Nathanial Hawthorne managed to expose the Puritan way of life in its entirety in his famous novel, The Scarlet Letter. He was born in the 19th century, but set his story in the 17th century, revealing his extensive knowledge of Puritanism. His desire to examine curious human nature compelled him to begin at this particular time. “Hawthorne's works explore human nature, particularly its darker side. He set many stories against the dark backdrop of Puritan New England, the world of his ancestors” (Clendenning). Nathanial was one of the few authors of his time who was willing to take risks and depict a more obscure way of life for readers, thus attracting the attention of many critics. It has received a multitude of analyses, both favorable and unfavorable. Nevertheless, he also placed many of his other writings in this certain period. Although Hawthorne was born in the 19th century, he took the risk of depicting a darker period in which puritanism was predominant. Its primary objective was to illustrate the act of isolation practiced on notorious sinners, unfortunately scorned by many critics. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay In the 16th century, a religious movement known as Puritanism surfaced within the Church of England. Most Puritans moved away from the organizational church in order to participate in a deeper form of worship. They were often satirized because they would live solely by His word and use the Bible to guide their lives. The Puritan movement to create a sovereign church helped found New England. Besieged by the Church and the crown, it sent an offshoot in the third and fourth decades of the 17th century to the northern English colonies of the New World – a migration that laid the foundations of the religious, intellectual and social order of the New World. -England (Delbanco). Thousands of Puritans inhabited what would become New England and claimed that they had not separated from the Church of England, but had simply migrated to pursue a more self-righteous method of reverence. Their method, however, seems hypocritical to historians, due to the fact that the Puritan documents indicate a strictly religious lifestyle. Hawthorne grew up aware of the puritanical regime that his relatives adopted throughout their lives. His curiosity allowed him to adequately expand his knowledge on the subject, and he eventually reached the point of setting his books in this era. “Hawthorne's legacy was one of strict puritanism which Hawthorne fought against in his stories and novels, The Scarlet Letter being perhaps the best known” (Nathaniel). Puritanism was widespread throughout New England and continued to expand outward into more western territories. Nathaniel could have chosen any city practicing this lifestyle; nevertheless, he maintained emotional ties to Massachusetts. "This old town of Salem - my native place, though I lived very far from it, both in my boyhood and in my mature years - has, or had, a hold on my affections, which I never realized strength during my seasons. of actual residence here” (Hawthorne). He eventually left Massachusetts after finishing The Scarlet Letter, but he looked back fondly on his years in Salem after realizing the positive effect it had on his life. Experiencing a different city gave him a new appreciation for his home, and he continued toset his novels in [Puritan] Massachusetts. Most of Hawthorne's works dealt with dark themes, which attracted many critical readers. Sin and its consequences were of utmost importance in the Puritan era, so his preference for dark theses was easily incorporated into his writings. “Hawthorne often dealt with themes of morality, sin and redemption. Among his early influences were the parables and allegories of John Bunyan and Edmund Spenser” (Clendenning). John Bunyan became a preacher after being baptized and began giving sermons without permission from the Anglican Church. This landed him in prison for a time, so to pass the time he wrote his most famous work: The Pilgrim's Progress. (John). “Bunyan's remarkable imagery was firmly rooted in the Reformation doctrines of man's fallen nature, grace, imputation, justification, and atonement – ​​all of which Bunyan appears to have derived directly from Scripture” (John ). Bunyan's themes seem to coincide directly with Hawthorne's and give readers another sense of his aspiration to write novels set in Puritan times. Bunyan's ability to incorporate the darkness of fallen nature into the light of the gospel inspired Nathaniel to highlight the flaws of human nature and the supposed methods of punishing these individual and societal imperfections. Nevertheless, even with enough inspiration, Hawthorne could not escape the mocking voices of his critics. “The Scarlet Letter was one of the first mass-produced books in the United States upon its release in 1850, and it garnered much praise and criticism for the novel's alleged morbidity” (Nathaniel). Despite Hawthorne's dark settings in his novels, he considered himself a writer of romance. He believed that his dissection of aspects of human nature rightly considered his writings romantic. Unlike most fiction writers of his time, he was not primarily interested in moving the reader with sensational or sentimental effects. Hawthorne called his writing “romance,” which he defined as a method of showing “the depths of our common nature.” For Hawthorne, romance meant confronting reality rather than avoiding it (Clendenning). Nathaniel was not obligated to elicit warm satisfaction from readers through his work, but rather to give them a sense of reality, no matter how ugly the authenticity might be. However, he created this truth with grace, providing intriguing plots and relatable characters. Readers develop empathy for Hester as she expresses her feelings for Dimmesdale, and they sympathize with little Pearl as she longs for a father figure within her family. People blame Dimmesdale for abandoning his family on the scaffold and blame Chillingworth for preventing the three of them from being together. By placing Hester, Dimmesdale, and Pearl on the scaffold as they create an electrifying union, he lightens the mood as they are in a place of disdain. Likewise, when Hester and Dimmesdale connect in the forest, the reader cannot help but consider the malevolence that reigns inside the trees. Only bad things happen in the forest, and those who enter willingly must be evildoers. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Hawthorne's novel The Scarlet Letter has received many reviews. and popularity due to its dominant setting and melancholy themes. The Puritans have/>.