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Nathaniel Hawthorne and The Scarlet Letter

Nathaniel Hawthorne and The Scarlet Letter. Background notes And Information. Puritan Ideology. Five Points Doctrine of Original Sin: Adam’s sin was as much that of every individual as of Adam himself; mankind and nature were depraved—capable of no good

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Nathaniel Hawthorne and The Scarlet Letter

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  1. Nathaniel Hawthorne andThe Scarlet Letter Background notes And Information

  2. Puritan Ideology • Five Points • Doctrine of Original Sin: Adam’s sin was as much that of every individual as of Adam himself; mankind and nature were depraved—capable of no good • Unconditional Salvation—predestination: No good works could earn a man’s salvation; the salvation of a chosen few was entirely unconditional; no man could will himself to be saved. • Limited Atonement: Christ’s grade was for nobody except this “elect”; atonement was only for them.

  3. Puritan Ideology • Irresistible grace: God’s grace was irresistible; one must accept God’s grace if he were of the elect. • Permanent election: one might backslide, but would retain his salvation.

  4. NathanielHawthorne His Life and Works

  5. Nathaniel Hawthorne • Born in Salem, Massachusetts on July 4, 1808 • Descendant of Puritan Immigrants • Added w to his name because Judge Hathorne of Salem Witch Trials was his ancestor and he wanted separation from that.

  6. Common Themes in Hawthorne’s Novels • Unpardonable Sin: the triumph of head over heart; happens when one allows an intellectual obsession to take precedence over his sense of human compassion; this sin is within the human being who does it • Destructive power of guilt: guilt will ruin your life if you let it. • Pride: many characters suffer from excessive pride; spiritual pride shown o be a thing that isolates people; frequently used wit; NOT the same as Unpardonable Sin

  7. Typical Characters in Hawthorne’s Novels • Mad Scientist • Two types of Women: • Nice girl: ordinary woman; usually blonde; blue-eyed; wife; keeper of the hearth • Tall, dark mysterious woman with a past (HESTER): usually suffer more than nice girls; very believable characters

  8. The Scarlet Letter

  9. The Scarlet Letter • Story begins in Puritan Boston in 1642 • Hawthorne claimed in “The custom House” that he found the manuscript for the novel and a faded letter A • As the story opens, Hester Prynne is suffering public punishment for adultery. • Her husband, who everyone thought died at sea 2 years earlier suddenly shows up.

  10. Main Characters • Hester Prynne • Husband lost at sea • Committed adultery and has a child • Must suffer public humiliation for her actions • Pearl: Hester’s daughter • Roger Chillingworth • Hester’s husband • Presumed dead for 2 years; assumes a false identity • Doesn’t blame Hester, but vows to punish her lover

  11. Main Characters • Arthur Dimmesdale • Hester’s minister • Plays a part in her public punishment • Tries to make things easier for her and Pearl • Shares a house with Chillingworth

  12. Main Themes • The effect of Sin • Personal and Public Truth • Wisdom through suffering

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