Introduction to The Scarlet Letter and Mr. Nathaniel Hawthorne
Nathaniel Hawthorne Lived 1804-1864 (Salem Witch Trials 1692) Born in Salem, Massachusetts Infamous ancestors: William Hathorne- persecutor of Quakers, public whipping of a woman John Hathorne- judge during Witch Trials Nathaniel added a w to his last name-- to distance himself from his ancestors?
Worked in politics- article “The Custom House” satirizes the officers and Whig leaders Friends with Transcendentalists Thoreau and Emerson(spirituality through nature)-- watch for use of nature
Our focus for The Scarlet Letter: EVERYTHING IS AN ARGUMENT. At some point you will write on the following: What is Hawthorne’s argument as seen in The Scarlet Letter? How does he form his characters and why? What are his messages? Why did he write the novel?