Nathaniel HawthorneNathaniel Hawthorne was one of the most influential authors during the Romantic period. Hawthorne is most commonly known for his novel, The Scarlet Letter. That novel is still being read everywhere. In fact, I just read it for my history class. Not only can the novel be read for an Englishman, but also for a history class due to the Puritan background. Nathaniel Hawthorne wasn't just an author who blended in with his era, he stood out. Hawthorne was unique. He used identifiable contexts that influenced his work and wrote in mediums such as short stories and novels. In my opinion, what made Hawthorne so unique is that he was not only a writer, but he was also a very meticulous critic of himself. He didn't let other people's judgment of his work influence him, but let it have some kind of meaning that influenced his career. Hawthorne himself says, “they rarely, if ever, show any intention on the part of the writer to make them so. They have none of the abstruseness of ideas, or obscurity of expression, which characterize the written communications of the solitary mind with itself.” (Twayne US Authors) In my opinion this quality really impresses me. I feel that many authors may have relied too heavily on critics and the judgments of others to try to improve their writing in any way possible. Not only should they take advice from other writers and critics, but they should also be confident enough in their own writing that they have done a good job. From what I noticed while reading The Scarlett Letter is that Hawthorne was very interested in the Puritans, the values ​​they had and their beliefs. Nathaniel Hawthorne himself was not raised in the Puritan lifestyle, but was a “descendant of a long line of New Englan...... middle of paper......reading. He should always be celebrated for his contributions. Hawthorne was unique. He used identifiable contexts that influenced his work and wrote in mediums such as short stories and novels. Works CitedCrow, Charles L. American Gothic: An Anthology From Salem Witchcraft To HP Lovecraft. Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2013. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost). Network. April 24, 2014. Idol, John L., Jr. “Nathaniel Hawtorne July 4, 1804 – May 19, 1864.” Gale Literary Databases. Network. April 24, 2014. “Nathaniel Hawthorne.” Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th edition (2013): 1. Academic research completed. Network. April 24, 2014."Nathaniel Hawthorne." Twayne's American authors. Network. April 24, 2014."Nathaniel Hawthorne's Writing Style." Writing style by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Network. April 24, 2014. – I used this source because it specifically spoke to the author's writing style.