On a first read, religion does not seem to play a major role in Hawthorne's House of Seven Gables. It is mentioned that Phoebe goes to church, but the reader doesn't accompany her on her journey or through the service. And while she is a pious, proper, and ideal woman, she is not described in religious terms, unlike Ellen in Warner's Wide, Wide World. Hepzibah tries to pray, but isn't successful for the most part. …showed first 75 words of 1405 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1405 total…supernatural represents a state of decay in God's absence, and possibly God's wrath as well. But when God is found and salvation is achieved, the supernatural subsides into the background. It is not the Hawthorne represents religion less than other period authors in this text, it is just that he does it in a more covert manner. Works Cited Extreme Teen Bible: New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, <Tab/>1999.