NATIONAL MORALITY IN HAWTHORNE
Beginning of paper
’S THE SCARLET LETTER
Since the beginning of time, man has gathered himself in communities in order to better facilitate the needs and interests of individuals. As institutions developed to govern these communities, the idea of a “collective good” emerged. Central to the idea of a collectiv ....
Middle of paper
.... The treatment of the outcast Hester
reveals Hawthorne’s desire to form a national morality founded on individual accountability and Transcendentalist beliefs.
Before disclosing his notions and beliefs on national morality, Hawthorne begins his story, The Scarlet Letter, with a discussion of the Puritan state of Salem set in the 1600's. It is often problematic to discern Hawthorne’s views about Puritanism due to his ambiguity. He reveres the Puritan conviction and their ability to c ....
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Word count: 1673
Page count: 7 (approximately 250 words per page)
