In Colonial Days

Nathaniel Hawthorne

2021년 7월 · Otbebookpublishing

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Excerpt: "One afternoon, last summer, while walking along Washington Street, my eye was attracted by a signboard protruding over a narrow archway nearly opposite the Old South Church. The sign represented the front of a stately edifice, which was designated as the "Old Province House, kept by Thomas Waite." I was glad to be thus reminded of a purpose, long entertained, of visiting and rambling over the mansion of the old royal governors of Massachusetts; and entering the arched passage, which penetrated through the middle of a brick row of shops, a few steps transported me from the busy heart of modern Boston into a small and secluded courtyard. One side of this space was occupied by the square front of the Province House, three stories high, and surmounted by a cupola, on the top of which a gilded Indian was discernible with his bow bent and his arrow on the string, as if aiming at the weathercock on the spire of the Old South. The figure has kept this attitude for seventy years or more, ever since good Deacon Drowne, a cunning carver of wood, first stationed him on his long sentinel's watch over the city."

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Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864) stands as a towering figure in American literature, renowned for his exploration of moral complexity and the human condition. Born in Salem, Massachusetts, Hawthorne's lineage included a judge involved in the infamous Salem witch trials, a fact that haunted and influenced his dark, introspective writing style. His works often delve into themes of sin, guilt, and redemption, reflecting the Puritanical roots of his upbringing.Hawthorne's early life was marked by seclusion and intense literary apprenticeship. After graduating from Bowdoin College, where he befriended future president Franklin Pierce and poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, he spent years in relative isolation, honing his craft. His breakthrough came with the publication of "Twice-Told Tales" in 1837, a collection of short stories that garnered critical acclaim.Hawthorne's most celebrated novels, "The Scarlet Letter" (1850) and "The House of the Seven Gables" (1851), cemented his reputation as a master of American fiction. "The Scarlet Letter," in particular, is lauded for its pioneering exploration of complex female characters and its critique of societal norms, making it a staple in discussions of feminist literature.Controversially, Hawthorne was ambivalent about the burgeoning Transcendentalist movement, despite his close association with its leaders, such as Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. His skepticism about their idealism is evident in his satirical work, "The Blithedale Romance" (1852).Hawthorne's influence extends to contemporary writers who admire his psychological depth and narrative innovation. His legacy endures as a foundational voice in American literature, continually inviting readers to ponder the moral intricacies of human nature.