Beginning of Essay
Herman Melville and Nathaniel Hawthorne are two of the most influential authors in American Literature. Both men wrote about similar themes, creating great admiration between them. The relationship that had grown between them was a source of critic and interpreta ....

Middle of Essay
.... characters, Ishmael and Ahab, as it had been between Hester and society. Hawthorne gave numerous suggestions to Melville concerning subject matter and themes for him to write. However, the most important impact on Moby-Dick was the correspondence between the two writers. Hawthorne's influence proved to be a factor in Melville's decision to write a novel exploring the "meaning of life." The experiences of both writers helped them realize that individuals have to figure out their purpose in life for themselves and that individuality is implicit for a meaningful and successful one. Hawthorne wrote in The Scarlet Letter of a tragic "phase ....