Sins or lapses of judgment tend to have a large grasp on the control of how a person chooses to live their life. However, these sins can be redeemed in light of the fact that humans have an innate sense of selfishness and rebellion. Forgiveness and redemption can either come from a higher, omnipotent source or it can come from within. That is the topic proposed in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter. Nathaniel persistently brings to light the idea of one forgiving themselves of their looming sins, and also using their good works to help lighten the load created by said sin. Conversely, religion, specifically Christianity, states that sinful humans must obtain their redemption from the only thing capable of offering true redemption, which
…show more content…
With his mind and pen as his tools, Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote The Scarlet Letter to challenge the strict Puritan rule over their society. Although he wrote with an underlying defiant tone in some of his writings, Nathaniel Hawthorne in his most famous book about the Puritans puts a large amount of respect for the Puritan way of life. An excerpt of Preston Harper’s writings on Nathaniel Hawthorne expertly says, “Not only was the Calvinistic darkness of the Puritans the source of power in his writings, but also their concept of community pushed him to an understanding of the relationship between sin, alienation, and love,” (Harper, 52). Nathaniel Hawthorne struggled with religion throughout his life, evidenced in his most famed novel. Not only did Hawthorne embody many characteristics of the American Romantic Period, which are individualism, natural solace, and the fulfillment of desire, he also represented the English Victorian Period characteristics of reason and responsibility (Strickland, American Romantic Overview). He put his entire thought and soul into The Scarlet Letter and his view on redemption and religion really stand
With his mind and pen as his tools, Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote The Scarlet Letter to challenge the strict Puritan rule over their society. Although he wrote with an underlying defiant tone in some of his writings, Nathaniel Hawthorne in his most famous book about the Puritans puts a large amount of respect for the Puritan way of life. An excerpt of Preston Harper’s writings on Nathaniel Hawthorne expertly says, “Not only was the Calvinistic darkness of the Puritans the source of power in his writings, but also their concept of community pushed him to an understanding of the relationship between sin, alienation, and love,” (Harper, 52). Nathaniel Hawthorne struggled with religion throughout his life, evidenced in his most famed novel. Not only did Hawthorne embody many characteristics of the American Romantic Period, which are individualism, natural solace, and the fulfillment of desire, he also represented the English Victorian Period characteristics of reason and responsibility (Strickland, American Romantic Overview). He put his entire thought and soul into The Scarlet Letter and his view on redemption and religion really stand