Discussing Similarities In Four Works by Hawthorne
Discussing Similarities In Four Works by Hawthorne
The old Doctor Heidegger invites four of his respected friends, Mr. Medbourne, Colonel Killigrew, Mr. Gascoigne, and the Widow Wycherly, to his study. Each person in attendance has had the misfortune to see his life and wealth wasted and lives past his time. The three men are all former lovers of the Widow Wycherly.
Once the five acquaintances are seated in the doctor’s study, Heidegger tells the group why he asked them to meet at his home. Heidegger wants to use the four people in one of his infamous experiments he performs to amuse himself. They watch Heidegger as he crosses the room and returns with a leather-bound folio. Inside the papers is a withered rose, close to becoming dust. Dr. Heidegger points to a portrait of a woman hanging in the room and explains the rose came from the woman on the eve of their wedding day fifty-five years ago. He then asks if it is possible if the rose will ever bloom again. The unanimous answer is no.
The doctor places the rose into a vase of fluid. “The crushed and dried petals stirred, and assumed a deepened tinge of crimson, as if the flower were reviving from a death-like slumber” (Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment 3). A faint curiosity is sparked among the guests. Heidegger explains he received a vase containing fluid from the Fountain of Youth and wants only to watch the progress of the experiment. The four elderly individuals agree to drink the bubbly beverage to see if their youth will be restored.
After finishing their drinks, the men and Wycherly see an immediate change in the appearance of one another. No longer feeling like old, miserable creatures, they cry out, “give us more of this wondrous water. We are younger, -but we are still too old!”
(“Dr.’s Heidegger’s Experiment” 5). The men witness a great transformation of the once tired, decrepit widow into a captivating young woman. She runs to a mirror to stare at her own picture. The three men act as if they are drunk. Again, the party asks for and receives another round of drinks from the observing doctor.
Following their third drinks, Medbourne, Killigrew, the Widow Wycherly, and Gascoigne are youngsters filled with cheerfulness as they make fun of the unfashionable clothing they are wearing. The doctor pretends to be focused on a book instead of the conservation between the individuals. The three gentlemen begin an argument over who has the right to dance with the lady. The members of the lively argument do have a youthful appearance, but the mirror in which Wycherly looked in shows them as the aged people they really are.
During a fight to gain the beautiful widow, the table that the vase sits on is knocked over, spilling the entire contents on the floor. A splash of water hits the wings of a butterfly that had perched itself in the room to die. The butterfly is instantly filled with live and floats to the top of the doctor’s head. Heidegger calls out to the fighters and tells them to sit as he reaches for the rose. They watch as the rose withered “till it became as dry and fragile as when the doctor has first thrown it into the vase. He shook off the few drops of moisture which clung to its petals” (“Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment” 8).
A few moments later the butterfly falls from his head. An odd coldness rushes over the bodies of the guests. The grim party asks if they too will grow old again, but the answer is already known. Heidegger explains why he called the group to his home and the lesson the individuals had taught him. The four acquaintances did not learn the same lesson as the doctor; they all plan to make a voyage to the Fountain of Youth and live in its water.
Young Goodman Brown
Goodman Brown crosses the Salem street on which he lives to kiss his wife Faith good-bye. His wife asks him if he is able to postpone this trip until the morning because she had a troubling dream, but Goodman Brown tells her he must go and not to doubt him. Faith wishes her husband well and watches him walk down the street. Brown feels badly that he is leaving his wife on such an errand, but he knows she is an angel and he will never leave her after his journey is completed.
He quickly walks down a gloomy road lined with trees. He glances fearfully at the surrounding trees and thinks it is possible that the devil could be hiding behind any tree. After a few minutes he comes upon a man sitting underneath a tree. The two men talk for a few minutes before continuing of the trip. It is possible for a person to think the two men are father and son because of their similar expressions and attire. The only difference between the two travelers is the man is carrying a staff that resembled a black snake.
Brown refuses to stop despite the requests of his fellow traveler. Brown claims he must continue quickly because he comes from a good Puritan family who never entered the forest on such an errand. His companion tells Brown that he accompanied Brown’s family on many secret trips through the forest. The statement appalls Brown, but they carry on. On the trail Brown meets Goody Cloyse, his catechism teacher. Brown’s companion hides in the woods as Brown goes to greet his acquaintance. Cloyse asks Brown to accompany her to the meeting, but he declines and offers his staff instead. When the woman touches the staff she disappears.
The men resume their voyage into the forest. Brown’s fellow traveler pick up a branch to use as a walking stick and, with his touch, it withers and dries. Brown decides not to walk further into the forest. His companion agrees and continues on without him. Moments later Brown hears the voices of two men on horseback. The two men, the minister and Deacon Gookin, talk about the meeting they are going to and how much they are anticipating it. Browns hears the faint
sound of voices. As he strains to hear, he recognizes the voices of the townspeople of Salem. Then, he distinguishes Faith’s voice from the crowd. “Madden with despair…Goodman Brown grasp his staff and set forth again, at such a rate that he seemed to fly along the forest path rather than to walk or run” (“Young Goodman Brown” 30).
Among the trees Goodman Brown sees a blazing red light which turns out to be a large fire. The local townspeople, as well as other people Brown could not identify, is standing around a rock that created a pulpit. Brown recognizes the governor’s wife, the wives of many other honored men, many widows, and young girls as well as criminals in attendance. But Faith can not be seen. The group sings hymns until a voice calls for the converts to be brought forth. A dark figure gives a speech to the assembly about the sins each person has committed and tells the people “evil is the nature of mankind” (“Young Goodman Brown” 33). The dark figure places his hands into a bowl of water in preparation to baptize Faith and others. Brown yells out to his wife to look up to Heaven to avoid the evil, but Brown does not know if she followed his instructions because he finds himself alone in the woods.
Goodman Brown returns to Salem and sees many of the people of the street he saw in the forest. All of the townspeople appear to be normal. Brown tries to convince himself he had only dreamt of the forest and the sins that had took place in the forest’s depths. Brown turns into a sad, distrustful man who turns away from any type of prayer. When Goodman Brown finally dies, no epitaph is written on his tombstone “for his dying hour was gloom” (“Young Goodman Brown” 34).
The Birthmark
Aylmer is a man of science who is highly intelligent in all branches of natural science. He devotes his life to the study of science, his first love, and only turned from his laboratory to marry his wife Georgiana. “His love for young wife might prove the stronger of the two; but it could only be intertwining itself with his love of science and uniting the strength of the latter to his own” (“The Birthmark” 10).
One day shortly after the couple was married Aylmer asks his wife if she has ever considered having the birthmark on her cheek removed. Georgiana tells her husband she thinks of it as a charm rather than a blemish. She is hurt by her husband’s remark that it is an “earthly imperfection” (11) and begins to cry, which only makes the mark more noticeable.
The birthmark is in the shape of a hand and it was said that an angel “had laid her tiny hands upon the infant’s cheeks, and left this impress there in token of the magic endowments that were to give her such sway over all hearts” (“The Birthmark” 11). It is the predominant characteristic of her face and is heightened when the lady blushes. Besides the mark, her face is filled with beauty.
Aylmer becomes fixated with the mark and stares at it until Georgiana learns to shutter at his glance. One night Georgiana confronts her husband about a dream he had about the mark. In the dream Aylmer works with his assistant to remove the stain from her cheek, but the more he attempts to cut away, the closer he gets to her heart.
Georgiana agrees to let Aylmer operate on her face no matter the outcome. She no longer wants to horrify her husband with the deformity that is on her face. Aylmer forms an experiment with the help of his assistant and prepares Georgiana for the removal of the birthmark. She stays in the laboratory while waiting for the experiment to work. Aylmer happily watches as the scarlet birthmark begins to disappear.
After awhile Georgiana leaves the room she is in to locate her husband. She enters his study to find hundreds of books filled with experiments. She is saddened by his failures and begins to weep. Aylmer finds her in this position and scolds her for reading his journal. “It is dangerous for reading in a sorcerer’s book” (“The Birthmark” 19).
The wife returns to her room for a few moments, but goes to find her husband again. Aylmer is very upset Georgiana came into the room and claims she does not trust him. Aylmer tells Georgiana of the danger in performing the experiment, but she does not care and insists on drinking the concoction. She instantly falls asleep. The birthmark is almost gone and Aylmer considers the experiment to be a success. “Success! Success! And now it is like the faintest of rose-color” (“The Birthmark” 22). Georgiana finally awakes, but only to tell her husband she is dying.
Comparative Evaluation of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Short and Long Fiction
Nathaniel Hawthorne was an author who was greatly admired by his peers for his writing talent, especially in the instant classic The Scarlet Letter. Figurative language, mood, theme, originality, emotional impact, and literary skill are all aspects of the novel that have made it a classic. A reader will likely find the same aspects that unify The Scarlet Letter in every one of Hawthorne’s stories. “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment”, “Young Goodman Brown”, and “The Birthmark” are three stories that demonstrate the unifying characteristics that Hawthorne used in all of his long and short literary works. Originality, setting, and strong symbolism unite these four works and expose the true art form of literature.
Originality is a necessity in any work of literature that plans to keep the attention of readers for generations. There is originality in all of the short stories and The Scarlet Letter. The theme of adultery and what sin causes was not common topic during the time The Scarlet Letter was written. Hawthorne chose the theme to intrigue the readers and the author keeps their attention by twisting the plot to create surprises. The development of the characters and their thoughts was also original to Hawthornian style and is clearly shown in the novel.
Hawthorne continues to be original in “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment”, “The Birthmark”, and “Young Goodman Brown”. “Dr, Heidegger’s Experiment” deals with the Fountain of Youth and the pursuit of everlasting youth. The four characters are greedy for their youth and will pay the ultimate price for the slightest moments of adolescent that they might regain. Aylmer has discovered an experiment that will remove a crimson birthmark from his wife’s face in “The Birthmark”. Hawthorne lived during the Second Awakening and anything that dealt with modern science was an original idea. “Young Goodman Brown” deals with witchcraft. Many readers did not expect to discover the minister was the leader of the devilish gatherings in the woods. Hawthorne chose his topics because he wanted to keep the reader’s interest for years.
Setting in a novel can create many aspects that will enhance the story as well as establish a common bond between works. The confide locale of each story forces the characters to interact with one another and create depth to the story. Each of the literary works of Hawthorne takes place around Boston, particularly Salem. The author used the Puritan life style associated with seventeenth century Salem and the witchcraft that occurred in the town to unite the pieces. The characters in The Scarlet Letter are forced to interact with one another because they live in a small town. “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment” takes place in the doctor’s study. The characters do not have the opportunity to leave and associate with others. The woods in “Young Goodman Brown” set the mood of the story. The one path through the woods forces Goodman Brown to face other townspeople traveling. The setting enables the author to develop a story line and unify the work by relating back to certain scenes.
Symbolism helps to join the different parts of any work into a well-written, unified story that will draw the reader back again and again. There are symbols in each story that strongly connect all four together. The unforgettable scarlet ‘A’ is the symbol in The Scarlet Letter. Hester Prynne is forced to wear the dishonor of the scarlet letter because she has committed adultery and will not admit who her partner in sin is. The letter she is forced to wear on her breast causes her great pain. The meaning of the ‘A’ changes from adultery to able to angel to depict the changing views of the townspeople.
The rose in “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment” can be related to the ‘A’ in The Scarlet Letter. The rose was given to the doctor on the eve of his wedding by his fiancée. It was a symbol of their love and happiness, but the couple was never married because the bride died later in the evening. Both the ‘A’ and the rose once had great color and were full of life, but with time each will lack its original life: “On the threshold she paused… but her hesitation was only an instant, though long enough to display a scarlet letter on her breast” (The Scarlet Letter 243). The quote suggests the letter has lost its impact on the people, like the rose.
The birthmark on Georgiana’s face is the symbol that relates “The Birthmark” and The Scarlet Letter. Hester and Georgiana are two women who must forever wear the embarrassment of a mark of their bodies and live as outsiders in society. Similar to Hester, Georigana’s greatest tormentors are the women in her town. “Some fastidious persons-but they were exclusively of her own sex- affirmed that the bloody hand… quite destroyed the effects of Georgiana’s beauty and rendered her countenance even hideous” (“The Birthmark” 11). The mark on Georgiana’s face is also similar to the bloody ‘A’ on Dimmesdale’s chest. The attempt to change the symbols causes pain for both women. Georgiana is seen as perfect after the birthmark is removed, but she knows it has reached her heart away and she is to die. “The parting breath of the now perfect woman passed into the atmosphere, and her soul, lingering a moment near her husband, took it heavenward flight” (“The Birthmark” 23). When Hester removes the ‘A’ from her chest, her daughter will not come near her. The pain of this rejection causes Hester to pin the ‘A’ in place.
The symbolic name given to Goodman Brown’s wife relates to the name of Hester’s daughter Pearl. Hester names her child Pearl because the child represents purity and goodness. Even though Pearl is a constant reminder of Hester’s sin, she is the only good thing in Hester’s life. Goodman Brown thinks of his wife Faith in his journey through the woods. She is the one think that gives Goodman Brown reason to make haste and return home. Faith, like Pearl, represents the goodness and purity in Goodman Brown’s life.
Any literary work an author composes is likely to have similar aspects as other works written by him. Nathaniel Hawthorne is not an exception to this statement. The talented novelist who wrote many critically acclaimed pieces has shown in the four works compared in this essays that he writes with the same literary style in all forms of writing. The literary style he uses makes it easy to identify a work as ‘Hawthorian’. The characteristics his peers have found noteworthy are found in all of his compositions and create a unity among his stories.
The old Doctor Heidegger invites four of his respected friends, Mr. Medbourne, Colonel Killigrew, Mr. Gascoigne, and the Widow Wycherly, to his study. Each person in attendance has had the misfortune to see his life and wealth wasted and lives past his time. The three men are all former lovers of the Widow Wycherly.
Once the five acquaintances are seated in the doctor’s study, Heidegger tells the group why he asked them to meet at his home. Heidegger wants to use the four people in one of his infamous experiments he performs to amuse himself. They watch Heidegger as he crosses the room and returns with a leather-bound folio. Inside the papers is a withered rose, close to becoming dust. Dr. Heidegger points to a portrait of a woman hanging in the room and explains the rose came from the woman on the eve of their wedding day fifty-five years ago. He then asks if it is possible if the rose will ever bloom again. The unanimous answer is no.
The doctor places the rose into a vase of fluid. “The crushed and dried petals stirred, and assumed a deepened tinge of crimson, as if the flower were reviving from a death-like slumber” (Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment 3). A faint curiosity is sparked among the guests. Heidegger explains he received a vase containing fluid from the Fountain of Youth and wants only to watch the progress of the experiment. The four elderly individuals agree to drink the bubbly beverage to see if their youth will be restored.
After finishing their drinks, the men and Wycherly see an immediate change in the appearance of one another. No longer feeling like old, miserable creatures, they cry out, “give us more of this wondrous water. We are younger, -but we are still too old!”
(“Dr.’s Heidegger’s Experiment” 5). The men witness a great transformation of the once tired, decrepit widow into a captivating young woman. She runs to a mirror to stare at her own picture. The three men act as if they are drunk. Again, the party asks for and receives another round of drinks from the observing doctor.
Following their third drinks, Medbourne, Killigrew, the Widow Wycherly, and Gascoigne are youngsters filled with cheerfulness as they make fun of the unfashionable clothing they are wearing. The doctor pretends to be focused on a book instead of the conservation between the individuals. The three gentlemen begin an argument over who has the right to dance with the lady. The members of the lively argument do have a youthful appearance, but the mirror in which Wycherly looked in shows them as the aged people they really are.
During a fight to gain the beautiful widow, the table that the vase sits on is knocked over, spilling the entire contents on the floor. A splash of water hits the wings of a butterfly that had perched itself in the room to die. The butterfly is instantly filled with live and floats to the top of the doctor’s head. Heidegger calls out to the fighters and tells them to sit as he reaches for the rose. They watch as the rose withered “till it became as dry and fragile as when the doctor has first thrown it into the vase. He shook off the few drops of moisture which clung to its petals” (“Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment” 8).
A few moments later the butterfly falls from his head. An odd coldness rushes over the bodies of the guests. The grim party asks if they too will grow old again, but the answer is already known. Heidegger explains why he called the group to his home and the lesson the individuals had taught him. The four acquaintances did not learn the same lesson as the doctor; they all plan to make a voyage to the Fountain of Youth and live in its water.
Young Goodman Brown
Goodman Brown crosses the Salem street on which he lives to kiss his wife Faith good-bye. His wife asks him if he is able to postpone this trip until the morning because she had a troubling dream, but Goodman Brown tells her he must go and not to doubt him. Faith wishes her husband well and watches him walk down the street. Brown feels badly that he is leaving his wife on such an errand, but he knows she is an angel and he will never leave her after his journey is completed.
He quickly walks down a gloomy road lined with trees. He glances fearfully at the surrounding trees and thinks it is possible that the devil could be hiding behind any tree. After a few minutes he comes upon a man sitting underneath a tree. The two men talk for a few minutes before continuing of the trip. It is possible for a person to think the two men are father and son because of their similar expressions and attire. The only difference between the two travelers is the man is carrying a staff that resembled a black snake.
Brown refuses to stop despite the requests of his fellow traveler. Brown claims he must continue quickly because he comes from a good Puritan family who never entered the forest on such an errand. His companion tells Brown that he accompanied Brown’s family on many secret trips through the forest. The statement appalls Brown, but they carry on. On the trail Brown meets Goody Cloyse, his catechism teacher. Brown’s companion hides in the woods as Brown goes to greet his acquaintance. Cloyse asks Brown to accompany her to the meeting, but he declines and offers his staff instead. When the woman touches the staff she disappears.
The men resume their voyage into the forest. Brown’s fellow traveler pick up a branch to use as a walking stick and, with his touch, it withers and dries. Brown decides not to walk further into the forest. His companion agrees and continues on without him. Moments later Brown hears the voices of two men on horseback. The two men, the minister and Deacon Gookin, talk about the meeting they are going to and how much they are anticipating it. Browns hears the faint
sound of voices. As he strains to hear, he recognizes the voices of the townspeople of Salem. Then, he distinguishes Faith’s voice from the crowd. “Madden with despair…Goodman Brown grasp his staff and set forth again, at such a rate that he seemed to fly along the forest path rather than to walk or run” (“Young Goodman Brown” 30).
Among the trees Goodman Brown sees a blazing red light which turns out to be a large fire. The local townspeople, as well as other people Brown could not identify, is standing around a rock that created a pulpit. Brown recognizes the governor’s wife, the wives of many other honored men, many widows, and young girls as well as criminals in attendance. But Faith can not be seen. The group sings hymns until a voice calls for the converts to be brought forth. A dark figure gives a speech to the assembly about the sins each person has committed and tells the people “evil is the nature of mankind” (“Young Goodman Brown” 33). The dark figure places his hands into a bowl of water in preparation to baptize Faith and others. Brown yells out to his wife to look up to Heaven to avoid the evil, but Brown does not know if she followed his instructions because he finds himself alone in the woods.
Goodman Brown returns to Salem and sees many of the people of the street he saw in the forest. All of the townspeople appear to be normal. Brown tries to convince himself he had only dreamt of the forest and the sins that had took place in the forest’s depths. Brown turns into a sad, distrustful man who turns away from any type of prayer. When Goodman Brown finally dies, no epitaph is written on his tombstone “for his dying hour was gloom” (“Young Goodman Brown” 34).
The Birthmark
Aylmer is a man of science who is highly intelligent in all branches of natural science. He devotes his life to the study of science, his first love, and only turned from his laboratory to marry his wife Georgiana. “His love for young wife might prove the stronger of the two; but it could only be intertwining itself with his love of science and uniting the strength of the latter to his own” (“The Birthmark” 10).
One day shortly after the couple was married Aylmer asks his wife if she has ever considered having the birthmark on her cheek removed. Georgiana tells her husband she thinks of it as a charm rather than a blemish. She is hurt by her husband’s remark that it is an “earthly imperfection” (11) and begins to cry, which only makes the mark more noticeable.
The birthmark is in the shape of a hand and it was said that an angel “had laid her tiny hands upon the infant’s cheeks, and left this impress there in token of the magic endowments that were to give her such sway over all hearts” (“The Birthmark” 11). It is the predominant characteristic of her face and is heightened when the lady blushes. Besides the mark, her face is filled with beauty.
Aylmer becomes fixated with the mark and stares at it until Georgiana learns to shutter at his glance. One night Georgiana confronts her husband about a dream he had about the mark. In the dream Aylmer works with his assistant to remove the stain from her cheek, but the more he attempts to cut away, the closer he gets to her heart.
Georgiana agrees to let Aylmer operate on her face no matter the outcome. She no longer wants to horrify her husband with the deformity that is on her face. Aylmer forms an experiment with the help of his assistant and prepares Georgiana for the removal of the birthmark. She stays in the laboratory while waiting for the experiment to work. Aylmer happily watches as the scarlet birthmark begins to disappear.
After awhile Georgiana leaves the room she is in to locate her husband. She enters his study to find hundreds of books filled with experiments. She is saddened by his failures and begins to weep. Aylmer finds her in this position and scolds her for reading his journal. “It is dangerous for reading in a sorcerer’s book” (“The Birthmark” 19).
The wife returns to her room for a few moments, but goes to find her husband again. Aylmer is very upset Georgiana came into the room and claims she does not trust him. Aylmer tells Georgiana of the danger in performing the experiment, but she does not care and insists on drinking the concoction. She instantly falls asleep. The birthmark is almost gone and Aylmer considers the experiment to be a success. “Success! Success! And now it is like the faintest of rose-color” (“The Birthmark” 22). Georgiana finally awakes, but only to tell her husband she is dying.
Comparative Evaluation of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Short and Long Fiction
Nathaniel Hawthorne was an author who was greatly admired by his peers for his writing talent, especially in the instant classic The Scarlet Letter. Figurative language, mood, theme, originality, emotional impact, and literary skill are all aspects of the novel that have made it a classic. A reader will likely find the same aspects that unify The Scarlet Letter in every one of Hawthorne’s stories. “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment”, “Young Goodman Brown”, and “The Birthmark” are three stories that demonstrate the unifying characteristics that Hawthorne used in all of his long and short literary works. Originality, setting, and strong symbolism unite these four works and expose the true art form of literature.
Originality is a necessity in any work of literature that plans to keep the attention of readers for generations. There is originality in all of the short stories and The Scarlet Letter. The theme of adultery and what sin causes was not common topic during the time The Scarlet Letter was written. Hawthorne chose the theme to intrigue the readers and the author keeps their attention by twisting the plot to create surprises. The development of the characters and their thoughts was also original to Hawthornian style and is clearly shown in the novel.
Hawthorne continues to be original in “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment”, “The Birthmark”, and “Young Goodman Brown”. “Dr, Heidegger’s Experiment” deals with the Fountain of Youth and the pursuit of everlasting youth. The four characters are greedy for their youth and will pay the ultimate price for the slightest moments of adolescent that they might regain. Aylmer has discovered an experiment that will remove a crimson birthmark from his wife’s face in “The Birthmark”. Hawthorne lived during the Second Awakening and anything that dealt with modern science was an original idea. “Young Goodman Brown” deals with witchcraft. Many readers did not expect to discover the minister was the leader of the devilish gatherings in the woods. Hawthorne chose his topics because he wanted to keep the reader’s interest for years.
Setting in a novel can create many aspects that will enhance the story as well as establish a common bond between works. The confide locale of each story forces the characters to interact with one another and create depth to the story. Each of the literary works of Hawthorne takes place around Boston, particularly Salem. The author used the Puritan life style associated with seventeenth century Salem and the witchcraft that occurred in the town to unite the pieces. The characters in The Scarlet Letter are forced to interact with one another because they live in a small town. “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment” takes place in the doctor’s study. The characters do not have the opportunity to leave and associate with others. The woods in “Young Goodman Brown” set the mood of the story. The one path through the woods forces Goodman Brown to face other townspeople traveling. The setting enables the author to develop a story line and unify the work by relating back to certain scenes.
Symbolism helps to join the different parts of any work into a well-written, unified story that will draw the reader back again and again. There are symbols in each story that strongly connect all four together. The unforgettable scarlet ‘A’ is the symbol in The Scarlet Letter. Hester Prynne is forced to wear the dishonor of the scarlet letter because she has committed adultery and will not admit who her partner in sin is. The letter she is forced to wear on her breast causes her great pain. The meaning of the ‘A’ changes from adultery to able to angel to depict the changing views of the townspeople.
The rose in “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment” can be related to the ‘A’ in The Scarlet Letter. The rose was given to the doctor on the eve of his wedding by his fiancée. It was a symbol of their love and happiness, but the couple was never married because the bride died later in the evening. Both the ‘A’ and the rose once had great color and were full of life, but with time each will lack its original life: “On the threshold she paused… but her hesitation was only an instant, though long enough to display a scarlet letter on her breast” (The Scarlet Letter 243). The quote suggests the letter has lost its impact on the people, like the rose.
The birthmark on Georgiana’s face is the symbol that relates “The Birthmark” and The Scarlet Letter. Hester and Georgiana are two women who must forever wear the embarrassment of a mark of their bodies and live as outsiders in society. Similar to Hester, Georigana’s greatest tormentors are the women in her town. “Some fastidious persons-but they were exclusively of her own sex- affirmed that the bloody hand… quite destroyed the effects of Georgiana’s beauty and rendered her countenance even hideous” (“The Birthmark” 11). The mark on Georgiana’s face is also similar to the bloody ‘A’ on Dimmesdale’s chest. The attempt to change the symbols causes pain for both women. Georgiana is seen as perfect after the birthmark is removed, but she knows it has reached her heart away and she is to die. “The parting breath of the now perfect woman passed into the atmosphere, and her soul, lingering a moment near her husband, took it heavenward flight” (“The Birthmark” 23). When Hester removes the ‘A’ from her chest, her daughter will not come near her. The pain of this rejection causes Hester to pin the ‘A’ in place.
The symbolic name given to Goodman Brown’s wife relates to the name of Hester’s daughter Pearl. Hester names her child Pearl because the child represents purity and goodness. Even though Pearl is a constant reminder of Hester’s sin, she is the only good thing in Hester’s life. Goodman Brown thinks of his wife Faith in his journey through the woods. She is the one think that gives Goodman Brown reason to make haste and return home. Faith, like Pearl, represents the goodness and purity in Goodman Brown’s life.
Any literary work an author composes is likely to have similar aspects as other works written by him. Nathaniel Hawthorne is not an exception to this statement. The talented novelist who wrote many critically acclaimed pieces has shown in the four works compared in this essays that he writes with the same literary style in all forms of writing. The literary style he uses makes it easy to identify a work as ‘Hawthorian’. The characteristics his peers have found noteworthy are found in all of his compositions and create a unity among his stories.
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