Nathaniel Hawthorne

Nathaniel Hawthorne[2†]

Nathaniel Hawthorne (born Nathaniel Hathorne; July 4, 1804 – May 19, 1864) was an American novelist and short story writer[1†][2†]. He was born in Salem, Massachusetts, from a family long associated with that town[1†][2†]. His works often focus on history, morality, and religion[1†][2†]. One of the greatest fiction writers in American literature, he is best known for The Scarlet Letter (1850) and The House of the Seven Gables (1851)[1†]. His writing style is characterized by a deep psychological complexity, moral metaphors, and an anti-Puritan inspiration[1†][2†]. His themes often center on the inherent evil and sin of humanity[1†][2†].

Hawthorne’s ancestors had lived in Salem since the 17th century[1†]. His earliest American ancestor, William Hathorne (Nathaniel added the ‘w’ to the name when he began to write), was a magistrate who had sentenced a Quaker woman to public whipping[1†]. He had acted as a staunch defender of Puritan orthodoxy, with its zealous advocacy of a “pure,” unaffected form of religious worship, its rigid adherence to a simple, almost severe, mode of life, and its conviction of the “natural depravity” of “fallen” man[1†].

Early Years and Education

Nathaniel Hawthorne was born on July 4, 1804, in Salem, Massachusetts[1†][3†]. He was born into the sixth generation of his Salem family, which included businessmen, judges, and seamen—all Puritans, a strict religious discipline[1†][3†]. His ancestors had lived in Salem since the 17th century[1†]. His earliest American ancestor, William Hathorne (Nathaniel added the ‘w’ to the name when he began to write), was a magistrate who had sentenced a Quaker woman to public whipping[1†]. He had acted as a staunch defender of Puritan orthodoxy[1†].

When Nathaniel’s father—a ship’s captain—died during one of his voyages, he left his young widow without means to care for her two girls and young Nathaniel, aged four[1†]. She moved in with her affluent brothers, the Mannings[1†]. Hawthorne grew up in their house in Salem and, for extensive periods during his teens, in Raymond, Maine, on the shores of Sebago Lake[1†]. A leg injury forced Hawthorne to remain immobile for a considerable period, during which he developed an exceptional taste for reading and thinking[1†][3†].

With the aid of his wealthy uncles, Hawthorne attended Bowdoin College from 1821 to 1825[1†][3†]. Among his classmates were poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and future U.S. president Franklin Pierce[1†][3†]. At Bowdoin, Hawthorne read widely and received solid instruction in English composition and the classics, particularly in Latin[1†][3†]. His refusal to participate in public speaking prevented his achievement of an outstanding academic record, but he was in good standing[1†][3†]. On one occasion he was fined 50 cents for gambling at cards, but his behavior was not otherwise singled out for official disapproval[1†][3†]. Though small and isolated, the Bowdoin of the 1820s was an unusually good college, and Hawthorne undoubtedly profited from his formal education[1†][3†].

Career Development and Achievements

After graduating from Bowdoin College in 1825, Hawthorne returned to Salem, where he began to write in earnest[2†]. His first novel, Fanshawe, was published anonymously in 1828[2†][4†]. However, the book received negative reviews, and Hawthorne later tried to suppress it, feeling that it was not equal to the standard of his later work[2†].

In the years that followed, Hawthorne wrote and published several short stories in periodicals, which he collected in 1837 as Twice-Told Tales[2†]. His writing during this period exhibits his characteristic style, marked by deep psychological complexity, moral metaphors, and an anti-Puritan inspiration[2†][5†].

In 1842, Hawthorne married Sophia Peabody and moved to The Old Manse in Concord, Massachusetts[2†]. During this period, he wrote and published his most famous work, The Scarlet Letter (1850), a novel about the consequences of adultery in a Puritan community[2†][1†][2†]. This was followed by another well-known novel, The House of the Seven Gables (1851), a Gothic tale about a cursed family[2†][1†][2†].

Hawthorne’s career also included a stint in government service. He worked as a government clerk and, during the election of 1852, wrote a campaign biography for his college friend, Franklin Pierce[2†][6†]. When Pierce won the presidency, Hawthorne was appointed consul in Liverpool, England, a position he held for several years[2†][6†].

Hawthorne’s works are considered part of the Romantic movement and, more specifically, dark romanticism[2†]. His themes often center on the inherent evil and sin of humanity, and his works often have moral messages and deep psychological complexity[2†][5†]. His published works include novels, short stories, and a biography of his college friend Franklin Pierce[2†].

First Publication of His Main Works

Nathaniel Hawthorne’s literary career began with the publication of his first work, “Fanshawe”, in 1828[2†]. However, he later tried to suppress it, feeling that it was not equal to the standard of his later work[2†].

Hawthorne published several short stories in periodicals, which he collected in 1837 as "Twice-Told Tales"[2†]. This collection includes some of his most notable early works. The following year, he became engaged to Sophia Peabody[2†].

His most outstanding works include “The Scarlet Letter” and “The House of the Seven Gables”, both of which are considered masterpieces of American literature[2†][1†][7†]. “The Scarlet Letter” was published in 1850, followed by “The House of the Seven Gables” in 1851[2†][1†][2†].

Here are some of his major works along with the information on the first year of publication:

• “The Scarlet Letter” (1850)[2†][1†][2†]
• “The House of the Seven Gables” (1851)[2†][1†][2†]
• "Roger Malvin’s Burial"[2†][1†]
• "Young Goodman Brown"[2†][1†]
• "The May-Pole of Merry Mount"[2†][1†]
• "The Celestial Railroad"[2†][1†]

Each of these works showcases Hawthorne’s mastery of the allegorical and symbolic tale[2†]. His themes often center on the inherent evil and sin of humanity, and his works often have moral messages and deep psychological complexity[2†].

Analysis and Evaluation

Nathaniel Hawthorne is recognized as a master of the allegorical and symbolic tale[1†]. His works often center on the inherent evil and sin of humanity, and his narratives typically have moral messages and deep psychological complexity[1†][8†].

Hawthorne’s works transmute the belief in humanity as “fallen” beings, overlaying that ancient message with the emerging value system of his own time[1†][9†]. This obsession with the concept of “sin” and its centrality for his Puritan forebears is a recurring theme throughout his oeuvre[1†][9†].

Hawthorne’s influence extends beyond literature. His exploration of moral and philosophical issues has prompted scholarly inquiry and investigation, underscoring his impact on American thought and culture[1†][8†].

His legacy as one of the greatest fiction writers in American literature is undisputed[1†]. His novels, “The Scarlet Letter” and “The House of the Seven Gables”, are considered masterpieces and are still widely read and studied today[1†][10†].

Personal Life

Nathaniel Hawthorne was born into the sixth generation of his Salem family, with ancestors that included businessmen, judges, and seamen—all Puritans[3†]. His father, a sea captain, died in 1808, leaving his wife and three children dependent on relatives[3†]. Nathaniel, the only son, spent his early years in Salem and in Maine[3†]. A leg injury forced Hawthorne to remain immobile for a considerable period, during which he developed an exceptional taste for reading and thinking[3†]. His childhood was calm, a little isolated but far from unhappy, especially since as a handsome and attractive only son he was idolized by his mother and his two sisters[3†].

Hawthorne married his wife, Sophia, in 1842, and moved to Concord, Massachusetts, a hotbed of literary activity and home to Emerson, Margaret Fuller, and Henry David Thoreau[3†][6†]. Living in the Old Manse, the house of Emerson’s grandfather, Hawthorne entered a very productive phase and he wrote sketches and tales[3†][6†].

Conclusion and Legacy

Nathaniel Hawthorne is regarded as one of the greatest fiction writers in American literature[11†]. He was a skillful craftsman with an architectonic sense of form, as displayed in the tightly woven structure of his works[11†]. His masterful use of prose style clearly revealed his characters’ psychological and moral depths[11†].

Hawthorne’s works often dealt with the inherent evil and sin of humanity[11†][12†]. His works, such as “The Scarlet Letter” and “The House of the Seven Gables”, are still widely read and studied today[11†][1†][12†]. They continue to influence writers and resonate with contemporary readers, offering a rich source of literary and philosophical reflection.

Key Information

• Also Known As: Nathaniel Hathorne[1†][2†]
• Born: July 4, 1804, Salem, Massachusetts, U.S[1†][2†]
• Died: May 19, 1864, Plymouth, New Hampshire, U.S[1†][2†]
• Nationality: American[1†][2†]
• Occupation: Novelist and short-story writer[1†][2†]
• Notable Works: “The Scarlet Letter” (1850), “The House of the Seven Gables” (1851), “Doctor Heidegger’s Experiment”, “Fanshawe”, “Mosses from an Old Manse”, “My Kinsman, Major Molineux”, “Rappaccini’s Daughter”, “Roger Malvin’s Burial”, “Tanglewood Tales for Girls and Boys”, “The Blithedale Romance”, “The Celestial Railroad”, “The Marble Faun”, “Twice-Told Tales”, "Young Goodman Brown"[1†]
• Notable Achievements: Hawthorne is regarded as one of the greatest fiction writers in American literature. He was a skillful craftsman with an architectonic sense of form, as displayed in the tightly woven structure of his works, and a master of prose style, which he used to clearly reveal his characters’ psychological and moral depths[1†][11†].

References and Citations:

1. Britannica - Nathaniel Hawthorne: American writer [website] - link
2. Wikipedia (English) - Nathaniel Hawthorne [website] - link
3. Encyclopedia of World Biography - Nathaniel Hawthorne Biography [website] - link
4. Famous Authors - Nathaniel Hawthorne [website] - link
5. LitPriest - Nathaniel Hawthorne's Literary Style & Short Biography [website] - link
6. ThoughtCo - Biography of Nathaniel Hawthorne [website] - link
7. Book Series In Order - Nathaniel Hawthorne [website] - link
8. The Pennsylvania State Univerity Press - Nathaniel Hawthorne Review [website] - link
9. eNotes - The Scarlet Letter Analysis [website] - link
10. eNotes - Nathaniel Hawthorne Analysis [website] - link
11. Britannica - Why is Nathaniel Hawthorne important? [website] - link
12. Britannica - Nathaniel Hawthorne summary [website] - link