Does this book offer an alternative vision to the spiritual corruption that it criticizes? How would it be different if Hawthorne was lest on-the-nose with his metaphors and character names? Join David, Heidi, and Karen as they explore these (and other) questions from Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel. Happy listening!
I would be so interested to hear you talk about the triangulation of relationships in the novel (Hester-Dimmesdale-Chillingworth and Hester-Dimmesdale-Pearl).
I was waiting to see how the next section would go with Pearl’s character, and I feel like I’m still waiting. I’m not sure how Hawthorne/the narrator feels about her (Is she possessed or just traumatized?). His preachiness while being spiritually ambiguous at the same time- as talked about with the supernatural phenomenon in the sky - is confusing to me. I also haven’t read this book since high school and didn’t realize I might be coming in with preconceived ideas about its anti-Puritanism in light of my own modern anti-Puritan influences.
In regards to the spirituality of this novel, something I’ve been so intrigued by this reading, as a Catholic, is the ambiguous references to Catholicism/it’s beliefs. There are the seemingly positive comparisons of Hester to the Virgin Mary and to a nun/Sister of Mercy in her charity towards others. There is also such a focus on the pain of unconfessed sin and recovery from serious sin that can’t but bring up the comfort of sacramental confession and absolution to my mind (even though it may not be on Hawthorne’s mind). On the other hand, Catholic beliefs are directly critiqued in the discussions of Dimmesdale’s excessive penitential practices, and the issues of abusive hierarchies in religious communities where such hierarchies exist is as much a Catholic problem as a Puritan problem. So I’m just curious as to a) why he references Catholicism so much specifically (as far as I recall the only other form of Christianity specifically referenced aside from Puritanism) b) what is his general attitude towards Catholicism/how it compares to Puritanism in his estimation and c) how his references to Catholicism relate to the themes he’s trying to get across?
Elise, I’ve had similar questions every time I’ve read this book. It would’ve been during Hawthorne’s lifetime that there was a significant increase of Irish and French-Canadian immigration in New England (largely Catholic) and I always wonder how much that influence is impacting his description/critique of the Puritans/Congregationalist church.
I would be so interested to hear you talk about the triangulation of relationships in the novel (Hester-Dimmesdale-Chillingworth and Hester-Dimmesdale-Pearl).
I was waiting to see how the next section would go with Pearl’s character, and I feel like I’m still waiting. I’m not sure how Hawthorne/the narrator feels about her (Is she possessed or just traumatized?). His preachiness while being spiritually ambiguous at the same time- as talked about with the supernatural phenomenon in the sky - is confusing to me. I also haven’t read this book since high school and didn’t realize I might be coming in with preconceived ideas about its anti-Puritanism in light of my own modern anti-Puritan influences.
In regards to the spirituality of this novel, something I’ve been so intrigued by this reading, as a Catholic, is the ambiguous references to Catholicism/it’s beliefs. There are the seemingly positive comparisons of Hester to the Virgin Mary and to a nun/Sister of Mercy in her charity towards others. There is also such a focus on the pain of unconfessed sin and recovery from serious sin that can’t but bring up the comfort of sacramental confession and absolution to my mind (even though it may not be on Hawthorne’s mind). On the other hand, Catholic beliefs are directly critiqued in the discussions of Dimmesdale’s excessive penitential practices, and the issues of abusive hierarchies in religious communities where such hierarchies exist is as much a Catholic problem as a Puritan problem. So I’m just curious as to a) why he references Catholicism so much specifically (as far as I recall the only other form of Christianity specifically referenced aside from Puritanism) b) what is his general attitude towards Catholicism/how it compares to Puritanism in his estimation and c) how his references to Catholicism relate to the themes he’s trying to get across?
Great questions! Fellow Catholic looking forward to hearing some discussion of this!
Elise, I’ve had similar questions every time I’ve read this book. It would’ve been during Hawthorne’s lifetime that there was a significant increase of Irish and French-Canadian immigration in New England (largely Catholic) and I always wonder how much that influence is impacting his description/critique of the Puritans/Congregationalist church.
That’s such a great bit of context to think about!