Nathaniel Hawthorne In His Times. James R. Mellow.

Nathaniel Hawthorne In His Times
James R. Mellow
Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. 1980

Why read it? You're going to learn about the contradictory personality of one of America's greatest writers--the recluse who insisted on playing a role in society. You are also going to learn why Hawthorne is one of America's greatest writers. One reason for his greatness is his themes:

The unpardonable sin--observing someone else's soul, not to help, but to hurt, for the purpose of revenge.

Secret sin.

The secret sharer in sin: one sinner can recognize the sin in others.

Loss of innocence by sinning. On the other hand, experiencing sin is the only way to become human and develop human sympathies.

The scientist who cares more for science than people.

The dominance of the intellect over the heart.

Revenge diabolizing the person who engages in it.

The woods as antithesis to civilization.

The wrongdoing of one generation that haunts future generations.

Blithedale as an attack on reformers, "...those who appoint themselves the directors of society, managing the lives of others for their (?) own good." To a radical reformer, the end justifies the means. The ruthlessness of people obsessed by a cause.

Hawthorne's indicting the male-dominated society of the 19th century.

The Faun as representative of man before the fall, before the knowledge of evil.

The loss of innocence and the bitter wisdom of sin.

These themes are only a selected few of the many themes in Hawthorne's stories and romances/novels.

Ironically, Hawthorne once said that if he had had to read the books that he wrote, he would not be able to get through them. Melville said he always felt that Hawthorne concealed a secret sin.