nathaniel hawthorne & dark romanticism american literature
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Nathaniel Hawthorne & Nathaniel Hawthorne & DarkDark
RomanticismRomanticism
American LiteratureAmerican Literature
Nathaniel HawthorneNathaniel Hawthorne
• Nathaniel HawthorneNathaniel Hawthorne (born (born Nathaniel HathorneNathaniel Hathorne; July 4, 1804 – ; July 4, 1804 – May 19, 1864) was an American May 19, 1864) was an American novelist and novelist and short story writer. writer.
• Changed his last name so he would Changed his last name so he would be disassociated with relatives that be disassociated with relatives that were involved in the Salem Witch were involved in the Salem Witch TrialsTrials
• Much of Hawthorne's writing centers Much of Hawthorne's writing centers around around New England, many works , many works featuring moral featuring moral allegories with a with a Puritan inspiration. inspiration.
• His fiction works are considered part His fiction works are considered part of the of the Romantic movement and, and, more specifically, more specifically, dark romanticism
• His themes often center on the His themes often center on the inherent evil and sin of humanity, inherent evil and sin of humanity, and his works often have and his works often have moral messages and deep psychological messages and deep psychological complexity. complexity.
• As he looked back on this period of As he looked back on this period of his life, he wrote: "I have not lived, his life, he wrote: "I have not lived, but only dreamed about living".but only dreamed about living".
• He contributed short stories, including He contributed short stories, including ""Young Goodman Brown" and "" and "The Minister's Black Veil", to various ", to various magazines and annuals, though none magazines and annuals, though none drew major attention to the author. drew major attention to the author.
• Salem Custom Salem Custom House where House where Hawthorn Hawthorn Worked...Worked...
• Describe the Describe the architecturearchitecture
• Hawthorne returned to writing and Hawthorne returned to writing and published published The Scarlet Letter in mid- in mid-March 1850 March 1850
• This is probably his most famous This is probably his most famous work.work.
• Literary style and themesLiterary style and themes
• Hawthorne was predominantly a Hawthorne was predominantly a short story writer in his early career. His writer in his early career. His four major four major romances were written were written between 1850 and 1860: between 1850 and 1860: The Scarlet Letter (1850), (1850), The House of the Seven Gables (1851), (1851), The Blithedale Romance (1852) and (1852) and The Marble Faun (1860). (1860).
• Hawthorne's works belong to Hawthorne's works belong to romanticism or, more specifically, or, more specifically, dark romanticism, , cautionary tales that suggest that guilt, sin, cautionary tales that suggest that guilt, sin, and evil are the most inherent natural and evil are the most inherent natural qualities of humanity.qualities of humanity.
• Many of his tales and novels focus on a type Many of his tales and novels focus on a type of historical fiction, though Hawthorne's of historical fiction, though Hawthorne's depiction of the past is used only as a depiction of the past is used only as a vehicle to express themes of ancestral sin, vehicle to express themes of ancestral sin, guilt and retribution. guilt and retribution.
• Statue of Statue of Hawthorne in Hawthorne in Salem, Salem, Massachusetts.Massachusetts.
Some WorksSome Works
• Selected short storiesSelected short stories• ""My Kinsman, Major Molineux" (1832) " (1832) • ""Young Goodman Brown" (1835) " (1835) • "The Gray Champion" (1835) "The Gray Champion" (1835) • "The White Old Maid" (1835) "The White Old Maid" (1835) • ""The Ambitious Guest" (1835) " (1835) • ""The Minister's Black Veil" (1836) " (1836) • ""The Man of Adamant" (1837) " (1837) • ""The Maypole of Merry Mount" (1837) " (1837) • ""The Great Carbuncle" (1837) " (1837) • ""Dr. Heidegger's Experiment" (1837) " (1837) • ""A Virtuoso's Collection" (May 1842) " (May 1842) • ""The Birth-Mark" (March 1843) " (March 1843)
DARK ROMANTICISMDARK ROMANTICISM
AMERICAN LITERATUREAMERICAN LITERATURE
WHAT IS IT?WHAT IS IT?
• Dark romanticismDark romanticism is a literary is a literary subgenre that emerged from the subgenre that emerged from the Transcendental philosophical movement philosophical movement popular in nineteenth-century popular in nineteenth-century America. .
• Works in the dark romantic spirit were Works in the dark romantic spirit were influenced by Transcendentalism, but influenced by Transcendentalism, but did not entirely embrace the ideas of did not entirely embrace the ideas of Transcendentalism. Transcendentalism.
SAY WHAT?SAY WHAT?
• DARK ROMANTIC works are notably less DARK ROMANTIC works are notably less optimistic than Transcendental texts optimistic than Transcendental texts about mankind, nature, and divinity. about mankind, nature, and divinity.
• Authors considered most Authors considered most representative of dark romanticism are representative of dark romanticism are Edgar Allan Poe, , Nathaniel Hawthorne, , Herman Melville, poet , poet Emily Dickinson and Italian poet and Italian poet Ugo Foscolo..
ORIGINORIGIN
• Dark Romanticism's birth was a mid-Dark Romanticism's birth was a mid-nineteenth-century reaction to the nineteenth-century reaction to the American Transcendental movement.American Transcendental movement.
CHARACTERISTICS OF DARK CHARACTERISTICS OF DARK ROMANTICISMROMANTICISM
• Dark Romantics are much less confident Dark Romantics are much less confident about the notion that perfection is an about the notion that perfection is an innate quality of mankind, as believed innate quality of mankind, as believed by Transcendentalists. by Transcendentalists.
• Dark Romantics present individuals as Dark Romantics present individuals as prone to prone to sin and and self-destruction, not as , not as inherently possessing inherently possessing divinity and and wisdom. .
More CharacteristicsMore Characteristics
• The Dark Romantics adapted images of The Dark Romantics adapted images of anthropomorphized evil in the form of in the form of Satan, , devils, , ghosts . . . . . . vampires, and , and ghouls. .
• Secondly, while both groups (T & DR) believe Secondly, while both groups (T & DR) believe nature is a deeply spiritual force, Dark is a deeply spiritual force, Dark Romanticism views it in a much more sinister light Romanticism views it in a much more sinister light than does Transcendentalism, which sees nature than does Transcendentalism, which sees nature as a divine and universal organic mediator.as a divine and universal organic mediator.
•
How Dark Romantics Portray How Dark Romantics Portray the Worldthe World
• For Dark Romantics, the natural world is For Dark Romantics, the natural world is dark, decaying, and mysterious; when it dark, decaying, and mysterious; when it does reveal truth to man, its revelations does reveal truth to man, its revelations are evil and hellish. Finally, whereas are evil and hellish. Finally, whereas Transcendentalists advocate Transcendentalists advocate social reform when appropriate, works of when appropriate, works of Dark Romanticism frequently show Dark Romanticism frequently show individuals failing in their attempts to individuals failing in their attempts to make changes for the bettermake changes for the better
Examples of Dark Examples of Dark RomanticsRomantics• The Birth-Mark" (1843) " (1843) • ""The Minister's Black Veil" (1843) by " (1843) by
Nathaniel HawthorneNathaniel Hawthorne• Moby-DickMoby-Dick (1851) by Herman Melville (1851) by Herman Melville• Bartleby the Scrivener" (1856) by Herman Bartleby the Scrivener" (1856) by Herman
MelvilleMelville• "Tell-Tale Heart" (1843) "Tell-Tale Heart" (1843) • ““The Fall of the House of Usher" (1839) The Fall of the House of Usher" (1839) • ““Dream-Land” (1844) Dream-Land” (1844) • "The Raven" (1845) by Edgar Allan Poe"The Raven" (1845) by Edgar Allan Poe