The Mesmerism In The Writings Of Edgar Allen Poe And Nathaniel Hawthorne

This paper is divided into four chapters to discuss the mesmerism literature by writers in Nineteen Century, with a specific writings on Edgar Allen Poe and Nathaniel Hawthorne. The first chapter review the origins of Mesmerism, and its development and evolution, as well as its impact on the writers in Nineteen Century. The second chapter analyzes Edgar Allen Poe's novel,A Tale of the Ragged Mountains, Mesmeric Revelation, The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar to probe his attitude of mesmerism, as well as his reasons for proving Mesmerism. Through mesmerism, Edgar Allen Poe explored the materiality of human being and the relativity of the universe. The third chapter analyzes Nathaniel Hawthorne's The House of the Seven Gables to discuss the critical thinking of Mesmerism. Nathaniel Hawthorne created several groups' object control by different forces to criticize the concept of class inequality, reflect his thinking about how women get out from the dilemma which suppressed them. The last chapter concludes the synchronic effect of mesmerism. Its traditional medical core and fashion outside of galvano magnetism draw people's attention. Those writings truly reflect the concept in Nineteen Century, and have their special historical significance.