Nathaniel Hawthorne

1. Nathaniel Hawthorne “No man, for any considerable period, can wear one face to himself and another to the multitude, without finally getting bewildered as to which may be true.”

2. Consumed with original sin, evil as a corrupting presence and human isolation • Evil leaves its mark generation after generation • Human isolation (spiritual)--- “twelve dark years”

3. Not always so anti-transcendental(or perhaps he was) • Did join Brook Farm and the transcendental experiment • Problems here: no balance between physical and intellectual labor • Never truly believed this idealistic group would change a wicked world to a good one • Left Brook Farm, married, toiled, wrote, toiled, became more depressed, toiled, etc…

4. Died 1864 after taking a walk to restore his health (physically and spiritually) • Emerson and Thoreau would be disappointed to learn of such demise at nature’s hands • Or perhaps he died from solitude • “the painful solitude of man…he died from it.”---Emerson

5. “…burrowing into the depths of our common nature [there is an inner world in which every human being is alone in] the saddest of all prisons, his own heart”---Hawthorne

6. Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment • Apply annotative strategy for this story. • Some literary devices to consider as they apply to the story: • Symbol • Allegory • Irony • What is the difference between a symbol and an allegory?

7. Symbols • 4 people • Mr. Medbourne • Colonel Killigrew • Mr. Gascoigne • Widow Wycherly • Mirror • Rose

8. Allegorical Elements • Consider what the 4 people lost/represented/tried to get back

9. What characteristics of writing does this allegory use? • In what ways is this writing style similar to other authors we have studied? (specific lines?) • In what ways is this story anti-transcendental? • How does this story illustrate Hawthorne’s views on humanity?

10. Project Options??? Must emphasize human nature and the evils of such (essence of human nature) • Movie • Role play (skit in class)