Guilt vs. Innocence, Allegories, Puritanism in Nathaniel...

Sabrina Bullock Professor Erin Whitford American Literature I (409) 18 August 2013 (SumII) Grade: 88 Guilt vs. Innocence, Allegories, Puritanism in Nathaniel Hawthorne Nathaniel Hawthorne was a nineteenth century American writer that was born in Massachusetts with a Puritan Heritage. â€Å"Born in Massachusetts on the Fourth of July, 1804, he was the descendant of Puritan worthies and the son of a ship’s captain who died at sea in 1808† (Gollin). Allegories are portrayed in his writings to depict a vivid outlook of his moral themes. Many of his works describe the human conscience and how it deals with guilt. Hawthorne’s works describe his contemplation on sin and guilt. He believed it had an effect on one’s social behavior, as well†¦show more content†¦As Georgiana drinks the potion it puts her into a deep sleep, but later on when her husband is shouting at the heavens for his created perfection, it awakens her from her slumber. As she rises up, to look in the mirror to notice the flaw has been demolished, she turns to Aylmer, â€Å"You have aimed loftily!-you have done nobly! Do not repent, that, with so high and pure a feeling, you have rejected the best that earth could offer. Aylmer-dearest Aylmer-I am dying†(Bayum,etc.Pg.429)! Georgiana’s death is an allegory of guilt and innocence because her husband was ugly on the inside and he picked at her because her flaw was on the outside only to be more noticed. Aylmer failed to see his wife’s purity and innocence because he could not look past her birthmark. She died because the beauty in earth and humans is our imperfections. Georgiana could not survived on earth because perfection could not exist here. It portrays how human nature is to point out others flaws so that they are not looked upon for theirs. Georgiana was the closest thing to perfect and Aylmer was incapable of accepting it, as he was bitter about not being able to create a perfect world or woman and his obsession killed her. In Rappaccini’s Daughter Hawthorne wrote a story much like The Birthmark. It is based around a beautiful young woman named Be atrice who was as pure at heart, but in the end was destroyed by someone trying to â€Å"enhance† her by a potion. Giovanni Guasconti is a youngShow MoreRelatedElements of Fiction in Young Goodman Brown Essays1761 Words   |  8 PagesOutline Introduction Thesis: Hawthorne uses the Elements of fiction in Young Goodman Brown to depict a story of his family’s history and religious background. I Hawthorne uses time periods, location and physical structure settings that all relate to the Purity society and his historical family story. A. The first setting in young Goodman brown was set in Salem village. This is significant to the story because the witch trials were held in Salem, Massachusetts. B. Hawthorne tells us this in the first