Puritanism In Opposition To Transcendentalism-a Main Theme Of "the Scarlet Letter"

Nathaniel Hawthorne is acclaimed as one of the greatest novelists in the 19^th century American literature. Puritanism was a highly important part of Hawthorn's thinking. In his masterpiece "The Scarlet Letter", Hawthorne made use of Puritan dogmas to rebuke Transcendentalism.First, in regard to the relationship between God and man, Hawthorne adhered to some of the main Puritan dogmas, such as the Absolute Sovereignty of God, the Innate Depravity of man and concept of God's Salvation. The Transcendentalist doctrines that man was essentially good in nature, illimitable in abilities and that man could get access to God through one's innate instinct were totally unacceptable to Hawthorne. According to Hawthorne, only when man accepted the fact of man's Innate Depravity could he atone for his sin. Only by means of penance, repentance and atonement could man get close to God.Second, as to the relationship between man and society, Hawthorne could never accept the idea of man's individualism in a society advocated by Transcendentalists. In Hawthorne's view, those individualists indulging in self-admiration and self-interest estranged from the society and committed a sin. Neither could Hawthorne accept the idea of man's reforming of society in a radical way.Third, contrary to Transcendentalists' idea that nature never wore a mean appearance and man could integrate himself with nature and transcend to God's level, Hawthorne held that nature was a symbol of wilderness, wasteland, heathendom and stood as the opposite force of civilized community and would lead man far away from God's road and civilized human society.Fourth, in Hawthorne's opinion, Transcendentalists put too much emphasis on the interests of individuals, ignoring the connection and compassion between people, while Hawthorne laid more emphasis on man's mutual fate and advocated compassion between people. As to the relationship between man and woman, Hawthorne thought Transcendentalists' advocacy of women rights, women's independency and freedom violated the natural role of women and provided no remedy for the improvement of the relationship between man and woman. According to Hawthorne, women's ethereal essence that had kept a woman a woman was most important to women.