Author+and+historical+background

- Salem Massachusetts (Witch Trial) - Ancestor John Hathorne (Embarrassed about being a judge on witch trial in 1692).

- He changed his name by adding a “W” in Hathorne because he didn’t want to be disgraced with the name and embarrassed by his ancestors who killed witches. - Both fascinated and horrified by his puritan roots. - Writing 200 years after the setting.