The Influence Of Morality In Nathaniel Hawthorne's Writings

In many of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s writings he focuses on the inner life of the Christian, such as the effects of sin, guilt, and temptation. He was a Puritan Calvinist, but thought some of those beliefs had a tendency to judge people’s behavior on the surface. He had a relative who was a judge during the Salem Witch trials. A quote from Hawthorne shows us some of his beliefs. “Christian faith is a grand cathedral, with divinely pictured windows. Standing without, you can see no glory, nor can imagine any, but standing within, every ray of light reveals a harmony of unspeakable splendors.” Hawthorne wrote about deep purposes and morality in The Scarlett Letter and The House of Seven Gables. The Scarlett Letter begins with the sin of adultery.