Henry David Thoreau And Walden Comparison

Literary Period Compare Contrast Henry David Thoreau, a known transcendentalist from the American Romanticism literary period, and Nathaniel Hawthorne, the writer of a very popular novel with strong opinions both portray religious experiences and consequences with their text in a time when society was most vulnerable to such ideas. Henry David Thoreau’s, “Walden” portrays his journey with transcendentalism in a positive way. On the other hand, Nathaniel Hawthorne portrayed religious idealisms in his novel, “The Scarlet Letter” in a negative way. Henry David Thoreau’s, “Walden” and Nathaniel Hawthorne’s, “The Scarlet Letter” share a common theme in romanticism of religion in different ways. Religion was a very prominent theme in the Romanticism period. Popular writers Henry David Thoreau and Nathaniel Hawthorne had underlying themes that expressed religion in different lights. Thoreau’s transcendentalist experience in “Walden” portray the idealisms of the 19th century religion. Hawthorne's opinion on religion is shown through his characters in his novel that are physical representations of the religion itself. For example, the Puritan minister Arthur Dimmesdale had sinned but still preached to not sin and it tore him apart. Henry David Thoreau was a leading member of the religious movement transcendentalism. According to

Walden being a transcendentalist experience in the 19th century and The Scarlet Letter being a tale of society and sins. These novels only get more popular with time and inspired modern literature. For example, Henry David Thoreau was one of the leading transcendentalists and his novel brought light to the literary, political, and philosophical movement of the early nineteenth century. On the other hand, The Scarlet Letter is a timeless tale with strong themes that influence modern