Nathaniel Hawthorne's writings have been read for many years, and many of his books have been placed on required reading lists in school curricula. His works convey themes of psychology and human nature through his astute use of allegory and symbolism. These were essential tools for addressing topics too radical to address publicly in the nineteenth century (Magill 1). He used these techniques to criticize certain parts 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 lifestyle. The family was originally known as "Hathorne", but Nathaniel added the "w" to his 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 at the 17th-century Salem witchcraft trials. Hawthorne's father was a sea captain and when he was four years old (1808), his father died on a voyage to Suriname, 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 showed interest in his father's nautical adventures and often read his ship's logs, even after his death (Magill 1). His maternal relatives recognized his literary talent at a time so... middle of paper... he resided in their first permanent home, The Wayside, in Concord. Hawthorne's health eventually began to decline, but since he refused to undergo 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.html Magill, Frank. "Hawthorne's 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