American Literature: The Error of Jollity and Gloom Outline Thesis: In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Maypole of Merry Mount,” Edith and Edgar represent the error of jollity and gloom. I. Edith and Edgar realize that foolish jollity is naïve. A. The Lord and Lady of the May learn to love truly. B. The Lord and Lady learn that the focus of life is more than simple pleasures. II. Edith and Edgar realize that pessimistic …showed first 75 words of 1264 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1264 total…Puritans of Plymouth and those who oppose the Puritans, the people of Merry Mount. “Hawthorne stands clearly on both sides of this opposition; he makes it clear that one must reject the unreality of Merry Mount; but he balances this with a less elaborate though equally clear rejection of the Puritans” (Becker 23). Hawthorne stresses the necessity of finding the right balance in life between jollity and gloom; this message is written for all his readers.