The Moral Imagination: Nathaniel Hawthorne and the American Soul
The great writer Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804 – 1864) held a mirror up to the American soul in his masterful stories and novels. His themes include the human dreams of progress and perfection, the dark side of human nature, the powers of science, and the fear of Heaven. And his moral imagination was deeply shaped by the biblical vision of man and society. In this seminar, we will read some of Hawthorne’s greatest short stories—such as “The Birth-mark,” “Lady Eleanore’s Mantle,” “The Artist of the Beautiful,” and “The May-Pole of Merry Mount.” Through these deep, mysterious, and provocative tales, we will explore who we are as Americans: always dreaming about a more perfect future, always haunted by our exile from Eden, broken beings in need of redemption.
This reader was developed by Eric Cohen and Stephanie Cohen.
Want to speak with Mr. and Mrs. Cohen? We’d be happy to introduce you.
The Moral Imagination: Nathaniel Hawthorne and the American Soul