Writing in the mid-19th century, Nathaniel Hawthorn was witness to both the Romantic and Transcendental movements in American Literature; however, while his works reflect many of these elements, he never identified completely with these movements, like most of his contemporaries. His greatest novel was an exploration into the Puritan roots of his ancestry as he explored themes connected to consequences of sin and redemption focused through the psychological aspects of his fictionalized characters.
Consider "The Custom-House," his semi-autobiographical preface to the novel in which he explores the subjects of his distant relatives, the significance of art, his taking of a public office, and his ultimate discovery of the notes that inspired his novel. Discuss, in at least three paragraphs, Hawthorn's primary purpose for writing the Custom House. Composition responses must make three direct quote references as support.
