The writings of Nathaniel Hawthorne have been read for many years and many of his books are on required reading lists in school curricula. His works convey themes of psychology and human nature through his artful use of allegory and symbolism. These were essential tools for addressing topics too radical to discuss publicly in the 19th century (Magill 1). He used these techniques to criticize a section of society, which is evident in his use of satire in the religious world (Hilton 1). Nathaniel Hawthorne's writings have had an impact on contemporary society, despite the fact that his criticisms and ideas were not very popular and accepted. Hawthorne was born in Salem, Massachusetts, on July 4, 1804 (Magill 1; Campbell 1; "Nathaniel Hawthorne"; Eldred 1). ). He was born into the sixth generation of his Salem family and was a descendant of a long line of New England Puritans, which contributed to his interest in the Puritan way of life. The family was originally known as the "Hathornes", but Nathaniel added the "w" to their name so it became "Hawthorne". The Hawthornes had been involved in religious persecution with their first American ancestor, William. Another ancestor, John Hathorne, was one of three judges in the 17th-century Salem witchcraft trials. Hawthorne's father was a captain and when he was four years old (1808), his father died during a voyage to Surinam, Dutch Guinea (Campbell 1). Hawthorne was left alone with his mother and two sisters. He spent his early years in Salem and Maine, during which he became interested in his father's nautical adventures and often read his logs, even after his death (Magill 1). His maternal parents recognized his literary talent at such an age...... middle of paper ...... resided in their first permanent residence, The Wayside, in Concord. Hawthorne's health eventually began to deteriorate, but since he refused to submit to a medical examination, the details of his health problems remain unclear. He finally died in Plymouth, New Hampshire, on May 19, 1864 (Magill 1; Campbell 1; “Nathaniel Hawthorne”; Eldred 1). Works Cited Hilton, Earl. “Hawthorne, the Hippie and the Square.” Debacle. April 6, 1997. January 27, 2010. http://debacle.org/hawthorne/hhs.htmlMagill, Frank. “Hawthorne Writing Style.” Escoala. January 27, 2010. http://www.e-scoala.ro/referate/engleza_nathaniel_hawthorne.htmlReuben, Paul P. “Chapter 3: From the Nineteenth Century to 1865 – Nathaniel Hawthorne.” PAL: Perspective in American Literature – A Research and Reference Guide. May 18, 2009. January 27, 2010. http://www.csustan.edu/english/reuben/pal/chap3/hawthorne.html