Ethan Brand: An Abortive Romance
Ethan Brand is a chapter of an Abortive Romance. Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote a short story called The Scarlet Letter. Ticknor, Reed published it in 1850, and Fields published it in 1852. The story was written in The Snow-Image and Other Twice-Told Tales, the author's last collection of short stories. This paper will examine Nathaniel Hawthorne's short story Ethan Brand.
Similarities with Other Hawthorne Stories
What similarities do you see between "Ethan Brand" and the other Hawthorne stories we've read in this unit in terms of plot, setting, theme, or style? Concentrate your comment on one of these parts of the story. The affiliation that is amid the author's story "Ethan Brand" and his other writings have been expressed in an exceptional way in admiration to the mystical elements. This piece of script fits during the time of Romanticism which makes it very significant style. The author is exploring the theme of nature's will by reinforcing the scope of imagination and the creativity of humans. Moreover, the author's storyline is firmly interconnected with supernatural powers hence making the tale to deal with mystical powers. In the tale, Ethan is possessing the power of communicating with the devil, which brings out the aspect of different religion in the story. When Ethan was in the company of Bartram, he introspects how he lost touch with feelings such as love and how his heart and mind has disconnected. Ethan talks about the human part of his life when meets Bartram during his search for the 'Unpardonable sin.'
The Symbolic Significance of the Lime-Kiln
What is the factual, literal use of the lime-kiln? How might this be symbolically or metaphorically significant as a key to the rest of the tale? Lime-kiln is used in symbolizing purification in the story "Ethan Brand." The personal life of Ethan Brand was changing from being a simple man and several humane characteristics during his quest for the meaning of his life. He referred the pursuit of the sense of his personal life as 'Unpardonable Sin.' Additionally, Ethan Brand lost his touch and became oblivious to feelings such as love. His efforts of trying to purify himself result in being thrown into the kiln. The only way that Brand was to become pure was burning into the marble which helped in purification. This is clearly depicted in the tale when Bartram says, "Come forward, and show yourself, as a man, or I'll fling this chunk of marble at your head!" Consequently, kiln symbolized purification hence it was very crucial in the tale since it cleansed Ethan Brand and made him pure. For instance, the lime-kiln made Ethan converse with the devil hence making it be the idyllic place for cleansing.
The Mood Established by Setting and Description
How does Hawthorne use setting and description of that setting to establish the mood for his tale? Why are these choices appropriate? The tinge that was used in the short story is that of succor. For instance, the elusive setting of solace in the tale is contributed through the description of the half moon and the clouds that are tinted in the dusk colors. Additionally, another contributing factor of comfort in the short story is the offerings that were being burned. The purpose of burning the offerings is that it was being used for cleansing especially when the people believed in supernatural and they required relief. The settings of the short story have been used appropriately since the aspect of purification and succor was developed. This makes the reader forestall for events that are correlated to such progressions in the tale. Concisely, there is a close connection amid the settings of the story and the deeds of Ethan Brand which is clearly depicted when he throws himself in the kiln which is used for cleansing.
The Unpardonable Sin of Ethan Brand
Ethan Brand locates the Unpardonable Sin within himself. What is this sin of which he speaks? Find specific textual evidence to support your claim. In the story, Ethan referred the quest for the meaning of his personal life as 'Unpardonable Sin.' He introspects how he lost touch with feelings such as love and how his heart and mind has disconnected. The only Unpardonable Sin that Ethan Brand committed was how his heart functioned. His heart was made of marble stone which made him bereft of feelings and having emotions. This is depicted in the story when Bartram says, "This marble has already been burning three days. A few hours more will convert the stone to lime." Bartram referred the heart of stone which is converted into lime. Despite the fact that Brand threw himself to the Kiln, his stone heart did not burn to lime. This means that the author emphasized on the fact that a marble heart cannot fulfill the prerequisites of an individual since it is emotionless.
A New Reading of 'Ethan Brand': The Failed Quest
After reading "A New Reading of 'Ethan Brand': The Failed Quest," write a one-page response to the article. What are the strengths? How does it help explain the story?
"A New Reading of 'Ethan Brand': The Failed Quest," that was written by Mark Harris describes how Ethan Brand failed in his 'Unpardonable Sin.' The sin of divorcing his heart and mind, losing touch with emotions such as love made his mind and heart to be disconnected. The article "A New Reading of 'Ethan Brand': The Failed Quest," by Mark Harris is explaining how most of the readers believed that the 'Unpardonable Sin' was produced due to certain characteristics that were highlighted in in the tale 'Ethan Brand.' Some of the aspects of the tale that persuaded most of the readers that the Unpardonable Sin was produced included, the claims of Ethan Brand having supernatural powers, the power of the lime-kiln to cleanse, emphasizing on the Unpardonable Sin and the act of committing suicide by Brand. The article "A New Reading of 'Ethan Brand': The Failed Quest," highlighted that Brand did not have any supernatural powers. Additionally, Bartram and his son were close to Brand for the reason that he had a disturbing mirth. The article also emphasized on lime-kiln of being the same as others and that it did not have any powers of cleansing or rather purifying someone. Also, Mark Harris describes the act of Ethan boasting to Bartram about his successful quest for the Unpardonable Sin as being self-delusional. Additionally, Harris believes that the tone that was used in the short story was scornful. This is clearly depicted in that Ethan brand was not fruitful in his quest for the Unpardonable Sin. Nonetheless, in my opinion, the analysis of this article is very unprejudiced. The way that the author brought about the aspects which persuaded the readers on how the quest for the 'Unpardonable Sin' was successful is where its strength lies. The idea about the lime-kiln not being exceptional is right since that region had similar lime-kilns. Moreover, the conduct of Ethan Brand having found the 'Unpardonable Sin' in his quest was self-delusional since it led him to commit suicide. In conclusion, this means that the readers have to discover other conservative understanding of the story apart from what the reader understands or rather what the text embraces.
Work Cited
Hawthorne, Nathaniel. Ethan Brand. Booklassic, 2015.
