Joshua Gunn Pd. C-D

1. Joshua Gunn Pd. C-D

2. Nathaniel Hawthorne (born Nathaniel Hathorne; July 4, 1804 – May 19, 1864) was an American novelist and short story writer. Nathaniel Hawthorne was born in 1804 in the city of Salem, Massachusetts to Nathaniel Hathorne and the former Elizabeth Clarke Manning. His ancestors include John Hathorne, the only judge involved in the Salem witch trials who never repented of his actions. Nathaniel later added a "w" to make his name "Hawthorne" in order to hide this relation. He entered Bowdoin College in 1821, was elected to Phi Beta Kappa in 1824,[1] and graduated in 1825. Hawthorne anonymously published his first work, a novel titled Fanshawe, in 1828. He published several short stories in various periodicals which he collected in 1837 as Twice-Told Tales. The next year, he became engaged to Sophia Peabody. He worked at a Custom House and joined Brook Farm, a transcendentalist community, before marrying Peabody in 1842. The couple moved to The Old Manse in Concord, Massachusetts, later moving to Salem, the Berkshires, then to The Wayside in Concord. The Scarlet Letter was published in 1850, followed by a succession of other novels. A political appointment took Hawthorne and family to Europe before their return to The Wayside in 1860. Hawthorne died on May 19, 1864, and was survived by his wife and their three children. Much of Hawthorne's writing centers on New England, many works featuring moral allegories with a Puritan inspiration. His fiction works are considered part of the Romantic movement and, more specifically, dark romanticism. His themes often center on the inherent evil and sin of humanity, and his works often have moral messages and deep psychological complexity. His published works include novels, short stories, and a biography of his friend Franklin Pierce. Cited form: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathaniel_Hawthorne

3. Arthur Dimmesdale Dimmesdale is burdened with a heavy internal conflict throughout the novel. As the story progesses, this conflict causes great mental and physical torture.Dimmesdale is broken down by the internal conflicted that is inflicted upon him. This conflict settles upon Dimmesdale after he did not confess to being an adulterer earlier. When Hester was being punished upon the scafold, Dimmesdale held in his tongue from admitting he was the father of her child. Since Dimmesdalehad a high rank among church officials, admitting his crime would mean great punishment. This is the reason he wasn’t quick to admit his crime. The cowardness of his ways led to mental pain, telling himself how unholy he is, how he is scum, and how he is not worthy to serve his mission on Earth. (109) Dimmesdale’s conflict also causes Dimmesdale great physical pain. The minister would put his hand over his heart, wearing a pale face that showed his fatigue. (120) Dimmesdale, not confessing earlier and accepting his punishment, led to Chillingworth torturing him. This increased his physical and mental pain, causing his conflict to become greater. Wearing this huge amount of guilt almost put Dimmesdale to the point of insanity. Dimmesdale went on to announce his sin, realeasing his burden of guilt. With Hester and Pearl, he confessed to the town of his evil ways. “Ye, that have loved me!--- ye, that have deemed me holy!...behold me here, the one sinner of the world!! (227) Shortly after announcing his sin, Dimmesdale faced the consequence of death, for bearing the guilt too long.