet Letter was finished in 1850…..

HISTORICAL CONTEXT To what “period” of American Literature does Hawthorne belong?? Lets take a look at the history of American Literature…..

HISTORICAL CONTEXT English Heritage (Elizabethan Age) 1650-1750: Early Colonial period- Puritan writings, no distinctive American literature 1750-1800: Later Colonial period- Age of Reason/Enlightenment (Neoclassicism, Rationalism)

HISTORICAL CONTEXT 1800-1850: American Renaissance/ Romanticism- slave narratives, inner feelings, the burden of a Puritan past, the rejection of Neoclassicism Transcendentalism was a part of this…

HISTORICAL CONTEXT TRANSCENDENTALISM Boston-centered movement, led by Emerson, was an important force in New England circles Human existence transcends the sensory realm Formalism in favor of individual responsibility Belief in individual choice and consequence Focus on the positive

HISTORICAL CONTEXT SUBDIVISION OF ROMANTICISM: GOTHIC LITERATURE, the “dark romantics”(1800-1850) -use of supernatural -motif of double (both good and evil in characters; sin and evil does exist) -depression, dark forests -Poe, Hawthorne, Melville -emphasis on symbolism (which we will discuss later)

HISTORICAL CONTEXT In what ways can you see the Transcendentalist influence on Hawthorne? (His wife was a Transcendentalist and had some effect on his literature, and he also became friends with Transcendentalists in Concord, Emerson and Thoreau) How is he also ANTI-TRANSCENDENTALIST/ GOTHIC, as exhibited in the novel?

The Scarlet Letter novel (notice title is italicized) written by Nathaniel Hawthorne (b. 1804) written about 1850 set in Boston, Mass. about 1690

(setting of The Scarlet Letter) Boston (setting of The Scarlet Letter) Plymouth (where Mayflower landed in 1620/setting for Bradford’s memoir Of Plymouth Plantation)

Setting: The Scarlet Letter The setting of Hawthorne’s novel is critical to the plot of the novel. 1690’s Boston was a Puritan village Like other Puritan settlements in New England, the local and colonial governments were theocracies.

theocracy word comes from Greek theo = God cratos = rule a theocracy is a government where the civil laws are based (in whole or in part) on religious laws; civil leaders in theocracies are probably also important religious leaders

theocracy, cont. In Afghanistan before 2001, the Taliban controlled religious and civil laws. Besides having to wear burqas in public, women in Afghanistan were not allowed to attend school or drive cars. In Saudi Arabia, women cannot drive or vote. Because Islam forbids it, no place in Saudi Arabia sells alcohol or pork.

Theocracy as Extremism Ironically, it is largely because of the Puritans – who themselves established a theocratic government in the New World – that we in America tend to view most theocratic governments as extremist.

Puritanism Began in England in the mid-1500’s A sect of Calvinists Calvinism named after Swiss theologian John Calvin Calvinism = predetermination no religious authority BUT Scripture

“Puritans” “Puritans” intended as a derogatory term “Puritans” usually referred to themselves as “the Godly” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puritanism) Puritans fell quickly out of favor in England, where the king was the head of the Church of England. They recognized neither the king’s secular or religious authority, and so quickly became enemies of civil and religious leaders.

The Puritan Role in Development of “American” Character In 1600, the Puritans left England for Holland, which even in the 17th century was a very liberal society. It was too liberal for the Puritans, though, who disliked the government’s permissiveness and tolerance of behaviors/attitudes they found unacceptable.

The Puritan Role in Development of “American” Character, cont. In 1620, the Puritans left Holland for the New World. Established Plymouth Plantation in the “savage wilderness” of New England. Retained those aspects of European society they liked; created new laws, policies, etc. to replace the elements of society they did not like.

The Puritan Role in Development of “American” Character, cont. Because Scripture was central to religion and government, scholarship was a highly valued right (reserved, of course, to men only). The role of religious leaders was to present Scripture and guide other church members in its understanding and application. Puritan religious leaders were NEVER seen as intermediaries or intercessors.

The Puritan Role in Development of “American” Character, cont. “Puritan leaders were highly trained scholars, whose education tended to translate into positions that were often authoritarian.” http://xroads.virginia.edu/~CAP/PURITAN/purhist.html “There was a built-in hierarchism in this sense, but one which mostly reflected the age.” http://xroads.virginia.edu/~CAP/PURITAN/purhist.html Very Important: Anybody (theoretically) could rise to the same level of authority.

So… All of which were discouraged in the Old World become the basis of “American Rugged Individualism” This is probably why most Americans disagree so strongly with theocracies The Puritan emphasis on: self-reliance independence individual achievement individual responsibility personal accountability power through ability (education)

Puritan “Crime and Punishment” Because Puritan Boston c. 1690 was still a theocratic society, crime against church (or God) was the equivalent of a crime against another person or against “the State.” Yes… it was illegal to miss church on Sabbath days. It was also illegal to sleep during sermons that could run 3 or more hours long – during each session (morning and afternoon) on a Sabbath. http://www.materialreligion.org/objects/dec96obj.html

Puritan “Crime and Punishment”, cont. Virtually any offense could land you in the pillory, or stocks. The Puritans imported this punishment to New England from England. Entire purpose was public display and public humiliation. Stocks were built on a scaffold in the center of the village, where townspeople could mock the offender, and throw rotten vegetables or stones. Aside from the offender’s hands being immobilized, his ears would frequently be nailed to the board behind his head. The Stocks http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/2100/2111/pillory_1_md.gif

Puritan “Crime and Punishment”, cont. After serving time in a jail and then on the pillory, a convicted criminal would often be required to wear some outward sign of his or her offense. In 1637, as punishment for writing an essay that criticized the archbishop, William Prynne (no relation to the central character in The Scarlet Letter) – after being put in the stocks – had the letters “SL” (for “seditious libeler”) branded onto his cheeks. http://history.wisc.edu/sommerville/367/367-06.htm

The “scarlet letter” of the novel’s title refers to a scarlet letter “A” that the novel’s main character is made to wear on her clothing as punishment for her crime of adultery.

“The Custom House” and The Scarlet Letter The introductory chapter to The Scarlet Letter is called “The Custom House”. Nathaniel Hawthorne tells of his time as a clerk in the Salem, Mass. Government Custom House. He claims to have found a letter written by Hester Prynne (the novel’s main character) and an embroidered scarlet A. The letter tells of Hester’s experiences, which Hawthorne relates in the novel. The novel is NOT based in historical fact, but Hawthorne uses “The Custom House” to give his story credibility. Hawthorne’s family came from Boston. He was descendant of a judge in the Salem witch trials (named Hathorne). Hawthorne changed the spelling of his name to distance himself from his relative’s unsavory reputation. http://www.hawthorneinsalem.org/Life&Times/BiographicalInfo/Adultlife/MMD1114.html