The Artist of the Beautiful

Explain the symbolism of the butterfly and its role in the story. How does the butterfly reflect the artist’s spirit and pursuit of ideal beauty? How does the butterfly play a role in reviving the artist’s creativity throughout the story?

Consider what makes this story science fiction. Discuss the butterfly as a machine of the mechanical age, and its interactions with humans seen in that light. Does this story have anything to say about whether humans and machines can work together and live in harmony, and about the energies transferred from human to creation?

Explain the ending. Do you find the ending ironic, since the artist and his critics remain at odds and unreconciled, or do you think Hawthorne meant it to be sincere and triumphant on Owen’s part?

Transcendentalism and Romanticism inform Hawthorne’s work. Transcendentalism focuses on nature, religion, and individual truths; and Romanticism emphasizes personal emotions and observations from one’s own senses and supernatural themes. Explain how “The Artist of the Beautiful” contains elements of both movements.

Analyze the characters as personifications of concepts and ideals. How does this particular device make the story more intelligible and interesting?