The Puritan Effect - 1703 Words

Nathaniel Hawthorne is respected as â€Å"one of the great masters of American Fiction† (â€Å"Hawthorne, Nathaniel† 363). He is an accomplished author who wrote novels as well as children’s literature. However, Hawthorne’s strength is American short story; his â€Å"haunting† tales are undeniably responsible for establishing this genre as a â€Å"significant art form† (â€Å"Nathaniel Hawthorne† Columbia 1). He is known for his â€Å"penetrating explorations† of the conflicts within one’s conscience and the consequences that plague his characters, as a result of their disobedience (â€Å"Nathaniel Hawthorne† 1). These â€Å"dilemmas† of the â€Å"human condition† are prominent in his story, â€Å"The Birth-Mark† (Tuerk 1). Mosses of an Old Manse, is a compilation of short stories; which†¦show more content†¦In stark comparison to his ancestors, his life was relatively normal; he was married with children and spent his days doing what he loved the most, writing. Hawthorne would often draw from his own personal understandings or beliefs, just as he did when he wrote â€Å"but the past was not dead† in â€Å"The Custom House†. It was evident that Hawthorne’s Puritan past was alive within him, and even after his death in 1864; it continued to live on forever in the pages of his books. One of those signature tales is â€Å"The Birth-Mark†; it is a story about the union between a man of science, Aylmer, and a woman of beauty, Georgina (Hawthorne 12). Hawthorne adorned this piece with deep, thought provoking symbols; such as the one on Georgina’s cheek. The mark is more than just a physical attribute on her skin; to Aylmer, it was a â€Å"symbol of his wifes liability to sin, sorrow, decay, and death†, in essence the mark is her humanity (14). All humanity strives to get rid of their defects; as well as Aylmer, as his experi ment is to rid Georgina of her flaws. The birthmark became more and more present to Aylmer after his marriage; he began observing his wife’s appearance and developed a morbid obsession with the â€Å"singular mark† on her cheek (13). The mark is described as being â€Å"deeply interwoven† in her skin; it is a part of her being, and not just of her appearance (13). The birthmark resembles a hand; the shape’s importance is recognizedShow MoreRelatedEffects Of Puritan Society In The Crucible1060 Words   |  5 Pagespersonal motives and feuds that emerge because of the restrictions in Puritan society. The society nurtures a culture of fear and distrust that stems from dread of the devil and strict adherence to the Bible. Salem is the perfect environment for fear and vengeance to spread through witchcraft accusations, because people have no other means to gain power or get revenge on enemies. In The Crucible, Arthur Miller portrays how the Puritan societ y in Salem influences the witch trials and increases theirRead MoreNegative Effects Of Puritan Culture On American Society1232 Words   |  5 Pagesconvicted. The infamous Salem Witch Trials illustrate the negative effects of Puritan culture on American society as people were driven by fear and their religious ideals to purify their community and unjustly persecute dozens of innocent people, especially women. Established in 1630, the early settlement of the Massachusetts Bay Colony paved the way for a Puritan community. According to Kay Kizer from the University of Notre Dame, Puritans were â€Å"a group of people who grew discontent in the Church ofRead MorePuritans In John Winthrops A Model Of Christian Charity1177 Words   |  5 PagesJohn Winthrop and the Puritans dared to make the dangerous journey across the Atlantic Ocean for their religious beliefs. The journey was expected to be difficult and the new land was expected to be unlike anything they had ever seen before. They were looking to become just the third group of people to successfully make the trek to the new world. While on the ship destined for what is now known as America, John Winthrop pulled all the Puritans together and delivered to them a speech bestowed uponRead MoreImposition Of Purin Desires In The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne1289 Words   |  6 Pagesdesires† (Crews), and the second being the im position of Puritan ideals. The characters in the novel act in ignorance of passions strength on their psyche, and their decisions; which leads to a submission of the self. While, the inner world of the characters is of paramount importance, the way in which the story unfolds is only possible due to the setting in New England — a Puritan colony. The highly conservative, and suppressive Puritan does not allow for the characters to properly express themselvesRead MoreCity Upon A Hill Essay1546 Words   |  7 PagesFor the Puritans in the early New England colonies life was by no means easy, but there was the possibility to expand their beliefs free from the persecution from Church of England. They had the opportunity to create their ideal society under God with the bible as their law from which they would define how to live. The Puritans set out to create their model society which could spread and cull the impurities from the church. But how did these beliefs and goals ultima tely effect their society? InRead MorePuritans And The New World Essay1566 Words   |  7 PagesOver the years, people broadcast the Puritans as a group of people who were extremely legalistic and against anything that would be considered fun in the modern world. This incorrect broadcast of the Puritans has led to many misconceptions about how they lived when they came to the New World and settled in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The Puritans were not legalistic, but rather sought to please God by creating a society that focused on fulfilling their calling through the institutions of familyRead MoreWhat Is the Moral of the Scarlet Letter? Essay952 Words   |  4 Pageseven though she is married to another man, so the puritan society during 17th century believed that she committed a great crime and should be punished. During those â‚ ¬time puritans were strict in laws and regulation however the text has lots of moral values to go depth in the scarlet letter such as the strict puritan society, sin and gui lt and the revenge One of the moral in the scarlet letter is the strict puritan society. For puritans if someone commits a sin he or she is consideredRead MorePuritans and the Scarlet Letter739 Words   |  3 PagesNathaniel Hawthorne was not a Puritan, but he had deep bonds back to this religion, and had ancestors that were in charge of the Salem Witch Trials, a fact that Hawthorne always felt remorse for. In choosing this time period as the setting for The Scarlet Letter, a classic story of love, betrayal and religion, he showcased both the weakness and strengths of this time period and religion. Like the Pilgrims, the Puritans were from England, and were dissatisfied with the church reform of England. SoRead MoreThe Salem Witch Trials Essay1614 Words   |  7 Pagesthroughout History. In the summer of 1692, it all started. A couple of Puritans thought that their daughters were being influenced by the Devil, but what they did not know is what the doctor said would affect the whole town, and eve their ancestors. Thesis: Many peaceful years after the Puritans’ journey to the new world, trouble arose through the Salem Witch Trials by what happened, what caused it, and the effects. In 1620, the Puritans faced an arduous journey, not knowing that seventy years later, theirRead MoreEnlightenment and Puritans782 Words   |  4 Pagesgiving little room for new ideas about the world. Puritan society found these new ideas of thought to be extremely radical in comparison to what they believed which was a belief of strong rational religion and morality. Enlightened society believed that the use of reason would be a catalyst of social change and had a demand of political representation thus resulting in a time in history where individualism was widely accepted amongst the new world. Puritan society believed strongly in myth, magic, and