Half a Puritan

Hawthorne understood total depravity but missed the gospel | Gene Edward Veith

Americans honor the pilgrims on Thanksgiving while disliking the larger group they were part of, the Puritans. This dislike is partially due to the impact of Nathaniel Hawthorne (who was born 200 years ago) on the national imagination. But what made Hawthorne one of the giants of American literature is precisely his own Puritanism.

Hawthorne, who was descended from one of the judges at the Salem witch trial, deserves some of the blame for the stereotype of Puritans as stern, legalistic hypocrites. In The Scarlet Letter, he portrayed a harsh community humiliating an adulteress by making her wear a sign proclaiming her sin. In his short story "Young Goodman Brown," every member of the Puritan community turns out to have his or her own pact with the devil. In "The Minister's Black Veil," even the venerable and seemingly upright Puritan minister has something to hide.

Find out how to get instant access to this article and one month of WORLD for only $5.00! If you are already a subscriber, please log in below.

The complete article is ~760 words long

Current Subscribers

Magazine
Subscriber

Online Only
Subscriber

>> Click here to see other purchase options for this article

New Subscribers

Secure form

Receive instant access to this article and the WORLDMag.com Archives
Plus, enjoy 2 issues of WORLD Magazine for only $5.00*

Want a different type of subscription? Click here for Online-Only Subscription options. Or here for Print Subscription options (which include online subscription access).

Payment Information

Name	State	Card Type

Address	Zip	Card Number

City	Email	Expiration Date
		/
	Phone Number

Offer Terms

Subscribers Advantage Automatic Renewal Program You authorize WORLD Magazine to charge your credit/debit card at the price listed above and in time to renew your subscription to WORLD Magazine, without interruption, before the start of the first 6-month term (for $24.95) and then thereafter at 6-month terms at the regular rate then in effect unless you tell us to stop. You may cancel at any time during your subscription and receive a full refund on all unmailed issues. If your credit/debit card cannot be charged, we will bill you directly instead.

*Offer good in the U.S. only for new subscribers.
I agree to the terms above

Outside the US, click here.
Renewing subscribers, click here.
Gift subscriptions, click here.

MORE PREVIOUS ISSUES

Bush's moral mandate Nov. 13, 2004	Post-party election blues? Nov. 6, 2004	2004 Election: Clinch time Oct. 30, 2004
2004 Election: Countdown Oct. 23, 2004	Terrorism: Unmasked men Oct. 16, 2004	Kerry praying for votes Oct. 9, 2004