Nathaniel Hawthorne

Nathaniel Hawthorne, born in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1804, became a prominent American novelist and short story writer. His literary career, marked by a focus on history, morality, and religion, often delved into the darker aspects of human nature and the legacy of Puritanism in New England. After graduating from Bowdoin College, Hawthorne published his first novel, Fanshawe, which he later disavowed. He gained recognition with his collection Twice-Told Tales. His life included periods working at the Boston Custom House and briefly joining the transcendentalist community at Brook Farm before marrying Sophia Peabody in 1842. The couple settled in Concord, Massachusetts, and later moved through various locations before returning to Concord in 1860. Hawthorne's most famous work, The Scarlet Letter, was published in 1850, followed by other novels. He also penned a biography for his college friend Franklin Pierce's presidential campaign. Hawthorne died in 1864, leaving behind a body of work deeply embedded in American Romanticism, particularly its dark romantic strand, characterized by psychological depth and moral allegories.

Born Nathaniel Hathorne in Salem, Massachusetts, on July 4, 1804, Hawthorne's family had deep roots in the region, tracing back to Puritan ancestors. His great-great-great-grandfather, William Hathorne, was an influential figure in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, holding judicial positions. His great-great-grandfather, John Hathorne, served as a judge during the infamous Salem witch trials. Nathaniel later added the 'w' to his surname, seemingly to distance himself from this notorious lineage. His father, a sea captain, died when Nathaniel was young, leading his mother and sisters to live with relatives. Hawthorne experienced a childhood injury that left him lame for a year. The family later relocated to Maine, where he recalled enjoying the wild, undeveloped landscape. He returned to Salem for schooling and even produced a handwritten periodical, The Spectator, showcasing his early wit.

Despite initial reluctance, Hawthorne attended Bowdoin College starting in 1821, supported by his uncle. During his time there, he formed friendships with future prominent figures like Franklin Pierce and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. He graduated in 1825, describing himself as an 'idle student' more interested in personal fancies than rigorous academic pursuits. His first published novel, Fanshawe, appeared anonymously in 1828, funded by himself, but it garnered little commercial success. He contributed numerous short stories to periodicals, some of which were later collected in 1837 as Twice-Told Tales, a collection that began to establish his reputation. He also worked as an editor for the American Magazine of Useful and Entertaining Knowledge and held a position at the Boston Custom House.

Hawthorne married Sophia Peabody, an illustrator and fellow transcendentalist, in 1842. Before their marriage, he briefly joined the Brook Farm community, a utopian experiment, primarily to save money. This experience later influenced his novel The Blithedale Romance. The couple settled in Concord, Massachusetts, at The Old Manse, where Hawthorne wrote many tales later published in Mosses from an Old Manse. His wife, Sophia, who suffered from migraines, found relief after meeting Hawthorne, and they shared a devoted marriage. The Hawthornes had three children: Una, Julian, and Rose. His literary career flourished with the publication of The Scarlet Letter in 1850, followed by a series of other novels. A political appointment as a consul took the family to Europe before their return to the United States. Hawthorne died in 1864.

Hawthorne's literary output is deeply rooted in New England's history and culture, often exploring themes of morality, sin, and the complex legacy of the Puritans. His fiction is classified within the Romantic movement, specifically its darker manifestation, known as dark romanticism. Common threads in his work include the inherent flaws and potential for evil within humanity, presented through intricate psychological portraits and moral allegories. His narratives frequently feature symbolic elements and delve into the consequences of hidden guilt and societal judgment. He also wrote a biography for Franklin Pierce, who became the 14th U.S. President.

“I was educated (as the phrase is) at Bowdoin College. I was an idle student, negligent of college rules and the Procrustean details of academic life, rather choosing to nurse my own fancies than to dig into Greek roots and be numbered among the learned Thebans.”

“I have not lived, but only dreamed about living.”

“Those were delightful days, for part of the country was wild then, with only scattered clearings, and nine tenths of it primeval woods.”

“I am always so dazzled and bewildered with the richness, the depth, the ... jewels of beauty in his productions that I am always looking forward to a second reading where I can ponder and muse and fully take in the miraculous wealth of thoughts.”

“I find it a very sober and serious kind of happiness that springs from the birth of a child ... There is no escaping it any longer. I have business on earth now, and must look about me for the means of doing it.”