Hawthorne Experiments Gone Wrong - 1854 Words

Nathaniel Hawthorne is an author whose major fiction writing has influenced the literary world greatly during the course of the nineteenth century. His work during the Romantic period represents his world view through a specific style of writing. While his literature is particularly dark in tone, his short stories show a variety of symbols, themes, and characters. â€Å"The Minister’s Black Veil,† â€Å"The Birthmark,† and â€Å"Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment† are three of Hawthorne’s short stories that illustrate the similar and different nuances in tone and meaning seen in his writing. One common theme found in these three short stories is experimentation. In each of the short stories’ plots, there is an experiment of some sort undertaken in order to†¦show more content†¦It is an imperfection to some, but an attribute to others. In â€Å"The Minister’s Black Veil,† the obvious symbol is the veil. It represents isolation and how Mr. Hooper is shunned by nearly his entire congregation because he wears the veil. The veil becomes part of Hooper, and he wants people to know that, so he keeps it on as he dies. Nathaniel Hawthorne creates these strong images to influence readers to accept and love, and to not take things for granted. Despite the fact that much of his work seems dark and gloomy, his messages are always simple and constant. The only differences between the symbols are that one was chosen by the owner, the black veil; one was given to the owner, the rose; and the other was there by no choice of the owner, the birthmark. The ways the symbols found the owners are different, but the importance of each is similar. They help drive the stories and represent a key element found in the work of author Nathaniel Hawthorne. Another common element in Hawthorne’s writing is his characters. In all three stories there are strong central male figures. Mr. Hooper in â€Å"The Minister’s Black Veil,† Dr. Heidegger in â€Å"Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment,† and Aylmer in â€Å"The Birthmark† are all strong central male figures. They have the power to alter the story’s plot. This is also representative of the society at the time of Hawthorne’s literature. Women had weaker social roles, and men were heads of households and madeShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Nathaniel Hawthorne s The Great Gatsby 1579 Words   |  7 Pages Nathaniel Hawthorne has written may pieces of literature that has made us dig deep inside his words to extract different meanings. He is well known for being one of the fathers of the American short story. He is considered a Dark Romantic whose perception is muddled by limits on human consciousness; where truth is uncertain and it shadows our a bilities (Moreland). He is of Puritan descendent and therefore his writing portrays anxiety, guilt, self depression and sins being passed down (Moreland)Read MoreNathaniel Hawthorne s Influence On American Literature And The Genre Of Romanticism Essay1472 Words   |  6 PagesNathaniel Hawthorne was one of the most important authors in the history of American literature and the genre of Romanticism or Dark Romanticism, due to his unique style of writing and his focus upon subjects of Puritan religion and the unknown. I consider Hawthorne an important author, due to the fact that he skillfully and accurately based his fictional writings upon happenings of colonial times, was one of the first authors to display unfortunate outcomes for his characters’ immoral choices accordingRead MoreThe Birthmark By Nathaniel Hawthorne Essay1615 Words   |  7 PagesA birthmark as referred to in this short story is the â€Å"Differences of temperament†, the inborn traits someone can develop. In Nathaniel Hawthorne s The Birthmark there are many different themes such as, nature versus science, and perfection. We see Aylmer struggle with his own temperament. For him the birthmark becomes the symbol of Georgiana’s flawed humanity, which he tries to alternate. Throughout the story, we come across several observances of otherness revolving around â€Å"The Birthmark†. AylmerRead MoreFrancis Bacon s The Birthmark And Rappaccini s Daughter1910 Words   |  8 Pagesto warn readers against the dangers of science. One such writer is Nathaniel Hawthorne, Hawthorne uses his stories to warn readers about the dangers of science. Heidegger’s Experiment, The Birthmark and Rappaccini s daughter, all have very tragic endings that can be traced back to science experiments. All three stories focus on very intelligent and driven scientist who try to achieve their goals at any cost. Hawthorne uses these stories as a way to contradict Bacon’s view and to state his viewsRead MoreFrancis Bacon s The Birthmark And Rappaccini s Daughter1913 Words   |  8 Pagesto warn readers against the dangers of science. One such writer is Nathaniel Hawthorne; Hawthorne uses his stories to warn readers about the dangers of science. Heidegger’s Experiment, The Birthmark and Rappaccini s Daughter, all have very tragic endings that can be traced back to science experiments. All three stories focus on very intelligent and driven scientist who try to achieve their goals at any cost. Hawthorne uses these stories as a way to contradict Bacon’s view and to state his viewsRead MoreWilliam Hawthorne s The Birthmark : Destruction And Duchess s Tragic Ending1055 Words   |  5 Pages Yana Kopylova Irene Kanurkas EAC217YA February 5, 2015 How Aylmer’s obsessive nature led to his destruction and Georgiana’s tragic ending. Nathaniel Hawthorne in his story â€Å"The birthmark† has done an exceptionally good job at developing the main characters and making them extremely dedicated to their beliefs and values. Aylmer gradually spins out of control and becomes obsessive with the idea that he can remove the birthmark from his wife’s face and is willing to do so at any cost. AylmerRead MoreThe Birthmark Character Analysis2061 Words   |  9 Pagessay â€Å"You know that one thing you do? I hate it and you need to change.† Or even worse, they look at you and say â€Å"You know, you’re really ugly.† That’s exactly what Aylmer does to his wife in the â€Å"The Birthmark,† a short story written by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Aylmer, is a man of science that at the beginning of the story, decides that it is time for him to leave his laboratory and find a wife. He eventually marries a woman by the name of Georgiana. She has a birthmark on her cheek in the sha pe of a handRead MoreGuilt vs. Innocence, Allegories, Puritanism in Nathaniel Hawthorne2423 Words   |  10 Pagesï » ¿Sabrina Bullock Professor Erin Whitford American Literature I (409) 18 August 2013 (SumII) Grade: 88 Guilt vs. Innocence, Allegories, Puritanism in Nathaniel Hawthorne Nathaniel Hawthorne was a nineteenth century American writer that was born in Massachusetts with a Puritan Heritage. â€Å"Born in Massachusetts on the Fourth of July, 1804, he was the descendant of Puritan worthies and the son of a ship’s captain who died at sea in 1808† (Gollin). Allegories are portrayed in his writings toRead MorePuritanism in the Scarlet Letter6430 Words   |  26 Pagesthesis also presents Hawthorne’s attitude towards Puritanism. On one hand, he appreciates the Puritan thought and value; on the other hand, he condemns the negative impact of Puritan society on people’s spirit. Key Words: Puritanism, Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter, Bostonï ¼Å'Hester Chapter1 â…  .Introduction A. Puritans Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter was written in 18th century. The setting of The Scarlet Letter is in the 17th century in Boston, America. Before proceeding toRead MorePuritanism in the Scarlet Letter6423 Words   |  26 Pagesthesis also presents Hawthorne’s attitude towards Puritanism. On one hand, he appreciates the Puritan thought and value; on the other hand, he condemns the negative impact of Puritan society on people’s spirit. Key Words: Puritanism, Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter, Bostonï ¼Å'Hester Chapter1 â…  .Introduction A. Puritans Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter was written in 18th century. The setting of The Scarlet Letter is in the 17th century in Boston, America. Before proceeding