Along with his views on this culture, Hawthorne uses irony, tales of witchcraft, and the concepts of guilt, confession, and hypocrisy to show his feelings on the Puritanical society and the way they treat other people. ... Whether the plots of his works contain stories of the Puritans, descriptions of witchcraft, or thoughts on Salem, the setting is usually critical to Hawthorne's themes, especially the Puritan aspect. ...

• Word Count: 3188
• Approx Pages: 13
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

The witchcraft trials did not appropriately define their methods of living for one hundred or more years that they formed successful communities. ... Those who denounced witchcraft (thereby calling the witnesses liars) were then accused themselves. ... The devotion they held in maintaining a religious society in isolation fueled the fire of the witchcraft scandal. ... For the first time in history, free schooling was offered for all children. ...

• Word Count: 3742
• Approx Pages: 15
• Grade Level: High School