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Nathaniel Hawthorne was born and raised a puritan. As he became older, he researched his ancestors and saw what Puritanism had done for them. Some of his ancestors were victims of the Salem witch trials and had faced persecution for being witches. This lead Hawthorne to become a critic of Puritanism He remained a puritan because he found aspects of the religion that he liked, but he also detested many of their harsh, cruel laws that they created. Hawthorne expressed his criticism in many short stories he wrote as well as The Scarlet Letter.
there is some more detailed information about Hawthorne and puritanism at
http:/bronski.net/works/hawthorne.html
The above information is incorrect. Hawthorne DID NOT have ancestors that were victims of the trials, although his ancestors were involved. His great-great-grandfather was John Hathorne, a judge in the trials. Hawthorne felt somewhat guilty about the actions of his ancestors, and later in life added a "W" to the spelling of his name ("Hathorne" to "Hawthorne") as a method of self-differentiation. Some of his works, such as The Scarlet Letter, are a condemnation of the draconian aspects of Puritan law, which humanized those persecuted by his ancestors (suspected witches, criminals, and other sinners, especially those who committed sexual sins, such as adultery)
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What happened to Nathaniel Hawthorne's father and how old was Nathaniel Hawthorne when his father died?
Hawthornes father died when he was four.
What is Nathaniel Hawthornes nationality?
His nationality was British because his great-great-great-grandfather, a puritan, was the first family to emigrate from England.
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Nathaniel Hawthorne was not a Puritan. But Hawthorne's forefathers were Puritans, so he had an understanding of their belief system and their basis behind it.
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What happened to Nathaniel Hawthorne's father and how old was Nathaniel Hawthorne when his father died?
Hawthornes father died when he was four.
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