Nathaniel Hawthorne Allegories

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Nathaniel Hawthorne, born in Salem Massachusetts on July 4th 1804, is a famous American novelist as well as a short story writer. Two of his most famous novels include: The Scarlett letter (1850) and The House of Seven Gables (1851). Throughout a lot of his writing Hawthorne uses symbolism and allegories, this is what makes him a frequently studied author. Nathaniel Hawthorne is brought up as a Puritan. Hawthorne’s ancestors play a large part in the Salem witch trials. One of his earlier ancestors, William Hathorne, is a judge who gave out harsh sentencing. William’s son John is part of the three judges during the witch trials (1690’s). Nathaniel, being ashamed of his families past added a w to his last name as a way of distancing himself from …show more content…

His parents are Nathaniel and Elizabeth Clark Hathorne (Manning). He lost his father shortly after his birth. He was a sea captain and acquired the yellow fever on his journey. He dies in 1808 when Nathaniel is only 4 years old. Since the family’s main income source is no longer present Elizabeth, Hawthorne’s mother, decides to move the family into her wealthy brother’s house. Shortly after having moved in with his uncle, Hawthorne suffered from a leg injury which kept him immobile for months. It is during his time that he becomes interested in reading and decides to become a writer. He attends Bowdoin College (1821-1825) with the financial help of his uncle.
Works
Following college, Hawthorne decides to go back home and ends up staying for 12 years. It is at this time that he starts writing. He self-publishes a couple of his stories. His most popular story being Roger Malvin’s Bruial (1832).
Career
Hawthorne only starts taking his writing career seriously when he meets his wife Sophia Peabody. She is a painter, illustrator and transcendentalist. Following a long courtship Hawthorne and Sophia marry July 9th 1842. They move to Concord, Massachusetts after their marriage and have three children by 1844. The Hawthorne family is surrounded by immense debt and decide to move to Salem where Nathaniel is hired as a surveyor in the Salem Sutom House (1846). This provides his family with financial