Nathaniel Hawthorne, an American novelist lived from 1804 to 1864. Hawthorne’s worksare deeply concerned with the ethical problems of sin, punishment, and atonement. Hegraduated from Bowdoin College in 1825 and returned to his Salem home living insemi-seclusion and writing. Hawthorne’s exploration of these themes were related to thesense of guilt he felt about the roles of his ancestors in the 17th-century persecution ofQuakers and in the 1692 witchcraft trials of Salem, Massachusetts. Hawthorne’s views onwomen in male dominated roles were portrayed as the weaker sex.Allegory and symbolism are combined in Hawthorne’s work to create sarcasm anddeep thought to his novels. Allegory is a narrative, either in verse or prose, in whichcharacters, action, and setting represent abstract concepts apart from the literal meaning ofa story. Symbolism is used to designate an abstract quality or concept. Through both ofthese concepts Hawthorne revealed the irony in his writings. These elements helpedHawthorne become a leader in the development of the short story.“Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment” contained mostly romantic symbolism. Dr.Heidegger is the perfect example of the scientific world gone mad. Medbourne is mostlyinterested in the economy and is a corrupted businessman. Killigrien is basically interestedonly in himself. Gascorgin is a corrupt politician. Wycherly is an example of socialscandal and vanity. The allegory is that Hawthorne is concerned with women’s roles in amale dominant society and the dangers of applied science. “Rappaccini’s Daughter” is assembled with Romantic and Anti-Transcendentalist elements. Light is one of the main components of symbolism in thestory. Dr. Rappaccini is evil and cares more for science than mankind. Professor Baglioniis basically good and practices “apt” science. Giovanni is Anti-Transcendentalist andBeatrice is T...
