Nathaniel Hawthorne and Charles Dickinson, Research Paper Example

Characteristically, Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804 – 1864) and Charles Dickinson were both American authors. Hawthorne’s (1804 – 1864) literary works included novels as well as short stories. Some novels written by this renowned scholar included House of Seven Cables; Scarlet Letter and Elixir of Life. Short stories include Mosses from an Old Manse; Godfather’s Chair and Twice Told tales.

Similarly, Charles Dickson (1951) developed for himself a notable collection of novels including Waltz in Marathon; Widows Adventure and A Shortcut in Time. The comparative analysis of these two authors will embrace a discussion of their relationship to the concept romanticism. An examination into how these writers perceive romanticism will be explored. Also, a linkage between their works pertaining to romanticism; position in society, time in history, and worldview will be advanced. Precisely, this document compares and contrasts the attitudes of Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804 – 1864) and Charles Dickinson (1951) towards romanticism in their literary work.

The concept romanticism is used to describe a period of history whereby literary figures took pleasure in reflecting various degrees of romantic relationships in highlighting their beliefs and values. It was also linked to a European intellectual movement emerging at the end of the 18^th century reaching its peak during 1800-1850 (Ferber, 2010)       .

Characteristically, these literary works produced immense emotion in their presentation and interpretation. The transmission ideological emphasis was towards creating awe, apprehension and to a lesser extent terror. Literary scholars have attributed this literary style industrial revolution since it signified a revolt against social structure of that time. It also was believed to be associated with an age of immense enlightenment, which signaled a reaction to the changes produced by the revolution itself (Ferber, 2010)

Consequently, as a social movement evolution in the arts, literature and music occurred whereby passionate descriptions of events affecting society’s function were written by authors who felts compelled to capture them as artifacts or succeeding generations. Ultimately, these literary adaptations were reflected in various institutions within the society such as the natural science; education, politics and the secret relationships between men and women. Further it has been theorized that literary romanticism had created stronger liberalistic, patriotic and radical forces within the society.

Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804 – 1864) literary works were produced during the height of romanticism explosion in the literary world. His major works in romanticism were Scarlet Letter, written in 1850; Blithedale Romance (1852); House of the Seven Gables (1851) and The Marble Faun (1860). Importantly, Scarlet Letter is described as Hawthorne’s (1804 – 1864) magnum opus. The setting is in Puritan Massachusetts in the 17^th century. In this novel the author depicts the social issue of an adulterous affair producing a child. Essentially, the emotional apprehension embodying this romance is the insidious adulterous affair (McFarland, 2004).

Maintaining the revolutionary theme contained in romanticism the author allows this character to be filled with remorse for the sin and legalistic culture of that society.  In linking Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804 – 1864) works pertaining to romanticism; his position in society, time in history, and worldview, it is important to emphasize that Hawthorne’s expertise (1804 – 1864)  in expressing characters and plots in his literary work is distinctly related to the time of history in which he lived and his personal romantic relationship with his wife, who he referred to as Dove (McFarland, 2004).

Hawthorne’s (1804 – 1864) enjoyed a beautiful marriage relationship, which initially seemed difficult to be interpreted as real romance since the couple appeared incompatible, but their reclusive temperament kept the romance ignited. Besides, Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804 – 1864) ancestry was linked to the Salem witch trials, where his father presided as an unremorseful judge sentencing twenty witches to death. Therefore, the terror and emotion intermingling romanticism literary expressions could be a passion transferred from his ancestry (McFarland, 2004).

While both Dickinson (1951) and Hawthorne (1804 – 1864) were American authors there were marked distinctions between them. Precisely, they lived and produced their literary works at two unique periods of the world’s history. The concept being explored in relation to who these two men were/are is romanticism. True it must be acknowledged that Hawthorne (1804 – 1864) lived with romanticism, but Charles Dickinson (1951) in an era when realism and winsome obscurity were dominant. As such, the average reader would not readily identify Dickson (1951) with romanticism as Hawthorne (1804 – 1864).

However, I submit that there have been elements of romanticism in his work as well. For example, ‘Widows of Adventure’ is highly suggestive of a romanticism theme even though Dickson (1961) highlights women in the novel.There are two widows in the story Ina and Helene. They happen to be Chicago sisters who embark on an adventurous drive to the city Los Angeles from a less popular area within the state. Romanticism emerges when Dickson (1951) allows Helene to be the only one of the two who can drive, but she is blind. Ina is used as her eyes by giving directions. However, she is drinking just as little too much. It gets dark and the reliance on each other for safety becomes eminent and a significant bound develops between the sisters as they travel their journey (McFarland, 2004).

In identifying the degree of literary romanticism in this novel arguments could be that there was no industrial revolution during the setting in giving the novel its traditional romantic definition, but passion, terror and emotion were significantly portrayed in the descriptions. With this inference similarities between the literary works of  Dickinson (1951) and Hawthorne (1804 – 1864) can be linked to the their belief that romanticism goes beyond specific  gender relationships, but supporting the other  person as Hawthorne (1804 – 1864) did with his wife in real life (McFarland, 2004).

In fact no valid distinctions can be identified regarding Dickinson’s (1951) position in society, time in history, and worldview perspectives regarding romanticism except that these two men lived in separate periods of history. Definitely, the shade of romanticism expressed in their work was vastly different and concepts’ paradigms at tangents too. Nineteen century Hawthorne (1804 – 1864) delivered romanticism from an industrial political antagonist world view. Dickinson’s perspectives emerged from a more fun loving era classified as winsome absurdity (McFarland, 2004).

Precisely, Dickinson’s (1951) work unlike Hawthorne (1804 – 1864) was lavished with realism. In literature this is a completely different literary ideology. At this boundary these two authors split their approaches as it related to romanticizing. In literature no realism romanticism exists. As such, while elements of romanticism were identified being communicated from a different perspective in Dickinson’s (1951) work he predominantly wanted to be authentic in his fiction depicting actual real life issues affecting society and not merely imaginary episode which may never become reality.

In concluding this essay it was this author’s intention to compare and contrast the attitudes of Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804 – 1864) and Charles Dickinson (1951) towards romanticism in their literary work. Similarities identified were not as profound as differences. Hawthorne (1804 – 1864) lived in the romanticism era forged by the industrial revolution. Charles Dickinson (1951) came about a century later when realism took the literary stage. However, he was still able to infiltrate his work with some degree of romanticism as identified in ‘Widows of Adventure.’ Both authors highlighted support for an important feature of literary romanticism. In contrast to Hawthorne (1804 – 1864) Charles Dickinson (1951) added an really subtle funny flavor to his implicit literary romanticism expressions.

Works cited

Ferber, Michael. Romanticism: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press.2010.Print

McFarland, Philip. Hawthorne in Concord. New York: Grove Press, 2004. Print