A Comparison of The Scarlet Letter and The House of the...

A Comparison of The Scarlet Letter and The House of the Seven Gables Nathaniel Hawthorne, one of Americas most renowned authors, demonstrates his extraordinary talents in two of his most famed novels, The Scarlet Letter and The House of the Seven Gables. To compare these two books seems bizarre, as their plots are distinctly different. Though the books are quite seemingly different, the central themes and Hawthornes style are closely related (Carey, p. 62). American novelist Nathaniel Hawthorne is most famous for his books THE SCARLET LETTER and THE HOUSE OF THE SEVEN GABLES, which are closely related in theme, the use of symbolism, characterization, and style. The central themes in The Scarlet Letter and The†¦show more content†¦Phoebe is considered to be the heart which warms the house, while Holgrave is the intellectual head. When Phoebe and Holgrave fall in love, heart and head are brought together to form a union that may end the curse forever (Sheldon, p. 16). The obvious and most prevalent theme in both books is the effect of sin. In The Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynnes sin was an understandably human one which arose from desire for the simple human bliss open to all mankind. At this point, Roger Chillingworth is capable of remorse and is still able to rejoin the great heart of mankind, but he is led astray into his own sin in which he pries into Dimmesdales heart, and his latent evil posses him (Rountree, p.89). In The House of the Seven Gables, this theme seems to come through as an inherited curse. Greed drives both Colonel and Jaffrey Pyncheon to encourage the persecution of a less powerful man, and then takes his land or inheritance. This sin is seen as a curse throughout the book as it influences all that the living do (Carey, p. 58). One of the characteristic themes of each book which helps to establish the setting, is the individual vs. society. Hester Prynnes battle with society is established immediately, and we are let to judge her for what she has done. Hawthorne is known for being a Romantic writer with a Romantic subject: a rebel who refuses to conform to societys code. MostShow MoreRelatedEssay about Symbols and Symbolism in The House of the Seven Gables3364 Words   |  14 Pagesin The House of the Seven Gables      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   American literature reflects life and the struggles faced during existence. Symbols are an eloquent way for an author to create a more fully developed work of art. The stories themselves tell a tale; however, an author also uses symbols to relay his message in a more subtle manner. Nathaniel Hawthorne was one of the earliest authors to use symbols as an integral part of his plots. 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