Romanticism Supernatural And Psychological Elements

Published Date: 02 Nov 2017

Ashley Davis

Professor Carey

ENGL 2326

Romanticism: Supernatural and Psychological Elements

During the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, American literature was becoming similar to that of European literature in character because both types of literature focused on being romantic. This time period was known as the Romantic Temper. This new type of literature was as American literature by everyone because tradition and native character was very important in this style of writing. Then there was Romanticism at Mid-Century where writers expressed their attitudes towards humanity, nature, and society. The romantics went against the Age of Reason and preferred to have freedom to cultural authority, formalism, as well as individualism. Poe, Hawthorne, and Melville were all well-known writers of this era. Poe exemplified his works in symbolism that strayed away from moral questions, but for all its concern for beauty, his vision was definitely troubled. Hawthorne’s symbolism came from the ongoing struggle against the forces of evil that was a part of the dark Puritan heritage; this was a conflict between body and mind that is found in our social environment. Then there was Melville, who gained his symbolism from land and sea for his explorations of the universe. All three of these authors write in a way that helps to shape the periods known as Romanticism and the Romantic Temper.

Edgar Allen Poe, a well-known writer of the Romantic Era tended to write his works in the Gothic genre. At this time period, this is what intrigued the public’s eye. Poe’s most common theme to write on was death or anything that had to do with death such as mourning, reanimation of death, and the effects of decomposition. It is obvious in his story "Ligeia", which is about the death of the narrator’s true love and how the author tries to reanimate his lost love through her body parts so that he can see her once again. Even though the narrator is so obsessed with Ligeia, however he cannot remember how he met her in the first place and states "I cannot, for my soul, remember how, when, or even precisely where, I first became acquainted with the lady Ligeia." (Poe 393) Because of the gaps in the narrator’s memory, Poe decides to portray Ligeia as someone who is returning from the grave. And even though the narrator cannot remember exactly when or how he met Ligeia, Poe makes her presence unforgettable to the narrator, which gives the narrator the trait of being obsessive. Poe also seems to make death a very important topic from the very beginning of "Ligeia’’ when the narrator states, "And the will therein lieth, which dieth not. Who knoweth the mysteries of the will, with its vigor?" (Poe 395). The narrator seems to have the power of death on his mind, almost as though he questions death. Poe also has a way of talking about things that are related to death and incorporating these things in his story. Poe has the tendency to focus on what can be referred to as dark objects such as coffins and other objects related to death. In one such instance Poe takes a coffin and describes it as a "Bridal couch" (Poe 399)." In this description, he takes a term that is most often related to a joyous occasion, a bride, and transforms it into a dark subject matter by using it to describe a coffin. Poe was able to easily manipulate an object and turn it to something dark and dreary instead of its more common meaning of something happy.

Nathaniel Hawthorne’s writing style conveys modern themes of psychology and human nature. Hawthorne tends to write in the genre of Dark Romanticism, which is a mix of Gothic fiction and Romanticism. This particular type of genres focuses on the themes of philosophy, psychology, and morality. In "The Birthmark", Hawthorne states that every man has flaws of some sort, and that to make man perfect is merely impossible. However, he contradicts himself in the story by trying to play God and fix his wife’s imperfections. The narrator states "[…] it was not unusual for the love of science to rival the love of woman in its depth and absorbing energy." (Hawthorne 465). This quote explains Aylmer’s obsession with his wife’s birthmark, and whether or not his issue is with the birthmark’s appearance or his desire to overcome Nature scientifically. In this story it is shown repeatedly how there is a competition and resentment against Nature, "It was the fatal flaw of humanity which Nature, in one shape or another, stamps ineffaceably on all her productions..." (Hawthorne 467). At this time Aylmer is not necessarily disgusted with his wife’s birthmark, rather showing his own disgust towards nature since the birthmark was created by Nature and Aylmer does not have that type of control to create things. Again Hawthorne is contradicting his belief that everyone has flaws in this statement, "The crimson hand expressed the ineludible gripe in which mortality clutches the highest and purest of earthly mould, degrading them into kindred with the" (Hawthorne 467). In this statement it is clear that maybe the problem goes further than the appearance of the birthmark, maybe Aylmer’s issue with the birthmark is that he feels his wife should be perfect in every way, meaning mind, body and soul. Although it may appear Aylmer is disgusted with his wife’s birthmark, he is instead disgusted with what nature can do and he cannot. Aylmer feels inferior to nature and takes this feeling out on his wife’s birthmark because it is something physical he can blame on nature. This story places focus on what is right and wrong socially as well as what is deemed acceptable. In Aylmer’s case, he does not find the birthmark as either right or acceptable but more of a flaw.

Herman Melville’s writing style is a blend of symbolism, fact, fiction, along with some adventure. Melville also has a way in his writing of questioning the meaning of life, which does not please the public very much. Melville portrayed these traits in his story "Bartleby the Scrivener", which is a tragic tale that Melville adds a little bit of comedy into the storyline. This story is about a very successful lawyer who hires a scrivener to help out around the law firm. The scrivener, Bartleby, will not do anything he is asked to do around the firm. Melville really focuses on isolation as a theme for this story. The intentional isolation of Bartleby can be seen when". . . Bartleby sat in his hermitage, oblivious to everything but his own particular business there." (Melville 514). In this scene Bartleby is only separated from everyone else in the office by a sheet, however Melville allows Bartleby to create his own personal world and isolating himself from everyone and everything. Even though Melville focuses on isolation in Bartleby’s character, he shows some compassion towards Bartleby with just how isolated he truly is. "If he would but have named a single relative or friend, I would instantly have written and urged their taking the poor fellow away to some convenient retreat" (Melville 521). This shows that Melville also can be compassionate because even though the narrator is frustrated with Bartleby not doing what he has been asked to do, he does not see how someone can be that alone in the world and actually be okay with it. The theme of isolation in this story shows that even in one of the busiest, most prosperous parts of the country, one can go unnoticed and be left alone. Melville focuses on this theme to show that regardless of the area, a person can remain isolated and do so based on their social status and financial situation.

Poe, Hawthorne, and Melville contributed a great deal to the Romantic Era. Each writer had a special style that they used in their works, which is what makes them so memorable in today’s society. Whether the focus was on death and the way it affects life around everyone, the battle of nature versus science, or applying factual evidence to themes to drive home the story, all three of these authors made contributions to this era that is known as Romanticism. Although each writer is different in style of writing, all three can be connected to Romanticism by their writings having something to relate to human psychology or something that is supernatural.