A Study Of Anne Hutchinson In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Works

Nathaniel Hawthorne is one of the representative writers of American romantic literature. He plays an important role in the history of American literature. Hawthorne and his works have been the focus of many scholars’ studies for long time. A great deal of researches on Nathaniel Hawthorne and his works are done by Chinese scholars. These researches involve different contents and approach especially those on The Scarlet Letter. Nathaniel Hawthorne has not only created quantities of classic novels, such as The Scarlet Letter, but also has written quit a few short stories well known to the public.Anne Hutchinson is a significant figure in the 17th century in New England. Nathaniel Hawthorn mentions Anne Hutchinson in his three works, The Scarlet Letter, Mrs. Hutchinson and Grandfather’s Chair. Anne Hutchinson is remolded in different images in these three works. Till now, the domestic studies of Anne Hutchinson mainly concentrate on The Scarlet Letter, while there are insufficient attention and researches to Grandfather’s Chair and Mrs. Hutchinson. Though, the prototype study of Anne Hutchinson in The Scarlet Letter came into being in the recent years, the study of prototype in three works did not yet. After the author of this thesis reading lots of the relevant literature of Anne Hutchinson in history, The Scarlet Letter, Mrs. Hutchinson, and Grandfather’s Chair and researches on them, this thesis studies Anne Hutchinson in Hawthorne’s three works, and makes a comparison. between Anne Hutchinson in real life and in Hawthorne’ works. This is the innovation of this thesis.As a puritan descendant, Nathaniel Hawthorn is deeply influenced by Puritanism. The puritan society from the 17th century to the 19th century is well reflected in most of his works. This thesis proceeds from this point and explores the prototypes of his protagonists. There are many similarities between Hester in The Scarlet Letter, Mrs. Hutchinson in Mrs. Hutchinson and Grandfather’s Chair and Anne Hutchinson in history. Their personalities, personal experiences and impacts on society at that time are comparable to some extent. After studying of Anne Hutchinson in history and heroines in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s works, we can find that all of them are fighters for religious freedom, fighters for women’s rights, and victims of the Puritan theocracy. Through the comparison of Anne Hutchinson in history and the heroines of three works, the author of this thesis will provide readers a way to gain a better understanding of Puritanism and puritan society at that time.