Hawthorne's stories show aspects of his time through their exploration of religious beliefs, gender roles, and the impact of industrialization. His tales offer a window into the social and cultural landscape of his era.
Hawthorne's stories often deal with themes like morality and social norms of his era. His characters and plotlines mirror the conflicts and values of that time.
In 'Young Goodman Brown', the presence of the devil - like figures in the forest can be seen as a representation of the hidden temptations and the underlying moral decay that the Puritan society feared. The story shows how the strict religious upbringing of the characters was constantly at odds with the allure of the unknown and the potentially sinful. Hawthorne was using these ghostly elements to comment on the society's struggle with maintaining its moral and religious integrity.
Hawthorne's horror stories often reflect the Puritan society of his time. For example, in 'Young Goodman Brown', the strict religious beliefs and the hypocrisy within the Puritan community are shown. The people who seem so pious during the day are involved in what seems like devil - worship at night. It shows how the society's outward appearance of goodness may hide a lot of moral decay.
They show the importance of family and social status. In many of his plays, the lovers' relationship is affected by their families' standing. For instance, in 'Romeo and Juliet', the Montagues and Capulets' feud is a big obstacle to their love.
In 'Twelfth Night', the cross - dressing and the resulting confusion in love relationships can be seen as a commentary on the strict gender roles in Elizabethan society. Viola's disguise as a man allows her to navigate a world that would otherwise be closed to her as a woman, and this shows how society's norms affected love and courtship.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', it reflects the Victorian society's repression of certain aspects of human nature. The strict moral code of the time made people suppress their darker desires, which is shown through Jekyll's transformation into Hyde.
Hardy short stories show the social hierarchies. The upper class often has more power and privilege, while the lower class struggles. For example, in some stories, poor farmers are exploited. Also, they reflect the role of women, who were restricted in many ways.
In Somerset Maugham's Collected Short Stories, the social norms are very evident. The way people interacted, the roles they played in society, such as the proper behavior of a married woman or a gentleman. The stories also touch on the limited opportunities for certain groups, like women. Maugham's writing was a mirror to the society he lived in, with all its flaws and peculiarities.
His stories often show the economic disparities. For instance, in many of his works, we can see poor characters struggling to make ends meet while the rich seem to have everything. This reflects the class divide in his time.
Langston Hughes' top stories also show the cultural richness of the African - American community in the face of oppression. He wrote about the music, the language, and the traditions that were an important part of the community. This was a way of asserting their identity in a society that often tried to marginalize them. His stories were like a mirror to the society, showing both the problems and the strengths of the African - American people.
In his novels, Orwell was concerned about the loss of democratic values. In the society of his time, there were signs of political oppression and the restriction of civil liberties. 'Animal Farm' was a satirical take on the Russian Revolution and how power can corrupt. It reflected how the ideals of a revolution can be subverted, just as happened in some political situations during his era.