Edgar Allan Poe Vs. Nathaniel Hawthorne

It is said that Transcendentalism (an emergence of new literature, religion, ideas, etc.) was the inspiration for many authors of the 19th century. During this time, we had many individuals questioning culture and their role in society. And thus the Romantic Movement originated. It allowed for additional freedoms and spirituality, and many began to adopt their own idealistic beliefs. Other inspirational figures rising among/against the transcendentalists were "Dark Romantic" authors Edgar Allan Poe and Nathaniel Hawthorne.

Edgar Allan Poe was among other Dark Romantic writers of the era, and is yet considered one of the most prominent to this date. The reason being, his short fiction stories and classical poetry consisted of a variety of emotions that any reader can relate to; joy, hope, despair, hate. In fact, though he is sometimes referred to as the inventory of short fiction, he is widely known for his eerie, mysterious tales of the gothic genre. The increasingly popular, supernatural "The Raven" and the haunted "The Fall of the House of Usher" are interpreted throughout high schools in the United States; while other tales and poems are sold collectively for the avid fan in nearly all book stores. It is also said that Poe himself did not prefer the age of Transcendentalism due to the birth of self-righteous posers of their generation. Instead, his works can be related to that of gothic melodrama consisting of death, decay, macabre, and mystery.

Nathaniel Hawthorne was another famous writer of the era. His short stories also focused on themes of darkness and evil compelled characters battling psychological entities. His style of writing is also inspired by a Puritan background and divine sense of worship as it counters everyday sin. Apparently, Hawthorne was intent on delivering religion from sin as thoroughly as possible, and thus became a judge during the Salem Witch Trials to punish those with evil intentions. One novel I recommend, and is one of significant popularity, is "The Scarlet Letter." In this novel, we catch a glimpse of sinners as they attempt to deliver and purify themselves of suffering. It also includes a biblical presence as it relays on the morality of men and our nature of unrighteousness.

It is easy to notice the similarities between the two authors as each signifies the relation of evil among man. After reading a few short stories from each, and in my own opinion, I foresee Poe as the more idealistic of the two. He may write about such psychological issues as he relates to them himself; after all, Poe's background did involve adoption, drunkenness, and marriage to his cousin. Hawthorne, on another note, was a realistic individual intent on eliminating degradation and retaining morality. His short stories appear a more positive romanticism and less ill fated conclusions. As a sucker for mystery and evil intent, however, I prefer Poe over Hawthorne. I do recommend any reader that enjoys these authors also check out other Dark Romantics such as Herman Melville and John Polidori.

Edgar Allan Poe society of Baltimore. Retrieved Oct 28, 2009 from http://www.eapoe.org/index.htm