Jonathan Edwards And Nathaniel Hawthorne - 1294 Words

â€Å"Have no fear of perfection - you ll never reach it,† said famous Spanish painter, Salvador Dali. Dali seems to be implying that no matter the effort, perfection is unattainable and something that should not be feared by anyone. Famous Puritan authors Jonathan Edwards and Nathaniel Hawthorne in their works give the same impression as Dali, they both believe that the strive for perfection is both unrealistic and unattainable. In regard to the unattainably of perfection Hawthorne and Edwards’ opinions differ greatly, Edwards believes that even though perfection is unrealistic, one can and should still strive for it, while Hawthorne on the other hand believes that because perfection will never be reached, it would be unnecessary for one to strive for it. Jonathan Edwards in his sermon â€Å"Sinners in the Hands of an Angry G-d,† proposes one very significant question. What can man do to achieve perfection? Edwards states that: You probably are not sensible of this; you find you are kept out of hell, but do not see the hand of God in it; but look at other things, as the good state of your bodily constitution, your care of your own life, and the means you use for your own preservation. But indeed these things are nothing; if God should withdraw His hand, they would avail no more to keep you from falling. Edwards is teaching his audience one thing: that no confusion should be made, G-d is all that is keeping you from hell, not yourself, but G-d. He is giving one simple answer to hisShow MoreRelatedThe Evolution of American Literature637 Words   |  3 Pagesironically brought with them however, as their descendent Nathaniel Hawthorne would show in The Scarlet Letter). Religious topics continued to dominate early American literature in the 18th century, for example, in the works of Jonathan Edwards and Cotton Mather. Their strict Calvinistic, Puritanical views gave their writings a fire-and-brimstone type of style a inflammatory rhetoric meant to rouse religious fervor (Baym 103). Both Hawthorne and Herman Melville (another later generation New Englander)Read MoreHypocrisy in the Scarlet Letter937 Words   |  4 Pageswords spoken by Hester Prynne in The Scarlet Letter display her practice of situational morals and hypocrisy. Hawthorne displays this major element of human nature, hypocrisy in all characters save young Pearl who is blatantly unique from most people. Dimmesdale, Hester, and the entire Puritan community are hypocrites, and their hypocrisy manifests itself in the conflict of this novel. Hawthorne created a drastic difference between the inward and outward lives of everyone in this story and they can beRead MoreThe Mystery Behind The Minister s Black Veil1277 Words   |  6 PagesAlexis Englebert Professor Jones English 232 30 Apr. 2015 The Mystery Behind â€Å"The Minister’s Black Veil† In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s, â€Å"The Ministers Black Veil†, Mr. Hooper made a commitment, for the rest of his earthly life, to wear a black veil. The veil, throughout the short story, would represent secret sin. His depiction of secret sin is to show the townspeople that nothing can be kept a secret from God. Mr. Hooper’s tactic is to use the power of fear to convince them to confess any unknown sinsRead MoreEssay about Individual Freedom in Melvilles Bartleby, the Scrivener869 Words   |  4 Pagesthe doorway to hell. He had stepped into a world of mental torment; mental torment that even the good Reverend Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) whose sermons of fiery damnation could not measure up to (503). He had sold into slavery his mind and soul to the bidders of the celebrated literary world. Melvilles gains were minimal when weighed against his losses. He shared with Nathaniel Hawthorne his inner turmoil, What I feel most moved to write, that is banned, - it will n ot pay. Yet, altogether, writeRead MoreTranscendentalism, By Ralph Waldo Emerson2157 Words   |  9 Pagesessays and texts by: William Bradford, Anne Bradstreet, Cotton Mather, Jonathan Edwards, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Philip Freneau. The Puritans and Transcendentalist had differentiating views on the innate nature of people. The Puritans believed that people were evil by nature and needed God and the church to help them (if they were even part of the elect). A main proponent of this idea was Jonathan Edwards in his sermon Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. A while after PuritanismRead MorePuritanism in the Scarlet Letter6423 Words   |  26 PagesAbstract The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne’s representative work, is a classical novel in American literature in the 19th century. The novel displays Puritanism’s great impact on peoples life and thought. This thesis will give a picture of puritans’ life and ideology through the analysis of the Puritan town Boston and some related characters, and introduce how the communities in the town are deeply influenced by Puritanism. Meanwhile, by analyzing the main character Hester, the thesis willRead MorePuritanism in the Scarlet Letter6430 Words   |  26 PagesAbstract The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne’s representative work, is a classical novel in American literature in the 19th century. The novel displays Puritanism’s great impact on peoples life and thought. This thesis will give a picture of puritans’ life and ideology through the analysis of the Puritan town Boston and some related characters, and introduce how the communities in the town are deeply influenced by Puritanism. Meanwhile, by analyzing the main character Hester, the thesis willRead MoreAlienation From Sin, And Redemption In The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne1883 Words   |  8 PagesIn the novel The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne uses many themes to form the plot. Three prominent themes throughout the novel are sin and its consequences, alienation from self and society, and redemption. Adulteress Hester Prynne wears a scarlet letter at all times, her lover Dimmesdale becomes mentally and physically sick from his guilt, and her husband Roger Chillingworth ruins his life by only seeking for revenge. Hawthorne uses many symbols through the novel to showcase the powerful beliefsRead MoreThe Scarlet Letter Act By Nathaniel Hawthorne1919 Words   |  8 PagesScarlet Letter act as true representations of this idea, as apparent in the uniformity in the minds of the constituents of Puritan Boston. Each of these individuals’ thoughts and actions blend together to express a chorus of societal ideology. Nathaniel Hawthorne uses the motivations, values, characteristics, and conflicts of the average person that they face to create a thematic element regarding how a theocratic society can suffer under the oppressive impact of Old Testament law. By freely subjugatingRead MoreEssay about Salem witch trials1931 Words   |  8 Pageswas looked down upon for her recent absence from church. Tituba was of another race, a slave, and an alien to the community. Shortly after warrants were sent out for their arrest, and on March 1 in the Ingersoll’s tavern, magistrates John Hawthorne and Jonathan Corwin examined the women. Only Tituba would confess (Dickinson 19,20). Over the next weeks, other townspeople came forward and testified that they, too, had been harmed by or seen strange apparitions of some of the community members. As the