When you say that “The Gentle Boy” by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a “heartbreaking story that presents an eloquent and sympathetic portrait of Quakers as they face Puritan persecution in colonial New England,” you summarize the story imprecisely. While it is true that there is a sectarian tension between religions in the story, Catharine, the Quaker, is not idealized as a victim and Dorothy, the Puritan, is not portrayed as a persecutor. In reality, Catharine is a wild, overzealous and unpredictable woman who neglects her responsibilities as a mother. Dorothy, who you would call a narrow-minded Puritan persecutor, is an ideal mother, a tender and kind human being who puts her instincts before what her religion may dictate. Hawthorne uses the distinction between Dorothy and Catharine to convey the true meaning of the story; extremism and excessive devotion to religion not only dilute the mind but also distort the natural core beliefs that a person should hold and adhere to. Hawthorne constantly criticizes the importance people place on religion and redefines the role it plays in our lives. While Dorothy may align herself with some Puritan ideologies, she does not allow her group's prejudices to distort her personal beliefs about how one should be treated. Surrounded by a group of persecutors, Dorothy remains pure and innocent. She exemplifies this when she meets Ilbrahim for the first time and treats him as her own son and reassures him by saying, “Fear not, little boy, you will not need a mother, and a kind mother. Dry your tears, Ilbrahim, and be my son, for I will be your mother” (114). Immediately after describing the gruesome way Puritans dispose of Quakers, Dorothy encounters... middle of paper... to influence her most treasured core beliefs, Dorothy is clearer-minded and braver than her fellow Puritans. Hawthorne points out that Tobias, her husband who clearly shows off “his military rank,” is also extremely hesitant and does not separate himself from the crowd. Hawthorne effectively uses the contrasting characters of Catharine and Dorothy to show how Ilbrahim thrives in an environment where excessive attachment to religion is not encouraged. If my essay wasn't clear enough, I'd also like to provide you with a new and revised book cover for your consideration. In the powerful short story "The Gentle Boy", Nathaniel Hawthorne analyzes the importance of religion in his life and compares his mothers Catharine and Dorothy to underline that religious doctrine should never prevail over love, independent thought and human relationships..