Nathaniel Hawthorne

The famous American writer Nathaniel Hawthorne is known for classic novels such as "The Scarlet Letter" and "The House of the Seven Gables." Hawthorne, a native of Salem, Massachusetts, is still studied in schools for his writings, many of which are based on the history of New England.

Hawthorne, who was struggling financially, worked in a variety of capacities, such as political writer for the 1852 election and government clerk. His close relations with notable writers, including Ralph Waldo Emerson, Herman Melville, and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, who dedicated "Moby Dick" to Hawthorne, are shown in this biography. Let's dive into the fascinating life of Nathaniel Hawthorne, who was dubbed "the most charming of American novelists" for his elegant storytelling.

Early Life

Since the 17th century, Hawthorne's family has been in Salem. William Hawthorne, his American ancestor, was a judge who had publicly whipped a Quaker lady. William was a fervent follower of Puritan doctrine, which upheld the concept of a fallen man's inherent sinfulness, a humble lifestyle, and a pure type of religious devotion. Later, Hawthorne pondered if William's deeds and his son John's position as a judge during the 1692 Salem witch trials contributed to his family's downfall in the 18th century.

During a ship's cruise, Hawthorne's father, a captain, passed away, leaving his young wife and Nathaniel, then only four years old, and his two daughters without any means of support. They moved and lived with her wealthy brothers, the Mannings, and Hawthorne grew up in their Salem home as well as sometimes in Raymond, Maine, which is close to Sebago Lake, throughout his adolescence. In 1825, Hawthorne returned to Salem after his four years of study at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine. Rather than succeeding as a young man, he read extensively and attempted to write fiction for about twelve years.

Career

Originally published anonymously in October 1828, Hawthorne's first published work was "Fanshawe: A Tale," which was inspired by his experiences at Bowdoin College. It did not do well in sales despite favorable reviews. 1836 saw him as editor of the American Magazine of Useful and Entertaining Knowledge, in addition to little items he submitted to the Salem Gazette. Though he was having difficulty writing, Hawthorne accepted a job at the Boston Custom House in 1839. Once collected into the collection "Twice-Told Tales" in 1837, his tales were well-known in the area.

Hawthorne was appointed Surveyor for the District of Salem and Beverly and Inspector of the Revenue for the Port of Salem in 1846. He wrote throughout this time, although it was tough, and in 1850, he released "The Scarlet Letter." He suffered a personal setback when his mother passed away in 1848, and he lost his work because of political upheaval.

With "The Scarlet Letter," a hit that signaled the beginning of a successful phase in his career, Hawthorne came back to writing. He became acquaintances with Herman Melville after relocating to Lenox, Massachusetts, in 1850. In the Berkshires, he published "A Wonder-Book for Girls and Boys" in 1851 and penned "The House of the Seven Gables" and "The Blithedale Romance" (1852). Hawthorne expressed unhappiness with the Berkshires and announced his departure with his family in November 1851, despite his productivity there.

Writing Career

"The Scarlet Letter" (1850), "The House of the Seven Gables" (1851), "The Blithedale Romance" (1852), and "The Marble Faun" (1860) are eight of Nathaniel Hawthorne's most well-known short stories, which he referred to as "tales." "Fanshawe," an earlier work he repudiated and urged friends to destroy copies of when it was published anonymously in 1828.

Hawthorne completed several anonymous short stories and drawings for magazines such as The New England Magazine prior to the publication of his first collection of tales in 1837. Hawthorne did not begin to put his name to his writings until the release of "Twice-Told Tales" in 1837.

Often regarded as moral metaphors inspired by his Puritan upbringing, Hawthorne's many colonial New England settings are the subject of his writings. Distinguished narratives include "Ethan Brand," which dives into the pursuit of the Unpardonable Sin, and "The Birthmark," which depicts the tragic outcome of a physician's effort to erase a birthmark.

Young Goodman Brown, My Kinsman, Major Molineux, and Rappaccini's Daughter are a few more well-known tales. Reimagined Greek tales for young readers may be found in "Tanglewood Tales" (1853). Rather than seeing Hawthorne just as a sad moralist, modern criticism emphasizes the beauty of his writing by taking a critical look at his narrative voice as a self-aware rhetorical device.

After Herman Melville gave Hawthorne high marks in a well-known review, the two men struck up a short but meaningful relationship. In a nod to Hawthorne's brilliance, Melville dedicated "Moby-Dick" to the author. It is uncertain what Hawthorne thought of Edgar Allan Poe, despite Poe's critical appraisals of Hawthorne's writings.

Diplomatic Service and Political Role

Unexpectedly, Franklin Pierce, a college acquaintance of Nathaniel Hawthorne, was nominated for president by the Democratic Party in 1852. Because voters knew so little about politicians, campaign biographies had an enormous impact, which is why Hawthorne helped by producing one for Pierce quickly.

Hawthorne's biography was published just before the November 1852 election, and it was a major factor in Pierce's victory. President Pierce honored Hawthorne by appointing him as the American consul in the busy port city of Liverpool, England.

Before leaving for England in the summer of 1858, Hawthorne worked for the American government. He did not prioritize writing despite keeping a notebook. He and his family traveled around Italy after his diplomatic duty, and in 1860, they returned to Concord.

Hawthorne authored essays after returning to the United States, but he never published another book. A victim of deteriorating health, he died peacefully in his sleep on May 19, 1864, while visiting New Hampshire with Franklin Pierce.

Relationship

While at Bowdoin College, Hawthorne made a bet with his friend Jonathan Cilley that Cilley would get married before he did. Though he didn't stay unmarried forever, Hawthorne won the wager by 1836. Elizabeth Peabody's sister, Sophia, was the one he pursued after flirting with both Mary Silsbee and Elizabeth Peabody. In 1841, Hawthorne went to Brook Farm to work on "the Gold Mine," a dunghill, as part of the transcendentalist Utopian society, to save money for his marriage.

Hawthorne married Sophia Peabody on July 9, 1842, and while he departed later that year, the event fed his work "The Blithedale Romance." During their three years of residence at Concord, Massachusetts' The Old Manse, Hawthorne penned several stories that were eventually collected as "Mosses from an Old Manse." Like Hawthorne, Sophia was a shy person who had migraines and experimental medical procedures prior to meeting Hawthorne, after which her symptoms vanished.

The Hawthornes were pleased with their marriage, and Hawthorne called Sophia his "Dove." Una, born in 1844; Julian, born in 1846; and Rose, born in 1851, were their three children. October 1845 marked the family's migration to Salem.

Death

Hawthorne filled the role of consul with dedication over the last 11 years of his life, serving until 1857. He attempted to write another book, "The Marble Faun," based on his travel experiences in Italy after spending a year and a half there. He concentrated on writing after returning home in 1860, but he had difficulty starting a new work.

Hawthorne unexpectedly aged because of deteriorating health, going through physical changes and concerns. On a vacation in 1864 with his buddy Pierce, he passed away in his sleep. He went to Washington, D.C., before the Civil War, where he met Abraham Lincoln and other notable figures. He published an article titled "Chiefly About War Matters" in 1862 about his experiences there.

May 19, 1864, was his death date in Plymouth, New Hampshire; his failing health stopped him from finishing additional books. Leading citizens, including Longfellow, Emerson, and Alcott, served as pallbearers during his burial in Concord, Massachusetts. Hawthorne was buried at the cemetery of Sleepy Hollow. In June 2006, he was reburied close to his wife Sophia and daughter Una, who had previously been buried in England.

Legacy

Several elements contribute to Hawthorne's renowned status among American fiction authors. First, he showed excellent form awareness and skilled artistry. One of the best examples is "The Scarlet Letter," in which each chapter and paragraph adds to the cohesive framework.

The deft integration of the characters and storyline achieves a cohesive story that builds to the pivotal moment. Another factor that enhances Hawthorne's writing ability is his command of a traditional literary style that is marked by firmness, clarity, directness, and idiomatic correctness.

Hawthorne is unique, secondly because of his Puritan moral observation. He struggled with ideas like guilt, original sin, and the tension between conscience and the law. Hawthorne explored life's complexities, admitting pain and conflict while appreciating the redeeming power of love, in contrast to the Transcendentalists' upbeat perspective on human potential. Without romanticism, his writings provide a strong analysis of the moral and psychological facets of the human situation.

A third aspect contributing to Hawthorne's fame is his skill with metaphor and symbolism. Hawthorne refrains from making flimsy figures by explaining labels, even as his characters convey more broadly accepted generalizations about human life. Instead, he evokes in readers a real tragedy-like sense of intense, focused emotional attachment to the characters. Notably, he employs strong symbolism in "The Scarlet Letter," where the scarlet letter has meaning beyond its literal interpretation.

The symbolic romance genre in American literature, which explores the complexities of human decision and the universality of guilt, was born out of Hawthorne's writings. "The Scarlet Letter" and his best short tales exhibit a level of moral and psychological understanding that is seldom seen in other American authors.