Hawthorne's Reference to Anne Hutchinson in His Works

A detailed Summary of Hawthorne's Reference to Anne Hutchinson in His Works

From the beginning of his writing career, Nathaniel Hawthorne has made several references to Anne Hutchinson. In fact, he even wrote a sketch called "Mrs. Hutchinson". Because of Hawthorne's apparent interest in Mrs. Hutchinson, it is entirely possible that he would use her as a template for one of the characters in his many books.

Hawthorne's character, Hester Prynne, is similar in many ways to Anne Hutchinson.

One likeness between the two women is they were both respected members of society. As Michael J. Colacurcio says, "both these remarkable and troublesome women have careers as nurses and counselors to other women" (213). Anne Hutchinson started career as a respected member of society. She came to America with her husband, and they instantly became prominent members of society. Anne Hutchinson's place in society is stated in this quote, "Hutchinson persuaded her husband to remove their family to Boston, Massachusetts, in September 1634, where their gentry status and piety assured them a prominent position in the Puritan colony"("Anne Hutchinson.(religious leader)" 2). On the other hand, Hester did not become a respectable member in society until she was charged with adultery. People's thoughts of her are shown her

The two women were similarly opposed to a society that felt women should remain at home. During this period of time, the role of women was thought to be in the home. Anne Hutchinson went against this belief when she started sharing her controversial religious beliefs with neighborhood women in need of her medical expertise. This quickly changed into biweekly devotional meetings. A woman holding controversial religious meetings in her home quickly drew the attention of sever powerful people. In the essay Anne Hutchinson it is stated that, "Wilson and Winthrop persuaded Cotton to eavesdrop on Hutchinson's meetings to see if there were any unacceptable messages"(4). Wilson, the most respected pastor in Boston, and Winthrop, the Governor of Massachusetts, decided Anne Hutchinson's teachings must stop when her brother-in-law was accused of sedition. "According to John Winthrop, Anne Hutchinson "infected" other members of her family with her beliefs" ("Anne Hutchinson" 5). In the same way, Hester Prynne went against the belief of society by counseling and helping other people. "She was the self-ordained a Sister of Mercy; or, we may rather say, the world's heavy hand had so ordained her, when neither the world nor she looked forward to this result" (Hawthorne 110). Though the world and even herself didn't look forward to the result of her labors, Hester Prynne continued to help people. Both women decided to defy society because felt in their heart that what they were doing was right.

Anne Hutchinson and Hester Pry

Some common words found in the essay are:
Anne Hutchinson, Hester Prynne, John Winthrop, Massachusetts September, Sister Mercy, Anne Hutchinson's, Hawthorne Hester, Wilson Dimmesdale, anne hutchinson, Wilson Winthrop, Hutchinson Hawthorne's, hester prynne, respected society, fear denounced, preach antinomianism, character hester, john winthrop, hutchinson's teachings, hutchinson 5, anne hutchinson's,

Approximate Word count = 1031
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English