The narrator describes a few examples of pagan rituals and philosophy, including the significance of the Maypole and what it represents. By his ambiguous point of view and use of allegory, Hawthorne seems to be trying to focus the readers' attention on the fact that certain aspects of the American past were already shrouded and obscured by myth. Web. The Maypole Of Merry Mount Themes The Fallibility of Man The short story represents an allegory for the fallibility of Man. 1 Aug. 2020. 1 He was worshipped long ago by the ancient Canaanites, some of the oldest pagans referred to in the Bible. God had forbidden this act so it was a sin. It was later included in Twice-Told Tales, a collection of Hawthorne's short stories, in 1837. Thus, the scenario above is a familiar set piece from the lore of early American history. It was a true a historically fictional story. Baal worship included sexual acts that are sins in Endicott's eyes. Original sin is said to be acquired at birth as a direct result of Adam and Eve's original sinful actions. The story highlights the clash between freedom and individuality and the the strict Puritan beliefs. The Puritans watch the pagans from deep within the forest. It was subsequently published in 1837 as part of a … She confides in him that she fears their happiness is an illusion and wonders if he feels the same. The real-life historic leader John Endicott (1588–1665) represents the Puritans. Edith expresses apprehension about the future. [2] It tells the story of the colony of Mount Wollaston, or Merry Mount, a 17th-century British colony located in what is now Quincy, Massachusetts. In the Book of Genesis in the Bible, God exiles Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden because they yielded to temptation and indulged in the fruit from the Tree of Life. Bright were the days at Merry Mount, when the May-Pole was the banner-staff of that gay colony! It came to be known as original sin, and humanity was condemned to eternal suffering because of it. STUDY. It depicts an incident in the feud between the Puritans at Salem, under their governor, John Endicott, and a rival settlement called Merry Mount, founded by Thomas Morton. In the story the people of merry mount were a free thinking group of people and the puritans were the complete opposites. Edith and Edgar stay true to each other. Jollity and gloom were contending for an empire. At the time Endicott was also the governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and on a mission to proclaim religious separation from Old England. August 1, 2020. 2021. Match. As Nathaniel knew then, these matters of choice, such as whether 'strong watter' leads, by necessity, to debauchery or not, are perpetual issues readdressed with each generation. The Maypole of Merry Mount is a short story written by Nathaniel Hawthorne. They participated in sports and pastimes, such as teaching a bear to dance, or playing blind man’s bluff. They dance around a may-pole and are described as resembling forest creatures. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_May-Pole_of_Merry_Mount&oldid=1006698877, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 14 February 2021, at 08:16. He also orders that Edga… There was actually a town called merry mount that had conflicting views with the puritans. Baal is the ancient pagan god of fertility, also known as the "Lord of Rain and Dew." The same issue included Hawthorne's "The Minister's Black Veil" and "The Wedding Knell". celebrated in may. Hawthorne appropriately describes this attack as an "assault" of the foundation of Merry Mount. celebrated spring. The Puritans then exile them from their home as punishment for their sins. MayPole of Merry Mount. 26 Apr. Nathaniel Hawthorne (born Nathaniel Hathorne (July 4, 1804 – May 19, 1864) was an American novelist and short story writer. Terms in this set (13) what is the significance of the maypole? His insight about the interplay of personal freedom and family, or civic, responsibility continues to resonate today. Summary A Pagan Celebration at Merry Mount "The Maypole of Merry Mount" opens with a vibrant scene in the forest as the Merry Mounters celebrate joyfully at their Maypole. Readers also learn about the Puritans' reasons for despising the pagans and their mission to destroy their neighboring settlers' homes and livelihood. It is perhaps worth noting that Hawthorne chooses to use "jollity", "mirth" and "gloom" and not "joy", "woe" or "sadness". Historical Background of "The Maypole of Merry Mount" "The Maypole of Merry Mount" is a work of historical and allegorical fiction that takes place in early New England. They termed it an Idoll; yea they called it the Calf of Horeb: and stood at defiance with the place, naming it Mount Dagon; threatening to make it a woefull mount and not a merry mount." The Merry Mounters celebrate around the Maypole. Download a PDF to print or study offline. Throughout “The Maypole of Merry Mount,” Hawthorne uses personification to attach human qualities to inhuman objects. A moment of commentary provided by the narrator confirms her prophetic fears, but the outcome of the fears is not yet seen. The leader of Merry Mount Thomas Morton (1590–1647) was exiled from Merry Mount to suffer for his sins, and the colony itself was destroyed. It was a true a historically fictional story. At the beginning of the story "jollity" and "gloom" are said to be contending for an empire, the Merry Mount colonists personifying jollity or mirth and the Puritans being the emblems of gloom. In "The Maypole of Merry Mount", Hawthorne uses green, red, and black to symbolize different aspects of the lives of the Puritans. Endicott's subordinate Lieutenant Peter Palfrey selects Edith and Edgar as representatives of Merry Mount. The "Maypole" in the title refers to the central figure of a pagan celebration, which is interrupted by the Puritans. "The May-Pole of Merry Mount Study Guide." Lowell's version combines parts of this story with another Hawthorne short story, "Endicott and the Red Cross," and with sections from the early American colonist Thomas Morton's book New Canaan. Endicott cuts down the may-pole and orders that the people of Merry Mount be whipped. The Maypole at Merry Mount is a short story from Nathaniel Hawthorne. Set on Midsummer Eve in 1620s New England, “The Maypole of Merry Mount” is an account of the Puritans’ extermination of Merry Mount. They are led by the ruthless historic Puritan leader John Endicott. Summary: “The Maypole of Merry Mount” The story begins with the collection of Merry Mounters celebrating a wedding between Edith and Edgar on Midsummer Eve. The Maypole of Merry Mount is a short story written by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Edith and Edgar are taken captive. In the case of the Maypole of Merry-mount, the American reader has three viewpoints; two of the tales are written contemporarily by participants in the tale, namely William Bradford and Thomas Morton, and the third version is by Nathaniel Hawthorne approximately two hundred years later (Perkins 64, 955). This location provided great options for trade. Howard Hanson's opera Merry Mount is loosely based on the story. Real joy, Hawthorne seems to be saying, arises spontaneously out of contrasts. The maypole comes down. In the story the people of merry mount were a free thinking group of people and the puritans were the complete opposites. "The May-Pole of Merry Mount" is a short story by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Course Hero. Love as the Savior of Sin. (2020, August 1). 5 In this sense it is not clear whether Hawthorne actually sides with the Puritans or the Merry Mount people, or if he is trying to find some middle ground. The story is set in Massachusetts around 1630, at the time of the first English colonies in the New World. Unfortunately their way of living was disturbed by the increase of Puritanism (a person who is strict in moral or religious matters) Maypole, a well-respected place to the people of Merry Mount. Bright were the days at Merry Mount when the Maypole was the banner-staff of that gay colony. They did no harm to the Puritans living nearby. Stricken by the newlyweds, he spares them but orders they put on more conservative clothing. Jollity and gloom were contending for an empire. Accessed April 26, 2021. https://www.coursehero.com/lit/The-May-Pole-of-Merry-Mount/. In typical Romantic fashion, Hawthorne most clearly personifies the natural elements of the environments in order to glorify Nature. Their festivities are interrupted by the arrival of John Endicottand his Puritan followers. He also orders that Edgar cut his hair in the "pumpkin shell" style in order to reflect the Puritans' strictness. The Puritans believed that any spiritual view not aligned with the Bible was sinful and should be punished. The youth and maiden go from being Merry Mounters to, presumably, becoming members of the Puritan community. It is not too difficult to see the Merry Mounters as the precursors of hippies (Beats, or, perhaps, more accurately free thinkers) or the Puritans as the archetype of the establishment. Readers are introduced to Edgar and Edith, the "Lord and Lady of the May." They are punished for their ignorance with the loss of Merry Mount. 3 The writing style of Nathaniel Hawthorne is composed of carefully placed symbols, which he uses to show emphasis on a particular character, deepen his main theme, and provide his audience with a thematic purpose. Throughout the story, Hawthorne examines how the inherent sins of humanity negatively breed adverse consequences. "The Maypole of Merry Mount" opens with a vibrant scene in the forest as the Merry Mounters celebrate joyfully at their Maypole. Edith expresses apprehension about the future. Course Hero, "The May-Pole of Merry Mount Study Guide," August 1, 2020, accessed April 26, 2021, https://www.coursehero.com/lit/The-May-Pole-of-Merry-Mount/. "Merry Mount" is also known as "Ma-re Mount" and translated as "Mount by the Sea." This helps provide a clearer portrait of the Merry Mounters and the Puritans. Gravity. They who reared it, should their banner be triumphant, were to pour sunshine over New England's rugged hills, and scatter flower seeds throughout the soil. Edith and Edgar's lives are spared because their love is pure. "The setting up of this Maypole was a lamentable spectacle to the precise Separatists that lived at new Plymouth. The May-Pole of Merry Mount BRIGHT WERE the days at Merry Mount, when the Maypole was the banner staff of that gay colony! The tone is one of ecstatic joy until Edgar suddenly notices that his beloved Edith's demeanor has changed. They dance around a may-pole and are described as resembling forest creatures. In an interim between events, the narrator takes readers away from the festivities to explain the area and history of New England. Hawthorne satirizes both parties and the narrative point of view seems to oscillate between them. The American poet Robert Lowell adapted this story into one of the three plays in his trilogy The Old Glory, first produced by the American Place Theatre in New York City in 1964. The people of Merry Mount, whom Hawthorne calls the "crew of Comus", celebrate the marriage of a youth and a maiden (Edgar and Edith). The Maypole Of Merry Mount Story Analysis Analysis: “The Maypole of Merry Mount” “The Maypole of Merry Mount” is a short story written by Nathaniel Hawthorne that was first published in a gift book in 1832. Unfortunately their way of living was disturbed by the increase of Puritanism (a person who is strict in moral or religious matters) Maypole, a well-respected place to the people of Merry Mount. But it can also be reversed, because the people of the Maypole are generally… But the script can be shaded in various ways. He enjoys friendly relations with them, especially the Native American women. The Puritan party descends upon Merry Mount without warning. The Puritans watch the pagans from deep within the forest. And he is critical of Merry Mount, suggesting that the Puritan critique of feckless pleasure-seeking has substantial truth, even if the Puritans themselves are a little heavy-handed. Flashcards. 2 The Maypole of Merry Mount was first published in 1832 in The Token and Atlantic Souvenir in 1832. Course Hero. In striking contrast the narrator then introduces the Puritans' history and philosophy. Edgar and Edith can easily be seen as Hawthorne's allegorical version of Adam and Eve. John Endicott and the Puritans believed that New England would be their "Promised Land," like the one in the Bible. Merry Mount is an opera in three acts by American composer Howard Hanson; its libretto, by Richard Stokes, is loosely based on Nathaniel Hawthorne's short story "The May-Pole of Merry Mount", taken from his Twice Told Tales.Hanson's only opera, it was commissioned by the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.. 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