Romanticism in Hawthornes Young Goodman Brown, The...

Romanticism in Young Goodman Brown, The Birth-Mark, and Rappaccinis Daughter Nathaniel Hawthorne gives his own definition of romanticism in the preface to The House of Seven Gables. According to Hawthorne, the writer of a romance may claim a certain latitude and may deepen and enrich the shadows of the picture, as long as he does not swerve aside from the truth of the human heart. The writer of a romance will be wise...to mingle the Marvelous as long as he does it to a slight, however if he disregards this caution, he will not be committing a literary crime (Hawthorne, House of Seven Gables, preface). Nathaniel Hawthorne consistently stays true to his standards of romanticism. The application of these standards†¦show more content†¦But, if her any shifting emotion caused her to turn pale, there was the mark again... (Hawthorne, The Birth Mark 640). Hawthorne description of Georgianas birthmark and Rappaccinis plants are vague and frequent, yet they fulfill Hawthorns promise to bring out or mellow the lights and deepen enrich the shadows of the pictur e (T.H.O.S.G., preface). The examples stated above show that Hawthorne does say true to his definition of romanticism, more specifically his self-proclaimed right to depart from reality. However, although the author of a romance does not have to write about reality, he must stay true to the emotions of the human heart. The fact that a romance is not about reality but is about true human emotions is what gives it that timeless quality. In Rappaccinis Daughter, Giovanni Guasconti does what any other man would do when he is in love with a lady. Despite ample warnings from Professor Baglioni, you are the subject of one Rappaccinis experiments! (R.D. 659) Giovanni continues to meet with Beatrice regularly, It was now the customary hour of his daily interview with Beatrice (R.D. 667). Giovanni shows true human emotions towards his lover. Young Goodman Brown is perhaps the most normal and life-like of Hawthornes characters. Goodman Brown represents the average man, but more importantly he represents the average mans flaws and inadequacies. This is why his reactions are so easy to relateShow MoreRelated Comparing Romanticism in Plymouth Plantation, Birthmark, and Rappaccinis Daughter1140 Words   |  5 Pages   Ã‚     Puritanism and Romanticism differ in style, religious references, and plot content. Puritanism began to flourish with strict God-fearing Calvinists who had fled to America to escape religious persecution in Europe. With writers such as William Bradford and Edward Taylor, Puritan literature focuses on Gods role in the lives of the people and adopts a simple religious style of writing. Romanticism was introduced to Americans in the nineteenth century, delivering a fresh literary and artistic