Hawthome's Ambivalence Toward Puritanism In The Scarlet Letter

Nathaniel Hawthorne is the pioneer of romanticist and psychoanalytic novels in the history of American literature.His magnum opus,The Scarlet Letter,is a great success and classic as soon as it comes out.Hawthorne grounds the story in the seventeen-century Boston and explores the impact of Puritanism on people's life.Puritanism is not only a historically specific phenomenon coincident with the founding of New England;it's also a way of being in the world.The Scarlet Letter shows Hawthome's interpretation of Puritanism through the portrayal of Puritan community and the destiny of the main characters.Influenced by his Puritan ancestors and the contemporary Transcendental Movement,Hawthorne has an ambivalent attitude toward Puritanism.Hawthome's mixed feelings about Puritanism in The Scarlet Letter refer to two areas:Puritanism as a theology;and Puritanism as a way of life.On one hand;Hawthorne acknowledges the beliefs of sin and predestination in Puritanism,and believes human being's will and ability to change their situations through introspection and confession.On the other hand,Hawthorne strongly criticizes the gloomy and rigid Puritan life,while at the same time admiring the dignity the Puritans give to human life.In The Scarlet Letter,he creates a story that both highlights the weaknesses and strengths of Puritanism.First introduced are the reception and critical views of The Scarlet Letter in the history.Chapter One provides a brief introduction to Puritanism concerning its origin and development,its basic doctrines and its influence on the Puritan life.Chapter Two deals with Puritan elements demonstrated by the Puritan community and the main characters in the novel.Chapter Three concentrates on Hawthorne's interpretation of Puritanism from different facets.This chapter will consider the influence of Hawthorne's family background and the Transcendental Movement on Hawthorne's thinking of Puritanism.