Nathaniel Hawthorne was born in 1804 in the city of Salem, Massachusetts to Nathaniel Hathorne and the former Elizabeth Clarke Manning. His ancestors include John Hathorne, a judge during the Salem Witch Trials. Nathaniel later added a "w" to make his name "Hawthorne". He entered Bowdoin College in 1821, was elected to Phi Beta Kappa in 1824, and graduated in 1825.
Adult Life (Writing and Other Careers)
Hawthorne anonymously published his first work, a novel titled Fanshawe, in 1828. He published several short stories in various periodicals which he collected in 1837 as Twice-Told Tales. The next year, he became engaged to Sophia Peabody. He worked at a Custom House and joinedBrook Farm, a transcendentalist community, before marrying Peabody in 1842. The couple moved to The Old Manse in Concord, Massachusetts, later moving to Salem, the Berkshires, then to The Wayside in Concord. The Scarlet Letter was published in 1850, followed by a succession of other novels. A political appointment took Hawthorne and family to Europe before their return to The Wayside in 1860.
Much of Hawthorne's writing centers on New England, many works featuring moral allegories with a Puritan inspiration. His fiction works are considered part of the Romantic movement and, more specifically, dark romanticism. His themes often center on the inherent evil and sin of humanity, and his works often have moral messages and deep psychological complexity. His published works include novels, short stories, and a biography of his friend Franklin Pierce.
Much of Hawthorne's writing centers on New England, many works featuring moral allegories with a Puritan inspiration. His fiction works are considered part of the Romantic movement and, more specifically, dark romanticism. His themes often center on the inherent evil and sin of humanity, and his works often have moral messages and deep psychological complexity. His published works include novels, short stories, and a biography of his friend Franklin Pierce.
Later years and deathAt the outset of the American Civil War, Hawthorne traveled with William D. Ticknor to Washington, D.C.. There, he met Abraham Lincoln and other notable figures. He wrote about his experiences in the essay "Chiefly About War Matters" in 1862. Failing health prevented him from completing several more romances. Suffering from pain in his stomach, Hawthorne insisted on a recuperative trip with his friend Franklin Pierce, though his neighbor Bronson Alcott was concerned Hawthorne was too ill. While on a tour of the White Mountains, Hawthorne died in his sleep on May 19, 1864, in Plymouth, New Hampshire. Pierce sent a telegram to Elizabeth Peabody to inform Hawthorne's wife in person; she was too saddened by the news to handle the funeral arrangements herself. Hawthorne's son Julian, at the time a freshman at Harvard College, learned of his father's death the next day; coincidentally, it was the same day he was initiated into the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity by being placed blindfolded into a coffin. Longfellow wrote a tribute poem to Hawthorne, published in 1866, called "The Bells of Lynn." Hawthorne was buried on what is now known as "Authors' Ridge" in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Concord, Massachusetts. Pallbearers included Longfellow, Emerson, Holmes, Alcott, James Thomas Fields, and Edwin Percy Whipple. Emerson wrote of the funeral: "I thought there was a tragic element in the event, that might be more fully rendered,—in the painful solitude of the man, which, I suppose, could no longer be endured, & he died of it."
Example comment:
ReplyDeleteName: Mrs. Sampson
I find it interesting that Nathaniel Hawthorne ___________. His experiences as _____________ are also interesting to me. Finally, I was interested by his __________________. I find these things interesting because _________________.
Jory Vance
ReplyDeleteA fact I found interesting about Nathaniel Hawthorne is that his grandfather was a judge in the Salem Witch Trials. Another thing I found interesting, was that he met many important officials like Abraham Lincoln, but unfortunately he died of natural causes, unlike Poe.
Marlee Kuhtz
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that Nathaniel Hawthorn's first writing was anonymous but he still became quite famous for his writing. I was surprised by the fact Hawthorn was part of a Transcendentalist community at one time in his life, because his writings were known to be centered on evil and the sin of humanity. Lastly found it notable that Hawthorn met Abraham Lincoln, because Lincoln was such a renowned leader.
Name: Jordyn Summerfield
ReplyDeleteInteresting facts about Nathaniel Hawthorne: I found it interesting that his ancestor was a judge during the Salem Witch Trials. This could have influenced his style of writing. I also found it interesting that his first of writing was published anonymously because then he couldn’t get credit for his work. Another interesting thing fact about Nathaniel Hawthorne was that he met Abraham Lincoln because if his success.
Liz Martin
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that Nathaniel Hawthorne had an ancestor that was a judge in The Salem Witch Trials. I found it interesting that he published his first work anonymously. Lastly i found it interesting that his writing centered on New England with Puritan influences.
Name: Jack Sveum
ReplyDeleteInteresting facts about Nathaniel Hawthorne: I found it interesting that his first writing was published anonymously and he didn't want credit for it. I also found it intersting that his ancestor was a judge at the Salem Witch Trials. Another interesting fact is that he changed his name from Hathorne to Hawthorne.
Interesting facts about Nathaniel Hawthorne: I find it interesting that he changed his name from Hathorne to Hawthorne. Also that his first writing was published anonymously, and that one of his ancestor was a judge at the Salem Witch Trials.
ReplyDelete~Faisal Bartlett
Name : Toni Bonds
ReplyDeleteInteresting facts about Nathaniel Hawthorne. I found it interesting that his ancestor John Hathorne was apart of the Salem Witch Trials. Also that he added a "w" to his name. It also was interesting that he published his first writing anonymously.
Sarah Dempsey
ReplyDeleteFacts I found Interesting:
-Nathaniel Hawthorne is the son of John Hathorne, and I assume the reason he added the "w" was because he was ashamed of his father's role in the trials, and he didn't want to be associated with him.
- The irony that his son got initiated in a coffin to his fraternity the day he died is creepy!
Hailey Sgarlata
ReplyDeleteInteresting facts about Hawthrone:
-He first published his work anonymously
-He met Abraham Lincoln
-He was born in Salem and had an ancestor that was a judge in the Salem Witch Trials
Sadie O'Neil
ReplyDeleteOne of his ancestors was a judge for The Salem Witch Trials.
He published his work anonymously.
He changed his name from Hathorne to Hawthorne
Julia Wulff-
ReplyDeleteI thought it was interesting that he added the W to his name to make it Hawthorne. Also that one of his ancestors was a judge in the Salem Witch Trials.
Olivia Storey
ReplyDeleteOne thing I found interesting is that Hawthorne was not born with the “w” in his name, he added it later on in life. Also, he published his first novel anonymously, which most authors don’t typically do. Lastly, I found it very interesting/weird that his son found out about his death the same day he was abducted into his fraternity, by being blindfolded in a coffin.
Gretchen Meyer
ReplyDeleteI found it interesting that his first work was published anonymously, that one of his ancestors was a judge from the Salem Witch Trials and that he added the w to his name.
One thing of the things that I found interesting about Hawthorne's life was the fact that he published his first novel at the age of 24. To me that just seems like a very young age to have a novel published. His life and all of his accomplishments, to me is just astonishing.
ReplyDeleteTwo things about Hawthorne really stuck out to me. The first being that his wife was a transcendentalist, and he was a part of the romantic movement. This was shocking because they must've had very different emotional make up and perspectives. Also i find it very interesting that he met Abe Lincoln, because I imagine President Lincoln as being a very positive person.
ReplyDeleteLuci Hovel
Johanna Taylor
ReplyDeleteI think it was interesting that he wrote about dark romanticism, I have never heard about it so that's why its interesting to me. And also that he met Abraham Lincoln and wrote, "Chiefly about War Matters".
Josh Erdtmann
ReplyDeleteI found it interesting that he got to meet Abraham Lincoln, that he died in his sleep, and that his wife was transcendentalist and he was goth.
Katie Fruendt--
ReplyDeleteI found it interesting that he was born in Salem, Massachusetts, and that one of his ancestors (John Hathorne) was a judge for the Salem Witch Trials. I also found it interesting that some of his work was considered to be part of the dark romanticism movement. I also already knew that he had written The Scarlet Letter. I actually have a copy of this at home, but never had the time to read it, but now I think I will!
I found it interesting that he published his first piece of writing anonymously, that he had the chance to meet Abraham Lincoln, and also that his ancestors were involved in the Salem Witch Trials.
ReplyDeleteSam Zanowski
DeleteErin Kleber- Nathaniel Hawthorne
ReplyDelete1. I thought is was interesting that he wrote anonymously for awhile since most people like to take credit for their work
2.Also, the fact that he was related to John Hathorne, but he added a “W” to his name was a little odd to me
3. Finally, I found it very creepy that on the same day his son found out he had died, the hazing at the fraternity involved being put in a coffin
Sam Kodzik
ReplyDelete1. He is the descendant of Judge Hawthorne from the Salem witch trials, and he was born in Salem.
2. He changed his own name just because he wanted to. That's just a little odd to me.
3. It is so cool that he got the chance to meet Abraham Lincoln, just for being an author in the current movement.
Name:Tyler Madden
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that Nathaniel Hawthorne is that one of his ancestors is Judge Hathorne of the Salem Witch Trials.
I also found it interesting that he wrote all his work anonymously for awhile.
Finally, I found it interesting that Hawthorne got to meet Abraham Lincoln.
I found it interesting that he is descended from someone involved in The Salem Witch Trials, and that he was born in Salem. Another fact I found interesting was that Hawthorne was well known for his work when he was living, usually authors did not reach fame until after they died. I also found it interesting that he was good friends with Franklin Pierce, someone who ended up being the president.
ReplyDeleteMaddie Ladd
Braden Wallenkamp
ReplyDeleteNathaniel Hawthorne was a fairly interesting man. He was born in Salem Massachusetts, and is somehow related to Judge Hawthorne of the Salem Witch Trials. Second he lived his later life during the Civil War and met Abraham Lincoln at this time. Hawthorne died in his sleep; his son was informed of his fathers death on the same day he had to be initiated into his fraternity by being put into a coffin blindfolded.
Tori Yentz
ReplyDeleteBorn in 1804, he was related to John Hawthorne a judge during the Salem Witch trials
When he first started writing he published his work anonymously
His fiction work was some of the starting points of “dark romance”
Claudia Deflieze
ReplyDeleteI found it interesting how Nathaniel Hawthorne was related to Judge John Hathorne, the judge of the Salem Witch Trials. I thought it was also interesting how he was a part of the fraternity Phi Beta Kappa and how later on his son was a part of that fraternity as well. It was also very interesting how he met Abraham Lincoln.
Sarah Jung
ReplyDeleteI found it interesting that Nathaniel Hawthorne was related to John Hathorne from the Salem Witch Trials. He also published his work anonymously when he first started out. I also found it interesting that he met Abraham Lincoln during the civil war.
Amara Green
ReplyDeleteI found it interesting that Nathaniel Hawthorne was born in Salem Massachusetts and is related to one of the judges during the Salem Witch Trials, Unlike most authors at first he published his work anonymously, and finally i found it interesting that he met Abraham Lincon
Riley Rakowiecki
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that Mr. Hawthorne has some relations to the Salem Witch Trials. He also changed his name from Hathorne to Hawthorne. What is really creepy is that when he died, he son was being initiated to a fraternity by being put into a coffin blindfolded.
Jack Sullivan
ReplyDeleteI found it interesting that he was born in Salem, that he met Abraham Lincoln, and that he wrote anonymously for a while.
Noah Riley
ReplyDeleteI found it very interesting that he was related to a judge in the Salem Witch Trials. Also i found it interesting that he would publish his first piece anonymously. Lastly i think that it was interesting that he got to meet Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War
Nathaniel Hawthorne changed his last name so that it wouldn't be the same as his ancestor hathorn in the Salem witch trials. and he was in a transcendentalist group but wrote gothicism
ReplyDeleteGabby Procopis
ReplyDeleteI found it interesting that he added a “w” to make his name “Hawthorne”. And the day that his son, Julian, found out about his fathers death he was initiated into the Delta Kappa Epsilon fertility.
Name: Cassidy Komp
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that Nathaniel Hawthorne lived in Salem after the witch trials had occurred, and was even related to one of the judges responsible for the deaths of some of those accused. I also found it interesting that he was very successful, and died a well known man. Unlike Poe, who constantly struggled with poverty throughout his life.
Pierce The Fierce Williams: What I found interesting about Nathaniel Hawthorne was the his ancestor was a judge for the Harlem Witch Trials, after we just got done with the section. Also he met Abraham Lincoln, an amazing person for what he did. Finally I found that he died doing what he loved interesting because before i die i would like to do what i love.
ReplyDeleteNate Bahr
ReplyDeleteI found it interesting that Hawthorne was directly relted to John Hathorne of the salem witch trials. I also found it interesting that he met with Abraham Lincoln even though most trancendentalist were against government. And lastly I found it interesting that he died on a tour of the White Mountains
Name Spencer Kuether
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that he was related to one of the judges from the Salem Witch Trials because as far as I know, it is the same Hawthorne that we read about in The Crucible. Also, he died peacefully in his sleep while on a tour of the White Mountains in New Hampshire.