The maypole - Essay Example

Download file to see previous pages... 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 ...Download file to see next pagesRead More