Puritans Have Made American Society Gloom - Essay Example

? Puritans have made American society more gloom The society of the United s of America has been forming for many centuries since the colonization of the Europeans. Reformation of the Catholic Church that began in the beginning of the XVI century influenced a lot on the European and, therefore, American history. Nathaniel Hawthorne in The Maypole of Mary Mount charged the Puratins for the expansion of gloom and sadness in the USA. As a Romanist he felt sorrow for the lost joyful spirit of early colonialists. Author tried to show readers the beauty of the lost spirit. To prove this statement I need do analyze The Maypole of Mary Mount by comparing contrary sides - early Americans of Marry Mount and the Puritans. Also, I have to mention, it is very important to pay attention to the author’s attitude to the “contenders” and to his feeling of close tragic during the story. Before I start the comparison, I have to tell briefly what this story is about. The main topic of the story is the confrontation between early Americans and newly coming Puritans, old and new values, old and new colonists. Nathaniel Hawthorne mentioned in the beginning very important statement that “jollity and gloom were contending for an empire [883]”. It was quarrel that has determined the “future complexion of New England [888]”. And the rate was high: “should the grizzly saints establish their jurisdiction over the gay sinners, then would their spirits darken all the clime…But should the banner staff of Merry Mount be fortunate, sunshine would break upon the hills, and flowers would beautify the forest [888]”. It is very interesting that author avoided describing the process of seizure power by Puritans. It is not interesting for him. In contrary, the place, time, circumstances, emotions, atmosphere of these shifts - do matter. There are two main heroes in this story: “Puritan of the Puritans” John Endicott and Edgar with Edith - the newly married couple. These heroes present the contend sides: Puritans and early Americans. To emphasize the significance of the Puritan coming author created the atmosphere that something important was just about to happen. The tragedy of situation was underlined in the beginning of the story: “midsummer eve had come, bringing deep verdure to the forest, and roses in her lap, of a more vivid hue than the tender buds of Spring…never had the Maypole been so gayly decked as at sunset on midsummer eve” [883]. In other part of the story there is very intriguing moment: “with the setting sun, the last day of mirth had passed from Merry Mount [888]”. Also I can remember the dialogue between Edith and Edgar, when Edgar was disturbed by the sadness of Edith during their wedding day: ``Edith, sweet Lady of the May, is yon wreath of roses a garland to hang above our graves, that you look so sad? O, Edith, this is our golden time! [885]”. In other words, if you want to say that something really bad had happen you have to say how good it was before. And such literature trick indeed created the feeling that the big changes yet to come, the end is near. Indeed, early American days at Merry Mount in May were bright and the people of Merry Mount “who reared it, should their banner be triumphant, were to pour sunshine over New England's rugged hills, and scatter flower seeds throughout the soil [883]”. Author called them “the crew of Comus” because of their life style. Comus was the Ancient Greek god of festivity and revels. Jollity was the main characteristic of early Americans from Merry Mount. Although, it is important to understand, Nathaniel Hawthorne didn’t idealize them. Instead, he made some contempt jokes of them. In description of the Merry Mount people he argued that “here might be seen the Savage Man, well known in heraldry, hairy as a baboon, and girdled with green leaves… Some youths and maidens were of soberer garb, yet well maintained their places in the irregular throng by the expression of wild revelry upon their features. Such were the colonists of Merry Mount, as they stood in the broad smile of sunset round their venerated Maypole… some already transformed to brutes, some midway between man and beast [884]”. Early Americans from Merry Mount used to be “minstrels, not unknown in London streets; wandering players, whose theatres had been the halls of noblemen; mummers, rope-dancers, and mountebanks, who would long be missed at wakes, church ales, and fairs” that “imagined a wild philosophy of pleasure, and came hither to act out their latest day-dream” [886]. I think Hawthorne recognized the imperfections of the early American colonizers, but these losses were obscured by their admiration. It seems to me that author felt some kind of nostalgic for the previous, old America – full of smiles, joy and happiness. Their foes were reformers Puritans driven out from the England. The image of Puritans is very one-sided and predefined by the image of early Americans: “unfortunately, there were men in the new world of a sterner faith than those Maypole worshippers [887]”. Puritans were always very stern: “most dismal wretches, who said their prayers before daylight, and then wrought in the forest or the cornfield till evening made it prayer time again…when they met in conclave, it was never to keep up the old English mirth, but to hear sermons three hours long [887]”. The aim of Puritans was to absorb the unlike worships, to exterminate the old way of thinking, old customs, old values, old ideals and old heroes. It seems that every feature of the Puritans’ and early Americans was opposite: mood, style of living etc. The competitiveness was fully demonstrated in the story of the main heroes. The positive main characters were Edgar with Edith - the newly married couple. The important point is that they were not trying to fight for their values, instead, they felt embarrassed and hopeless before the stronger evil: ``Stern man,'' cried the May Lord, ``how can I move thee? Were the means at hand, I would resist to the death. Being powerless, I entreat! Do with me as thou wilt, but let Edith go untouched! [890]”. There is something truly amazing for the author in the character of Edith. I think, for him Edith’s mystery – “the moment that they truly loved, they had subjected themselves to earth's doom of care and sorrow, and troubled joy, and had no more a home at Merry Mount [886]” – is something out of this competition. Love did matter for Hawthorne: “Yet there was an air of mutual support and of pure affection, seeking aid and giving it, that showed them to be man and wife, with the sanction of a priest upon their love. [889]”. But, anyway, Edgar and Edith were the main victims of the newly comer Puritan leader, the main antihero, “the Puritan of Puritans” – John Endicott – “so stern was the energy of his aspect, that the whole man, visage, frame, and soul, seemed wrought of iron, gifted with life and thought, yet all of one substance with his headpiece and breast-plate![888]”. Their high, full of self-sacrifice love was his main sufferer. John Endicott took on his sword, took a look at the hapless pair, they stood “pale, downcast, and apprehensive [889]”. It was true victory of the dark and gloom side on the bright and joy one. Although, even though the early Americans defeated, for Nathaniel Hawthorne, “never had their youthful beauty seemed so pure and high as when its glow was chastened by adversity [890]”. This statement only proves the real author’s position. He admired, sympathized to the love, to the victims, to the couple. The death of the old world seems to be very painful for the author: “as it sank, tradition says, the evening sky grew darker, and the woods threw forth a more sombre shadow [888]”. To sum up, I would like to say that the victory of gloom, sadness and severity was a tragedy for Romanist Nathaniel Hawthorne. Of course, Puritans have made many positive things to the American society, but the early Americans’ values were something that was lost forever with the coming of new colonists. The Merry Mount society has lost the spirit of joy and free will and America with Puritan spirit has become more gloom. Work cited: Hawthorne Nathaniel The May-Pole of Merry Mount. Electronic Text Center, University of Virginia Library. Read More