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In my analysis I want to show that Hawthorne represents America and Europe as
opposites and turns them into opponents in the fight of America versus Europe. In the course
of this paper I would like to find out about the reasons for his contrary representations of the
two continents. Furthermore I want to uncover the purpose of Hawthorne’s different
representations.
The thesis, which I want to prove here, is that Hawthorne deals with the American
feeling of cultural inferiority towards Europe and its eventual overcoming by means of the
Myth of America. The characters in The Marble Faun are created according to the American
and European stereotypes, which the myth makes use of, and serve as means for expressing
the conflict. In this context, I want to show that The Marble Faun is a pro-America romance.
Pro-America because Hawthorne is conform to the Myth of America and praises innocence, a
virtue which America claims exclusively for itself. Based on the claim of innocence America
claims leadership, which is supported by Hawthorne.
First of all I will deal with the roots of the tensions between Europe and America and
the traditional stereotypical treatment of them. Then I will explain the Myth of America and
the reason for its invention.
After these two introductory parts I want to concern myself with the question of how
Hawthorne transferred the topic of America versus Europe into a story. Proceeding from the
assumption that the Myth of America served as a basis, I want to deal more closely with the
stereotypes and point out the parallels to the main characters. Coming from the stereotypes I
will take a closer look at the female figures, Miriam and Hilda. I will show that they represent
the stereotypical Europe and America most perfectly. The American character Hilda is for me
of great interest because she constitutes the moral center of the romance. Moreover
Hawthorne uses mostly her figure to carry out the pro-America tendencies of the book. By
looking at Hawthorne’s treatment of Hilda I will demonstrate the strong orientation at the
Myth of America and his praise of the American virtue.
In the last chapter I will come back to the American feelings of cultural inferiority
towards Europe. My intention is to show how Hawthorne deals with the problem and how he
uses the Myth of America to turn the American characters’ cultural inferiority into overall
superiority.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Europe – The American Problem in the 19th century
3. The Myth of America
4. Transferring the topic into a story
4.1. The preface
4.2. Using the stereotypes
5. Who is Hilda?
5.1. A characterization of Hilda
5.2. Hilda as the moral center
5.3. Hilda’s crises
6. From inferiority to superiority
6.1.The changing description of Rome
6.2. The Americans’ development towards superiority
6.3. And the winner is…
7. Conclusion
8. Works Cited
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper examines Nathaniel Hawthorne’s final romance, The Marble Faun, to analyze how the author constructs a binary opposition between America and Europe. The central research question investigates how Hawthorne utilizes the "Myth of America" to transform the American characters’ perceived cultural inferiority into a claim of moral and spiritual superiority, thereby establishing the work as a pro-American narrative.
- The construction of the "Myth of America" vs. European history.
- The symbolic representation of national identities through the characters Miriam and Hilda.
- The exploration of innocence as an American virtue versus European guilt.
- The evolution of the American protagonists from cultural subordinates to moral leaders.
- The use of the setting of Rome to mirror and reinforce the cultural conflict.
Excerpt from the Book
5.2. Hilda as the moral center
Hawthorne makes Hilda the moral center of the romance. From beginning to end she has the last word when the situation calls for a moral. Continuously she moralizes about her friends’ behaviour or utterances. And her judgements are accepted and followed by her friends, because Hilda’s moral conscience is the strongest of all characters in the book, and her faith in God is imperturbable. She shows the other characters the right way and even corrects them when they miss to be conform with her view of God’s right path. When Kenyon verbalizes the possibility that sin could be educational, she is “‘shocked beyond words’” and calls Kenyon’s considerations a “‘mockery’” against the “‘precepts of Heaven’”. And Kenyon apologizes and cries out for her (moral) guidance: “‘Oh Hilda, guide me home!’” (1405; ch. 50). And she does so, because she as the most innocent and purest of all the characters (consider that she is never described as to have sexual sentiments) is the only one who can be a moral and spiritual guide. The connection to the Myth of America becomes very clear here.
Moral perfection is in Hilda’s view (and according to the Myth of America) the highest virtue and she is the only one who possesses it because she has neither a dark past nor any sexual wishes. She finds everyone else’s faith and everyone else’s conduct corrupt (Waggoner 173). Even a friendship is worth less than the spotlessness of her garments. When Miriam calls upon her after the crime and asks for help, Hilda turns her back on Miriam and quits their friendship. Hilda’s explanation is that Miriam’s “‘powerful magnetism’” (1237; ch. 23) would be too much for her and a continuation of their friendship would stain Hilda’s white dress. Right and Wrong are completely distinct for Hilda, and Wrong does not deserve understanding. This reaction to a request for help seems self-righteous and egoistic, but Hilda’s (America’s) position of the moral guide is based upon innocence and Miriam is a threat to this innocence.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: The author outlines the scope of the study, defining the thesis that The Marble Faun uses the Myth of America to resolve feelings of cultural inferiority.
2. Europe – The American Problem in the 19th century: This section details the historical and cultural tensions between the "Old World" and "New World" stereotypes prevalent during the 19th century.
3. The Myth of America: The chapter explores the theological and cultural foundations of the American self-image, emphasizing the concepts of innocence and the "second chance" for humanity.
4. Transferring the topic into a story: This section discusses how Hawthorne integrates national themes into his narrative through the use of a preface and character-based stereotyping.
5. Who is Hilda?: This chapter provides a deep dive into the character of Hilda, analyzing her as an angelic, Puritan symbol of American purity and her role as the book's moral anchor.
6. From inferiority to superiority: This analysis tracks the shift in the narrative's perspective, moving from an initial fascination with Roman culture to the eventual moral rejection of Europe by the American protagonists.
7. Conclusion: The summary reflects on how the novel ultimately functions as a projection of American patriotism and the dream of building a future free from the "burden of history."
8. Works Cited: A comprehensive list of the academic sources and secondary literature used to support the paper's analysis.
Keywords
The Marble Faun, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Myth of America, cultural identity, American innocence, European decadence, moral superiority, literary analysis, Puritan tradition, Hilda, cultural inferiority, 19th-century literature, national stereotypes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary subject of this research paper?
The paper examines how Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Marble Faun reflects the 19th-century American preoccupation with cultural inferiority toward Europe and how the author uses his characters to argue for American moral superiority.
What are the core thematic areas explored?
The research focuses on the conflict between American innocence and European experience, the role of stereotypes in character construction, and the "Myth of America" as a tool for creating national identity.
What is the central research question?
The author seeks to uncover why Hawthorne presents these two continents as moral opposites and what purpose his specific representation of America as a "moral guide" serves within the novel.
Which methodology does the author employ?
The paper utilizes a literary analysis approach, focusing on characterization, textual motifs, and the application of cultural myths to interpret the narrative structure and ideological intentions of the text.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main body examines the specific development of the protagonist Hilda as the "moral center," the changing descriptions of Rome from fascination to disgust, and the ultimate emancipation of the American characters from European influence.
Which keywords characterize this academic work?
Key terms include The Marble Faun, American innocence, the Myth of America, cultural identity, and the binary opposition of Europe and America.
How does the author characterize Hilda's role in the novel?
Hilda is interpreted as the embodiment of American purity, functioning as a "moral center" who rejects the corrupting influences of European history and experience to maintain her spiritual integrity.
Why does the author argue that the novel is a pro-American romance?
The paper concludes that because Hawthorne aligns his narrative with the "Myth of America"—favoring innocence over the "guilty" past of Europe—he ultimately portrays America as the rightful leader to a bright, future-oriented world.
- Quote paper
- Tonia Fondermann (Author), 2003, New Meets Old: Hawthorne's Representation of America and Europe in The Marble Faun, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/17985
