(855) 4-ESSAYS

Type a new keyword(s) and press Enter to search

The Dark Side of Human Nature: Poe and Hawthorne

In his short story "The Black Cat", the reader knows that the narrator is writing his confession on the day before he is to be executed for the murder of his wife. He confesses to some horrific things, but ultimately blames the cat for his actions. At the end of the story the narrator still does not feel ashamed for anything he does and the reader is left to come to their own conclusions on whether or not the confession sets him free or if justice is carried out. Like Poe, the narrator does not blame alcohol, but blames human nature. .
             Most of Hawthorne's stories deal with guilt, which is what he feels for the actions of his ancestors. His writings are influenced by personal guilt and religion. He strives to make the morals of his stories apparent. For example, in "The Minister's Black Veil", he makes sure the readers do not miss the point of the story when Father Hooper announces that all men wear a black veil. The black veil is a symbol for the guilt he feels for his sins and that all men hide behind their sin. Poe reveals through his stories that he thinks all of human nature is dark and essentially doomed, where Hawthorne reveals that he thinks that there are parts of human nature that are dark and through his characters tries to come to conclusions as to what makes them behave in immoral ways. .
             Section 3: Hawthorne's and Poe's reasoning for dealing with the dark side of human nature. .
             Poe had a very difficult and tragic short life, which explains the pain and darkness found in all of his works. When Poe was a young boy, his father abandoned him and his family. His mother died from tuberculosis shortly after a few months in trying to provide for her children. All of his siblings were split up and Poe was adopted by the Allans. Mrs. Allan was a very kind and sweet lady that acted as the nurturing mother that he had never had. When he was away, Mrs. Allan died and Poe never forgave himself for not being there for her.


Essays Related to The Dark Side of Human Nature: Poe and Hawthorne

1. The Quest for Identity

American writers, such as Washington Irving, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Herman Melville, Sarah Orne Jewett, Stephen Crane, Ernest Hemingway, Edgar Allan Poe, William Faulkner, Eudora Welty, Flannery O'Connor, Carson McCullers and others have all experienced the approach of this theme in their short stories. ... Nathaniel Hawthorne, one of the fathers of American fiction, goes beyond the picturesque evocations of Washington Irving, opening the way for the dark explorations of Edgar Allan Poe. ... Hawthorne provides a hint as to the fate of Major Molineux in the first paragraph of the story, wh...

  • Word Count: 2241
  • Approx Pages: 9
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

Got a writing question? Ask our professional writer!
Submit My Question