Classical English Literuture (Essay Sample)

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Hawthorne\'s Tales: How religion/sin is portrayed and how it affects the characters.
Hawthorne tales are short stories written by Nathaniel Hawthorne relating to his experience and cultural background during his time. Nathaniel Hawthrone is a descendant of Puritan born in Massachusetts. One of his relatives was a judge known for persecuting Christian sects founded by George known as Quakers. Hawthorne attitude was shaped by the guilt he felt owing to his ancestor actions (Thomas 201).This was drove him to publish his first short stories tales of Twice Told. His work expressed the sad look of life in his view according to the puritan lifestyle which was dictated by religion.
Hawthorne wrote during the period between the mid 19thcentury where most of the literatures were produced commonly referred to as the New England Renaissance in America. One of his books the Scarlet letter brought him to the limelight. His other books of the house of the seven gables portrayed two different angles of his ancestors. Nathaniel Hawthrone known as one of the greatest short story writers and also an author. His short stories and books are attraction to many as he portrays the puritan life to his readers using irony, tales of widespread witchcraft guilt and hypocrisy: describing the puritanical society with mixed feelings (Wright 54).
His books are considered as outstanding literature of the 19th century because he used key characters in portraying the way the puritan treated people. In his writings of the scarlet and the house of the seven gables he showed issues on how society was judgmental as they look down upon people yet they were not pure as they claimed. Having inner secrets was a norm for fear of the consequences resulting to guilt as in the case of the scarlet letter (Clarence 11).
Focus was more for the puritan life because reactions to their beliefs which were widely spread among the first people who ever settled in America. The puritans migrated to America to find religious freedom which was restricted in Europe. The puritan were very strict in their religious doctrines .They became influential in America as their beliefs were passed from generation to generation. Hawthorne who during his time felt he needed to bring these issues to light and communicate his opinion through writing, was an author who constantly criticized their actions. Society region is associated by a supernatural being therefore labeling is a common phenomenon towards non believers. This is because it is believed that a believer should have total trust on the supernatural being but not all religion subscribes to this view. Some hold beliefs of performing ritual, commitments to upholding good moral and belief of what is known not unknown. The hypocritical life of the puritan religion is comes from the strictness viewed in religious practices (Nathaniel 38).
With his strong relation for his pedigree, Hawthrone wrote the book the scarlet letter to highlight the strict beliefs of the puritan and the hesters sin at the same time. This created both the strengths and weakness of the puritan which Hawthrone reiterated from time to time in his book at same time expressing his deep concern for strict degrading rules. Search for religious freedom was majorly the reason why the puritan migration changed history. The first Puritans migrated from Europe to America settled in Massachusetts with most of them dying and other being saved by the Indians in the first year. Other followed later and thereafter they continued migrating till 1630 as they settled in Boston (Nathaniel 38). Feeling the need to cleanse the Church of England was their vision as they envisaged a church that encouraged a relationship that brings one closer to God. This was not the case in England. The view was that the role of the clergy and government was to intercede between ones relationship with God. Anyone who did not agree to it was persecuted .The led to many puritan fleeing to other parts of the world in hope to build an environment where people believed that God would be happy not people. This was a view which was not tolerated by the puritans, they were quick to conclude and punish without any consideration apart from their religious beliefs (Thomas 76).
This would make one wonder what is religion. (Wright 32) explains that religion is not fact to be explained it is just by faith which is significant and is instilled out of fear for the unknown. Religion is about God and his wonderful creation. Since there is no substantiality people tend to interpret religion differently. But religions which are organized are guided by doctrines and reference either from the bible or books that is accepted to have been used by their ancestors. Many people do take advantage of religious writings. Even if it’s a requirement to always seek for Gods’ guidance not everyone does so .People turn to God when in need and when they fear bad happenings ( Clarence 47).
The puritan religious practices cannot be compared to what is known to be religion as presented by Hawthrone in the in the scarlet letter. The scarlet is a sad story of a woman caught up in love betrayal in the context of that period, the 17th century. The puritan norms and values and gender expectations were different as compared to Hawthrone look of the 19th century which looked was sensible. (Nathaniel 62).In this case when Hester Prynne violates her wedding vows by getting involved in a extra marital relationship with a Reverend she is found guilty of adultery. After being jailed for 10 years she is realized with a scarlet letter attached to her so that everyone would know her sins. The relations between Hester and the two male: the husband Arthur Dimmesdale and Roger Chillingworth, Hawthrone portrays the secrets and the nature of their interaction (Nathaniel 62).
The scarlet letter‘s main character is Hester but her affair with Dimmesadale resulted into severe punishment because she married Chillingworth though she did not love him. In the chapters of the book Dimmesdale is similar to Hester because of their indentify which is more of external situation than his inner life .Arthur Dimmeesdale was a reputable minister but committed adultery andcould not confess his sins initially. Later when he finally confessed people were in disbelief. He is a scholar who is not sympathetic to people but have an active conscious. His dilemma is not sure about his heart; as much as he is a minister meaning that he elected and knows he has sinned in his conscious he knows that he is a hypocrite (Nathaniel 78).The vigils he keeps shows his continuous inward effort to determine his position in heaven. To even worsen his dilemma the puritans beliefs was that is one wanted to earn a place in heaven Gods power is not important because God imparted souls in people so salvation was already predestined by this action therefore if you were chosen by God you should not have committed sin in the first place. His conscious always made him feel guilty which he resorted to punishing himself leading to his decline in spiritual and physical state. However the people view on him is witnessed after the sermon on the Election Day .when he died he became a significant figure because people had mixed reaction. (Nathaniel 78).
Other believed that Dimmesdale fate was judged by God while others thought that his confession was a noble act. Dimmesdale had his strengths and also weaknesses. Eventually he is consumed by his guilt because of his weakness. He could not accept his punishment as he is eaten up by his hypocrisy. As he realizes that death is inevitable he decided to cleanse his soul by confessing in public as his strength is seen at the end when he became grateful to God (Nathaniel 69).
When it comes to Dimmesdale the society seems to be in denial as, they cannot accept that a Reverend could commit sin compared to when they readily accept that Hester sinned. According to the society Dimmesdale confession was just a way he wanted to be sympathetic not that he had sinned .people still referred to Dimmesdale as a martyr (Nathaniel 69).
This was the opposite with Roger Chillington who lacked love and was not kind. He was not a good husband to Hester because he did not love Hester .He did not treat his wife well and expected to receive affection from Hester. He is referred to a parasite who could not engage with other around him because he relies on others strength to refresh his ways. This is a character displayed when Chllington talked to the captain of the ship to include him in the voyage because he had known that Hester and Dimmsedale were planning to escape. His character can be described in two ways first as a devilish act then as a right move to prevent Dimmesdale from escaping without being condemned as required. If Dimmesdale run away he probably would have not dealt with his sins.
Chiilingtons’ death is related to his character because after Dimmesdale death he had no victim to blame. This was because with Dimmesdale had revealed that he is the father of pearl made. This made him loose his purpose for revenge. He represents evil because of his obsession with revenge but not justice .His ways of wanting to harm others is a greater sin compared to Hester and Dimmesdale illicit affair which was also considered sinful. While Hester sin was unexpected chillingworth was on purpose (Nathaniel 69).
In the book peal is a reminder of her mothers’ sin because she was a child born out of wedlock, pearl is what made it be known about Hester and Dimmesdale affair. Her role is important in because she become the reason for Hester to be free at the same time encouraging Dimmesdale to publicly confess his sins. His moral character is strongly seen in the story than human part. This story tracks Dimmesdale transformation which is closely associated with Pearl .as he...