The short stories of Nathaniel Hawthorne are examples of the literary movement of Romanticism and its characteristics which are evidenced in this author’s works. These characteristics are sometimes found in abundant quantities or limited amounts in each of his short stories. However, no matter what short story Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote, the Age of Romanticism and its defining characteristics are found in each of his selections. So, too, do each of the author’s short stories present a unique study about the author’s intentions for creating his work. In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s selection “The Celestial Railroad", the author examines the negative effect upon man of progress and science in human life through a journey into the afterlife. Progress
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“... this widespread use of the term can be misleading, and beguiling in its apparent simplicity” (Stevens, 2004). The author does a really well job of displaying Romanticism, not only in one short story, but in all of his short stories combined. He often displays many evidence of Romanticism in his short story “The Celestial Railroad”. One way Nathaniel Hawthorne displays Romanticism in his short story, is that he is writing about the supernatural and past history elements that apply to Romanticism. For example, Hawthorne displays evidence of Romanticism by talking about “A Modern Evil Giant” (“The Celestial Railroad” gracegems.org). He talks about how two cruel giants by the name of “Pope” and “Pagan” have filled the place where they live with bones of slaughtered pilgrims (“The Celestial Railroad” gracegems.org). Nathaniel Hawthorne used this in his short story to get the reader 's attention to some of the many Romanticism characteristics in American …show more content…
Nathaniel Hawthorne examines the negative effects on man in human life, by illustrating the narrator 's journey on the Celestial Railroad. He notices that people in his dream only want things that they are attracted to and believe what they want to believe is true (Tasha 1). People in today’s world treat their lives with the same beliefs because they’re too stubborn to realize what 's best for them. Hawthorne illustrates this through his short story by describing the characters actions along the Celestial Railroad (Tasha 1). For example, one of the characters, Mr. Take-it-easy, will never stay anywhere that doesn’t allow smoking, drinking, and etc. Mr. Take-it-easy believes that a place without fun is no way to live, he would never be caught living in the Celestial City. “... Hawthorne shows man’s problems specifically by naming the characters after certain types of sinful characteristics” (Tasha 1). Such as Mr. Smooth-it-away, Mr. Take-it-easy, Mr. Stumble-at-truth, Mr. Shallow-deep, and many more gentlemen along the railroad. Hawthorne’s descriptions of these characters shows the reader that there are many disadvantages to keeping burdens in their life, which can cause problems in the
“... this widespread use of the term can be misleading, and beguiling in its apparent simplicity” (Stevens, 2004). The author does a really well job of displaying Romanticism, not only in one short story, but in all of his short stories combined. He often displays many evidence of Romanticism in his short story “The Celestial Railroad”. One way Nathaniel Hawthorne displays Romanticism in his short story, is that he is writing about the supernatural and past history elements that apply to Romanticism. For example, Hawthorne displays evidence of Romanticism by talking about “A Modern Evil Giant” (“The Celestial Railroad” gracegems.org). He talks about how two cruel giants by the name of “Pope” and “Pagan” have filled the place where they live with bones of slaughtered pilgrims (“The Celestial Railroad” gracegems.org). Nathaniel Hawthorne used this in his short story to get the reader 's attention to some of the many Romanticism characteristics in American …show more content…
Nathaniel Hawthorne examines the negative effects on man in human life, by illustrating the narrator 's journey on the Celestial Railroad. He notices that people in his dream only want things that they are attracted to and believe what they want to believe is true (Tasha 1). People in today’s world treat their lives with the same beliefs because they’re too stubborn to realize what 's best for them. Hawthorne illustrates this through his short story by describing the characters actions along the Celestial Railroad (Tasha 1). For example, one of the characters, Mr. Take-it-easy, will never stay anywhere that doesn’t allow smoking, drinking, and etc. Mr. Take-it-easy believes that a place without fun is no way to live, he would never be caught living in the Celestial City. “... Hawthorne shows man’s problems specifically by naming the characters after certain types of sinful characteristics” (Tasha 1). Such as Mr. Smooth-it-away, Mr. Take-it-easy, Mr. Stumble-at-truth, Mr. Shallow-deep, and many more gentlemen along the railroad. Hawthorne’s descriptions of these characters shows the reader that there are many disadvantages to keeping burdens in their life, which can cause problems in the