The Puritans, Salem Witch Trials, and Nathaniel Hawthorne

The name Puritan first appeared in English history in 1550. The Puritans were an influential order which was a part of the revolting Protestants prevalent in the 16th and 17th century. They were strong believers of Calvinism which loosely preaches that the consequences of our actions in this mortal world decides the fate of our souls which could be subjected to either damnation or salvation. Their main principles relied on the ideas of free-will and sanctity of the human soul. The Puritan beliefs are roughly based on the Doctrines of Grace written by the fellow theologians of James Arminius. The Puritan lifestyle was restrained and rigid: People were expected to work hard and to repress their opinions and emotions. Individual differences were frowned upon.
Puritans believed the Devil was as real as God. Those who follow Satan was considered witches. Witchcraft was one of the greatest crime a person can commit and is punishable by death. During the Salem Witch Trials about 24 or 25 people died either from being put to death or died in prison.

Nathaniel Hawthrone was born in 1804 in Salem, Massachusetts. He is actually related to a judge name Judge Hathrone, who was a judge in the Salem Witch Trials. Hawthorne's works belong to dark romanticism (cautionary tales that suggest that guilt, sin, and evil are the most inherent natural qualities of humanity). Many of his works were inspired by Puritan New England. He's mostly a short story writer but he also wrote some nonfiction. He died in May 19, 1864 , in Plymouth, New Hampshire. After his death his friend, Longfellow wrote a tribute poem to Hawthorne, published in 1866, called "The Bells of Lynn."

The Puritans influence our modern society in many ways. They made a virtue of qualities that made for economic success—self-reliance, frugality, industry, and energy—and through them influenced modern social and economic life. Their concern for education was important in the development of the United States, and the idea of congregational democratic church government was carried into the political life of the state as a source of modern democracy.

Interesting fact: Edgar Allen Poe once accused Nathaniel Hawthrone's Twice-Told Tales and Mosses from an Old Manse of plagarism.

Statue of Nathaniel Hawthrone