A tremendous influence on the many writers of its time period, Romanticism was a key theme in American literature, particularly from the mid eighteenth century to early nineteenth century. Nathanial Hawthorne is said to be a master of this theme of literature, and therefore we look closely at one of his most overlooked works— The Wedding Knell, and the visible themes we can identify in this story that correlate with the period of Romanticism.
This short story focuses on the wedding day of sixty-five year old Mr. Ellenwood, and a widow named Mrs. Dabney. The groom has never been previously married, but had been in love with Mrs. Dabney some years ago. However, his affections were disregarded by her, and she instead married two other husbands in her youth. Because of this, Mr. Ellenwood has become bitter and cold, and it is rumored by his acquaintances that he might be mad. On the day of the wedding, the bride enters the chapel only to be met with the loud ringing of the knell usually reserved for funerals. The guests chatter amongst themselves, speaking of superstitions and convincing one another that this is surely an omen. The groom finally arrives driven by a hearse and in a coffin, telling the bride that she was promised years ago to him but that she married someone else in her youth, and now there is no youth left for him in the marriage. He then suggests that they marry into eternity by performing the ceremony and going to their graves together. Mrs. Dabney is startled and frightened at first, but decides to marry him.
First of all, the narrator of this story is a man standing in front of a chapel, telling the readers about a time long ago when his grandmother married in this same church. This itself demonstrates a major element in Romanticism: a preoccupation of times past. This preoccupation emerges later also, when Mr. Ellenwood talks about his past engagement with Mrs. Dabney. It is again apparent when they couldn’t marry in youth,...