Discusses how the characters in many of Hawthorne’s works reflect his life experiences.
This paper analyzes the works of Nathaniel Hawthorne as a reflection of his own life and ideology. The paper provides a brief, but essential, description of Hawthorne’s life and then looks at his strong views on contemporary female writers. The paper focuses on “The Scarlet Letter” and the earlier “Young Goodman Brown” to highlight how the manifestation of Hawthorne’s life and his ideological, religious and philosophical beliefs are expressed in his description of his characters, their emotions and their dilemmas.
Nathaniel Hawthorne was born in July 4th, 1804 in Salem, Massachusetts. His Puritan family and lifestyle influenced his point of view. His family was a well-based Puritan family, and one of his forefathers was Judge Hathorne, who presided over the Salem witchcraft trials, 1692. Hawthorne’s uncle had committed incest with Hawthorne’s mother and Aunt, and escaped to the woods when the affair was revealed. Although it is not certain that Hawthorne knew all the details about this event, including the humiliation of his mother and aunt, it may have affected him and his relationships with his sister (Heath, 1998).
Another event that set an impact on his life and writing was the death of his father or as he regarded it seclusion. After his father’s death, Hawthorne demonstrated a eager interest in his father’s worldwide nautical adventures and often read the logbooks his father had compiled from sailing abroad. This may have influenced his attraction to the frontier.”
Another event that set an impact on his life and writing was the death of his father or as he regarded it seclusion. After his father’s death, Hawthorne demonstrated a eager interest in his father’s worldwide nautical adventures and often read the logbooks his father had compiled from sailing abroad. This may have influenced his attraction to the frontier.”