Hawthorne: Heavy Handed?

Abstract This paper will take a formalist approach and focus on the symbolism in numerous works by Nathaniel Hawthorne. The paper will not only discuss in detail Hawthorne’s novel, The Scarlet Letter, but will also discuss a select few of Hawthorne’s short stories such as “The Birthmark,” “Young Goodman Brown,” and “The Minister’s Black Veil.” This paper will cover the symbolism in the short stories and the novel, how those symbols affect or relate to the characters and how they affect or alter the story as a whole. Common symbolism found throughout Hawthorne’s work will be discussed as well as similarities found in characters from different stories. This paper will also take a slight psychoanalytical approach as to why Hawthorne chose particular symbols and how they may affect or represent the characters mentally. This paper will incorporate direct quotes from the texts as well as scholarly journal articles to support the similarities found throughout Hawthorne’s selected works. *Key words in bol