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Both to added to the length of the story and to give an autobiography of Hawthorne's life
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∙ 13y ago
The Custom House serves as the prelude to "The Scarlet Letter," providing context for the story by introducing the narrator and setting the tone for the novel. It also highlights themes of sin, guilt, and redemption that are central to the narrative. Additionally, the Custom House symbolizes authority and control, reflecting the societal norms and expectations that shape the characters' lives.
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What does Hawthorne say he found in the custom house in The Scarlet Letter?
Hawthorne says that he found the script of Hester's life in the Custom House attic.
Who is Jonathan Pue in The Scarlet Letter?
In "The Scarlet Letter," Jonathan Pue is an elderly man who was the former custom-house surveyor in Salem and the narrator of the story. He discovers the scarlet letter and manuscript that tell Hester Prynne's story in the old surveyor's office. Pue's discovery serves as the Framing Device for the narrative.
Why does hawthorne want to tell the story of the custom house?
Hawthorne included the custom house as a prelude to set the tone for his novel "The Scarlet Letter" and to establish the moral and philosophical framework. It also provided context for his own life experiences and views, and allowed him to critique the society of his time. Finally, the custom house chapters serve as a literary device to transition into the narrative of Hester Prynne and Dimmesdale.
Is it true that Herman Melville was a customs house inspector or was it actually Nathaniel Hawthorne?
Herman Melville worked briefly as a customs inspector, but it was Nathaniel Hawthorne who held the position for many years at the Salem Custom House. Hawthorne's experiences at the Custom House influenced his writing, particularly in his novel "The Scarlet Letter."
Who is assembled on a balcony of the meeting house looking down at the platform in the scarlet letter?
Governor Bellingham, Reverend John Wilson, and Dimmesdale are assembled on the balcony of the meeting house looking down at the platform in the scarlet letter. They are prominent figures in the Puritan community.
Who is the character in The Scarlet Letter?
The voice of the scarlet letter was a man that worked in the Customs House. The man that worked in the Customs House lived somewhere on the east coast in the colonial states, most likely Massachusets. He was telling the story of Hester from about 200 years previous.
Who was known for the books the house of the seven and The Scarlet Letter letter?
Nathaniel Hawthorne is known for the novels "House of the Seven Gables" and "The Scarlet Letter." He was an American author who was prominent in the 19th century and is recognized for his contributions to American literature with these works.
What did Nathanial Hawthorne find at the customs house?
Hawthorne recalls his account for finding the manuscript for "The Scarlet Letter"
Why did Hawthorne write the custom house?
he thought The Scarlet Letter was too short to print by itselfHawthorne chose to include the Custom House to add "validity" to his work. It was to express where the underlying tone of the book was coming from (being that of isolation)."Nathaniel Hawthorne was born on July 4, 1804, in a small house three blocks from the Custom House. By the 1840s, he was a well known author, but he found it difficult to support his family on his writing. Fortunately, his best friend was Franklin Pierce, who later became President of the United States. Pierce and other friends in the Democratic Party got the job of Surveyor for Hawthorne (who had worked for the Customs Service in Boston a few years earlier) in 1846. With the change in administration from the Democratic to the Whig Party in 1848, however, Hawthorne lost his job after a painful and prolonged fight to continue as Surveyor.He turned the pain, anger, and betrayal he felt into his first great novel, 'The Scarlet Letter.' In the introduction to the novel, he describes the Salem Custom House and pretends to find the story among the papers of a previous surveyor."
What books did Nathaniel Hawthorne write?
The Blithedale Romance Doctor Grimshawe's secret: a romance Fanshawe The House of Seven Gables The Marble Faun The Scarlet Letter (this one is the most well known)
Why did Hawthorne write the custom house introduction?
he thought The Scarlet Letter was too short to print by itselfHawthorne chose to include the Custom House to add "validity" to his work. It was to express where the underlying tone of the book was coming from (being that of isolation)."Nathaniel Hawthorne was born on July 4, 1804, in a small house three blocks from the Custom House. By the 1840s, he was a well known author, but he found it difficult to support his family on his writing. Fortunately, his best friend was Franklin Pierce, who later became President of the United States. Pierce and other friends in the Democratic Party got the job of Surveyor for Hawthorne (who had worked for the Customs Service in Boston a few years earlier) in 1846. With the change in administration from the Democratic to the Whig Party in 1848, however, Hawthorne lost his job after a painful and prolonged fight to continue as Surveyor.He turned the pain, anger, and betrayal he felt into his first great novel, 'The Scarlet Letter.' In the introduction to the novel, he describes the Salem Custom House and pretends to find the story among the papers of a previous surveyor."
What is a title for an essay for The Scarlet Letter involving the symbolism of the color red?
"Seeing Red: Unveiling Symbolism in The Scarlet Letter"
