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Hawthorne and Symbolism

Hawthorne and Symbolism. HUM 2212: British and American Literature I Fall 2012 Dr. Perdigao September 17, 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Minister%27s_Black_Veil. Unveiling Hawthorne. Hawthorne as “American” writer

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Hawthorne and Symbolism

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  1. Hawthorne and Symbolism HUM 2212: British and American Literature I Fall 2012 Dr. Perdigao September 17, 2012

  2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Minister%27s_Black_Veil

  3. Unveiling Hawthorne • Hawthorne as “American” writer • Connection to Emerson—rented house, pall-bearer at Hawthorne’s funeral • Success in America, Great Britain • Setting, connection to Irving, idea of America • “The Minister’s Black Veil” *1836) • Fearful to congregation, they to him (410) • Based on true story • Secret to be “unveiled” • “Unmasking” in The Monk

  4. Symbols! • “penetrate the mystery” (411) • Symbol, becomes “terrible” • Interpretation, multiple readings • Scarlet letter • Makes him “ghost-like” • With funeral, “Now an appropriate emblem” (412) • Story that the corpse shuddered • Reference to death, snatching the veil from their faces • Idea girl from funeral was at the wedding, changes tone • Earth has its own black veil (413)

  5. Revelations • Church, envisioned it on his heart, fearful secret (413) • Girl sees it as nothing significant • Veil as symbol (414) • She feels its power • Question of what lies between them (415) • Becomes man of “awful power” 9416) • Physician, Elizabeth at bedside • Revelation at end of life, rending of mortal veil • Struggle with Reverend Clark at end • Condemns all—all wearing black veils

  6. Perfection • “The Birth-mark” (1843) • Man of science, Aylmer • Late 18th century—Enlightenment to Romanticism • Defect or beauty with Georgiana’s birthmark • Interpretation • Fairy’s hand • Bloody hand • Mark of nature (419-420), mortality, temporary, finite • Inspires fear and horror • Dream and nightmare—stops heart

  7. Perfection • He was almost enlightened to created another • Frankenstein? • Comparison to Pygmalion • Lesson—man cannot create life (422), can mend • Aylmer and Aminidab, spiritual and physical • He’d keep birthmark (422) • Plucks flower • Takes daguerreotype (423) • Elixir Vitae (424) • Idea of balance in nature, tries to perfect her anyway

  8. Endings • Elixir of Immortality • She reads science, finds in it romance and poetry (424) • Perfect idea vs. actual • Unless science deceives him, he will not fail (428) • Tries it on the geranium • Mysterious symbol goes away, awful, like rainbow disappearing (429) • Announces she is dying

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