American Literature
 Nathaniel Hawthorne
(born Nathaniel
Hathorne); was an
American novelist and short
story writer.
 He was born in Salem,
Massachusetts and critical
of Puritanism
 He changed his last name so
he would be disassociated
with relatives who
participated in the Salem
Witch Trials
 Hawthorne wrote several notable novels and short
stories.
 The Scarlet Letter (most famous novel)
 “The Birthmark” published in 1846
 “The Minister’s Black-Veil”
 “Young Goodman Brown”
 Much of Hawthorne's writing is set in/near New
England
 Many works are moral allegories with a Puritan
inspiration.
 His fiction works are considered dark romanticism
 He is known for developing characters who show deep
psychological complexity
 His stories suggest that guilt, sin, and evil are the
most inherent natural qualities of humanity.
 His works are “cautionary tales” presenting strong
moral messages in order to turn us from our sinful
nature
 He often depicts the past to express themes of
ancestral sin, guilt, and retribution.
 Statue of Hawthorne in
Salem, Massachusetts.
AMERICAN LITERATURE
 Dark Romanticism is a reaction to the American
Transcendentalism movement.
 Dark Romanticismcan be considered antitranscendental
 Authors considered most representative of dark
romanticism are Edgar Allan Poe, Nathaniel
Hawthorne, Herman Melville, and poet Emily
Dickinson
 Dark Romantics are much less confident about the
notion of perfection as an innate quality of mankind,
as believed by Transcendentalists.
 Dark Romantics present individuals as prone to sin
and self-destruction, not as inherently possessing of
divinity and wisdom.
 Both T and DR believe Nature is a deeply spiritual
force
 BUT, Dark Romanticism views nature in a sinister
light
 Transcendentalism views nature as a divine and a
universal mediator.
 To DR, the natural world is dark, decaying, and
mysterious; when it does reveal truth to man, its
revelations are evil
 Ts advocate social reform when needed, but works of
DR show humans failing in their attempts to make
changes for the better
 “Tell-Tale Heart" by Poe
 "The Birth-Mark" by Hawthorne
 "The Minister's Black Veil" by Hawthorne
 Moby-Dick by Melville
 Bartleby the Scrivener" by Melville
 The Fall of the House of Usher" by Poe
 "The Raven" by Poe
 What is our society’s definition of beauty? Is this ideal
attainable? How do we as “common people” try to
attain this beauty?
 Are there individuals who meet this standard of
beauty? Who and why?
 What is your own personal standard of beauty and/or
perfection?
When Aylmer tells Georgiana about his dream, how
does she react?
2. Upon making the joint decision to remove
Georgiana’s birthmark, what does Aylmer begin to do
and spend his time on?
3. How is the birthmark removed?
4. What ends up happening to Georgiana at the end of
the story?
1.