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Essay on nathaniel hawthorne literary movement
Romantic and gothic literature
Romantic and gothic literature
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What is considered evil? Is a person truly ever evil? If so, what leads into walking down this path? Could it possibly be a life-alternating event or influence from another outside force? Anti-transcendentalists believed in this presence of evil in humanity and that it was predominant in the lives of individuals. Anti-transcendentalists were the opposite of transcendentalists in terms of their overall views on life. Transcendentalists believed in the good or in other words, positive outlooks in life. Dark Romantics as anti-transcendentalists were sometimes referred to as being extremely popular during the mid-1800’s. This saw the rise of many prominent anti-transcendentalist’s writers, not just in America but abroad. Dark Romantics used symbolism in their literary works to show the prevalence of evil in society contrary to transcendentalist’s beliefs.
Nathaniel Hawthorne was an active anti-transcendentalist, whose stories pinned individuals against society. Hawthorne was one of many Dark Romantics well known for their overall use of symbolism. One such example comes from The Sca...
Throughout his literary endeavors, Nathaniel Hawthorne utilizes symbolism to present a certain theme that pertains to human nature and life. In his works, The Scarlet Letter and "The Minister's Black Veil", Hawthorne uses symbolism to present a common theme pertaining to religion; that though manifested sin will ostracize a person from society, un-confessed sin will destroy the soul.
According to anti-transcendentalists, using only self-reliance over an inner conscience will result in consequences from obstructive sin. Anti-transcendentalism was based off the existence of heaven and hell, and the actions carried out that got to either destination. Dark Romanticism was prevalent and exposed human frailty to sin and destruction. Several works were written revealing the truth of the flaws and unethical ways of society. Anti-transcendentalism gave a realistic view to everyone of the world and all of its undoing’s.
Through the use of an allegory, Hawthorne portrays how important it is to uphold beauty not as it is in the eye of the beholder, but in the eye of the individual in
Nathaniel Hawthorne's bold novel, The Scarlet Letter, effectively employs three major symbols: light, dark, and the scarlet letter. The novel relies heavily on light and dark symbolism to represent the eternal struggle of good versus evil.
Since ours is an age that has found irony, ambiguity, and paradox to be central not only in literature but in life, it is not surprising that Hawthorne has seemed to us one of the most modern of nineteenth century American writers. The bulk and general excellence of the great outburst of Hawthorne criticism of the past decade attest to his relevance for us(54).
Hawthorne was also a symbolist who had enormous respect for the material world and for common sense reality. Hawthorne usually established a neutral territory somewhere between the real world and fairy land, where the actual and imaginary meet. His ultimate purpose was always "to open an intercourse with the world" and out of this came symbolism (Kaul 66). For example, the cross -hybridization of the plants in the garden is called "adultery (Newman 267).
Melville, Poe, and Hawthorne all tend to focus on the darker side of humanity in their writings. In order to allow their readers to better understand their opinions, they often resort to using symbolism. Many times, those symbols take the form of darkness and light appearing throughout the story at appropriate times. A reader might wonder how light functions in the stories, and what it urges the reader to consider. If we look carefully at these appearances of light, or more likely the absence of it, we can gain some insight into what these "subversive romantics" consider to be the truth of humanity. Hawthorne uses this technique to its fullest; however, it is also very obvious in the stories of Poe and Melville. All of these authors have something to say about what they perceive as the breakdown of man and society - and they often clue us in by using differing degrees of light.
The 'Secondary' of the 'Secondary' of the 'Secondary' of the 'S Perkins, Kenneth. A. Symbolism in Hawthorne, New York. Berkeley: n.p., 1914. 24+ years of experience in the field. Print.
Nathaniel Hawthorne’s works often have parallel themes and similar characters. His approach is quite gloomy and the atmosphere for his stories is many times sad and depressing. Hawthorne concentrates his novel and short stories around the Puritan community, which adds to the tense and unforgiving atmosphere. One of his most renowned novels, The Scarlet Letter and his short story, The Minister’s Black Veil contain many of his typical elements and are many times referred synonymously. Although The Scarlet Letter and The Minister’s Black Veil share the common theme of alienation from society, the purpose behind the symbol both main characters are wearing is different.
"How symbolism works: Hawthorne's "The Minister's Black Veil"." Kansas State University. n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2011. .
In the early 1700s literature became a way to influence people as social media is to the world now. Literature has evolved through the years as in the mid-1700s through 1800s when literature took on a new movement and changed how stories and poems are written it was the birth of Romanticism for the world. Romanticism shaped many of our modern views and has some of the world’s famous novels and authors such as Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson, who has a big influence in America writing. As a result of romanticism being so popular a counterpart known as dark romanticism was created this part dealt with the unknown and fears of men as well; as such stories were often very dark and
When comparing these two realistic anti-transcendanlist essays, Nathaniel Hawthorne and Frederick Douglas brings out the full course of mankind’s negativity through literary details and description of a unknown territory.
In summary, “Young Goodman Brown” and “The Minister’s Black Veil,” both written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, although similar in displaying colors as symbols,
McPherson, Hugo. “Hawthorne’s Use of Mythology.” In Readings on Nathaniel Hawthorne, edited by Clarice Swisher. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven Press, 1996.
For example, Young Goodman Brown was a story about a man who believed that everyone in his village are pure. Until the old man, most likely the devil, tell him that he knew the people in his village. The devil then start showing Brown the dark side of the people in his village, including his wife. Much of Hawthorne work is known as Dark Romanticism. Hawthorne work let the reader know that there are evil in everything, no matter how good that person is, they will slowly turn to the unintended consequences. Hawthorne often put a lot of symbolism in his novel. It makes the reader more intense, which will grab the reader into the book. Symbolism also used when Hathorne wanted to give the character or object a second meaning hidden behind the visible meaning. That way, the readers mind will interact with the story