Hawthorne’s Symbols: Hidden Meanings

From the deep hidden secrets in “The Birth-Mark” to the dark, deep, and mysterious forests of “Young Goodman Brown,” Nathaniel Hawthorne crafts narratives that resonate with a wide array of reader interests. Hawthorne's stories are rich tapestries woven with intricate symbolism, revealing themes deeply rooted in his critical perspective of Puritan beliefs and his own life experiences. Through his literary works, Hawthorne invites readers into his somber and introspective view of human nature and morality.

Choices and Consequences

In virtually every one of Hawthorne’s tales, his characters confront moral dilemmas, forced to decide between the paths of righteousness and wrongdoing, with each choice bearing its own set of consequences.

This recurring theme reflects Hawthorne's exploration of the complexities of human nature and the inevitable moral ambiguities that accompany personal choices.

Hawthorne's Life and Influences

Nathaniel Hawthorne was born on July 4, 1804, in Salem, Massachusetts, to Nathaniel Hawthorne and Elizabeth Clarke Manning. His upbringing in a Puritan family and the early loss of his father to yellow fever in 1808 profoundly influenced his worldview. After his father's death, Hawthorne's family returned to Salem, where he remained until he attended Bowdoin College in Maine, graduating in 1825. His literary journey began with the self-published “Fanshawe” in 1828, followed by several other works.

The turning point in his career came with his marriage to Sophia Peabody in 1837, after which they moved to Concord, Massachusetts. Here, Hawthorne mingled with literary giants like Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. Despite financial struggles, he secured a position as a Surveyor at the Salem Custom House. However, after losing this job, he relocated to Lenox, Massachusetts, where he wrote his most famous novel, “The Scarlet Letter.” Hawthorne's life journey concluded on May 19, 1864, with his literary legacy continuing to influence American literature.

Transcendentalism vs. Anti-Transcendentalism

Writing during the New England Renaissance, Hawthorne's works were significantly shaped by the literary movements of his time: Transcendentalism and Anti-Transcendentalism. While most of his contemporaries embraced Transcendentalism, emphasizing the optimistic potential of the human spirit, Hawthorne gravitated towards Anti-Transcendentalism. His focus on the darker aspects of human nature and the capacity for sin and destruction set him apart from his peers.

Hawthorne’s ambivalence toward his Puritan ancestry, marked by both pride and guilt, permeates his works. He critically examined the moral failings of his forebears, particularly their role in events like the Salem witch trials, and used his stories to question the ethical rigidity and hypocrisy of Puritan society.

The Gothic Veil of Sin

In “The Minister's Black Veil,” Hawthorne's mastery of gothic symbolism is evident. The black veil worn by Mr. Hooper serves as a powerful symbol of the hidden sins that burden all of humanity. While villagers speculate that Mr. Hooper’s veil conceals an adulterous sin, he insists it represents the universal nature of human sinfulness. Throughout his life, Mr. Hooper endures social ostracism, yet he steadfastly refuses to remove the veil, mirroring Hawthorne's own struggle with familial guilt over his ancestors’ actions in Salem.

The Journey of Young Goodman Brown

Symbolism permeates “Young Goodman Brown,” beginning with the protagonist’s very name, which denotes innocence and virtue. As Goodman Brown ventures into the dark forest, he encounters an old man offering a serpent-shaped staff, a biblical symbol of evil. The forest becomes a setting for Goodman Brown's spiritual trial, where he grapples with the loss of innocence and trust. Upon witnessing a pink ribbon—a symbol of his wife Faith’s purity—fall from the sky, he succumbs to despair, believing her lost to evil.

Hawthorne uses this story to explore the impact of inherited guilt and societal expectations on the individual. Goodman Brown's subsequent life of suspicion and isolation reflects Hawthorne's own sense of alienation, rooted in the actions of his Puritan ancestors.

Symbols of Sin and Redemption

In “The Scarlet Letter,” Hawthorne crafts a rich allegorical landscape, drawing from Puritan belief in the symbolic nature of everyday events. The titular scarlet letter, initially a mark of Hester Prynne’s adultery, evolves into a symbol of both sin and redemption. Hester’s transformation from a fallen woman to a figure of resilience and dignity challenges the community's simplistic moral judgments.

The characters in the novel are imbued with symbolic significance. Roger Chillingworth’s name suggests coldness and malice, and his relentless pursuit of revenge transforms him into a figure akin to the Black Man, a representation of Satan. The novel’s use of color symbolism further enriches its themes, with red symbolizing passion and energy, embodied by the vibrant and unruly Pearl.

The setting itself, with its somber hues and imposing prison door, reflects the rigid and punitive nature of Puritan society. Hawthorne critiques this environment, highlighting its oppressive judgmentalism and the hypocrisy underlying its moral façade. Through his exploration of sin, guilt, and redemption, Hawthorne invites readers to question the ethical certainties of his ancestors.

Legacy of Symbolism

Nathaniel Hawthorne remains a pivotal figure in American literature, renowned for his rich use of symbolism and his introspective exploration of human nature. His stories, deeply intertwined with his Puritan heritage, offer a nuanced critique of moral absolutism and societal norms. Hawthorne’s legacy endures through the timeless relevance of his insights into the complexities of human morality and the enduring impact of personal and collective guilt.

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