Nathaniel Hawthorne's References to Anne Hutchinson in His Work

Nathaniel Hawthorne's References to Anne Hutchinson in His Work

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From the beginning of his writing career, Nathaniel Hawthorne has made several references to Anne Hutchinson. In fact, he even wrote a sketch called ?Mrs. Hutchinson';. Because of Hawthorne?s apparent interest in Mrs. Hutchinson, it is entirely possible that he would use her as a template for one of the characters in his many books.

Hawthorne?s character, Hester Prynne, is similar in many ways to Anne Hutchinson.

One likeness between the two women is they were both respected members of society. As Michael J. Colacurcio says, ?both these remarkable and troublesome women have careers as nurses and counselors to other women'; (213). Anne Hutchinson started career as a respected member of society. She came to America with her husband, and they instantly became prominent members of society. Anne Hutchinson?s place in society is stated in this quote, ?Hutchinson persuaded her husband to remove their family to Boston, Massachusetts, in September 1634, where their gentry status and piety assured them a prominent position in the Puritan colony';(?Anne Hutchinson.(religious leader)'; 2). On the other hand, Hester did not become a respectable member in society until she was charged with adultery. People?s thoughts of her are shown here, ?Such helpfulness was found in her,--so much power to sympathize,--that many people to interpret the Scarlet A by its original signification. They said it meant Able; so strong was Hester Prynne, with a woman?s strength';(Hawthorne 111). Hester?s alienation from society made her sensitive to the problems of other people. This helped her to help them, because she understood their problems. Instead of letting circumstances tear her down, she used them to grow stronger and become one of the most respected members of society. Hawthorne is essentially trying to show that good people occasionally make mistakes.

Additionally, women were oppressed by a religious, male dominated law system. In the 17th century, men were the accepted leaders of society. If any one man tried to give women a voice in society, he was severely criticized, and all respect for him was lost. Dimmesdale, even though he loved Hester, was forced to persecute her for fear of being denounced by his colleagues. As shown in this quote by John Wilson, ?What say you to it on...

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...lvation';(2). Hutchinson?s teachings disturbed John Winthrop. He is quoted as, ?aiming to fulfill his dream of creating a ?city on a hill,'; or a city in which people of one belief lived without religious prejudice. Differences of opinion among the people of the city disturbed him';(?Anne Hutchinson'; 4). Anne?s beliefs about antinomianism ultimately led to her excommunication from the church. Hawthorne creates the character of Hester so that she does not preach on antinomianism, but, rather, she lives them out. Hester commits the moral crime of adultery and is legally sentenced to be moved away from society. Throughout the book, Hester shows signs of not conforming to society. For example, the gaudily stitched scarlet A, her refusal to answer the tribunal as to who had committed the acted of adultery with her, and her choice to raise Pearl by herself are all examples of how Hester defied society. Colacurcio even says that, ?Hawthorne says of Hester? ?the world?s law was no law to her mind';(215). Even though society could change her body, her mind would always be rebellious. While not exactly alike, Hawthorne has created a character that like Anne Hutchinson challenged society.