Nathaniel Hawthorne and His Religious Connotations in His...

Nathaniel Hawthorne and His Religious Connotations in His Works Nathaniel Hawthorne is noted for his religious connotations in his works. Young Goodman Brown, The Ministers Black Veil and The Birthmark is three exemplary stories. His writing technique uses ambiguity in that the reader is opened to many different ways of interpretation. In respect to religious methodology the main characters of these short stories all encounter some sort of revelation. In Young Goodman Brown the main character leaves his pure wife Faith adorned in pink ribbons symbolizing her innocent nature on a short but very intriguing journey. His walk begins in the woods adjacent to Salem Village, and with him he is accompanied by a devilish character. It†¦show more content†¦All that Brown can say to his acquaintance is That old woman taught me my catechism. (Hawthorne 313) Through his journey with the devil Goodman brown witnesses more and more hideous and unholy sights and sounds. The forest becomes a nightmare to the young man and he still proceeds on. He sees h is honorable minister and the good deacon traveling along the path speaking of a meeting in the forest. Brown doesnt understand knowing that a meeting was never held out there. He proceeds on and finally comes to this wretched place. The horrid sounds fill his ears and boggle his mind. The congregation of his beloved church is there before the altar of a flaming rock surrounded by flame engulfed trees. But one person is missing, Faith. A figure escorts a fair damsel to the altar. The devil makes a speech and tells the assembly that evil is the nature of mankind and the only thing that has importance. The young man is summoned to the altar and we see that the lady was Faith. They are the two whom have not gone to the dark side. His last words before Faith is baptized into darkness are look up to heaven, and resist the wicked one. But if Faith heard his cry or not he does not know because after uttering those words he finds himself in the calm woods. He staggers back to town and is disgusted at his community. He shuns his congregation and even his own wife makes him shudder. He lost his faith and doesnt have any belief inShow MoreRelatedEdgar Allan Poe And Nathaniel Hawthorne848 Words   |  4 Pagesis effectively expressed by Edgar Allan Poe and Nathaniel Hawthorne despite differences in their writing style through the stories of The Raven and The Scarlet Letter respectively. Although their writing style is different, both authors indicate that breaking free from intellectual traditions of the past is present in their writing. Both Poe and Hawthorne want to know why things happen rather than how things happen so they focus on how the mind works. As well as being gothic writers, they wantedRead MoreNathaniel Hawthornes The Scarlett Letter Essay1269 Words   |  6 Pagesunjust criticism in her society. 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They believed in the â€Å"Elect† and that Jesus died only for these few people. WritersRead MoreReview Of Upon Returning From The Forest 1577 Words   |  7 PagesUpon returning from the forest, everything appears different to DImmesdale. Hester saddened and Pearl celebrating his departure, Dimmesdale encounters various people on his way back to his studies. Firstly, he encounters a church elder, whom Dimmesdale, â€Å"by the most careful self-control...could refrain from uttering certain blasphemous suggestions that rose into his mind, respecting the communion-supper.† (149) Second, Dimmesdale met an elderly widow, â€Å"poor...lonely, and with a heart as full of reminiscences