Nathaniel Hawthorne's Life in His Works Essay Example
Erin Smith
Mrs. Hemmings
American Literature
January 11, 2011
Hawthorne’s Background Thrust into His Work
With most writers, readers can identify what topics they tend to write about, how long their pieces often are, and what personal style these authors develop. While this is true of author Nathaniel Hawthorne, there are different elements that influence his writings. His life included many times of trials, many joys, and many ancestors that caused some turmoil within his mind. Two of his major works are influenced almost directly by his background (Werlock). Nathaniel Hawthorne threw his life into every single piece of his writing. His experiences, background, and the setting in which his life took place are prominent in everything he wrote. Nathaniel Hawthorne was born in the Salem, Massachusetts area of New England, in which the Puritan history had a great surrounding influence. It was from these influences that he wrote his most famous book, The Scarlet Letter. The earliest American Hawthorne relatives were brothers John and William Hathorne, both judges. These judges oversaw numerous trials in Salem history including the Puritan persecution of the Quakers and the Salem witch trials of Salem residents believed to be witches. Notice the difference between the spelling of John and William and of Nathaniel? When Nathaniel had grown, he changed his surname from “Hathorne” to “Hawthorne”, restoring the traditional English spelling including a “w” (Werlock). Nathaniel disapproved greatly of his ancestor’s actions and wanted to separate himself from them, and in adding the “w”, he did so. When pursuing greater education at Bowdoin College near Portland, Maine, Nathaniel felt as though he was letting his family down. Instead of choosing a career in medicine, law or ministry like most of his relatives, he rejected them and pursued a career in writing (Marks). He says this in his Custom House introduction to The Scarlet Letter:
A writer
Mrs. Hemmings
American Literature
January 11, 2011
Hawthorne’s Background Thrust into His Work
With most writers, readers can identify what topics they tend to write about, how long their pieces often are, and what personal style these authors develop. While this is true of author Nathaniel Hawthorne, there are different elements that influence his writings. His life included many times of trials, many joys, and many ancestors that caused some turmoil within his mind. Two of his major works are influenced almost directly by his background (Werlock). Nathaniel Hawthorne threw his life into every single piece of his writing. His experiences, background, and the setting in which his life took place are prominent in everything he wrote. Nathaniel Hawthorne was born in the Salem, Massachusetts area of New England, in which the Puritan history had a great surrounding influence. It was from these influences that he wrote his most famous book, The Scarlet Letter. The earliest American Hawthorne relatives were brothers John and William Hathorne, both judges. These judges oversaw numerous trials in Salem history including the Puritan persecution of the Quakers and the Salem witch trials of Salem residents believed to be witches. Notice the difference between the spelling of John and William and of Nathaniel? When Nathaniel had grown, he changed his surname from “Hathorne” to “Hawthorne”, restoring the traditional English spelling including a “w” (Werlock). Nathaniel disapproved greatly of his ancestor’s actions and wanted to separate himself from them, and in adding the “w”, he did so. When pursuing greater education at Bowdoin College near Portland, Maine, Nathaniel felt as though he was letting his family down. Instead of choosing a career in medicine, law or ministry like most of his relatives, he rejected them and pursued a career in writing (Marks). He says this in his Custom House introduction to The Scarlet Letter:
A writer