In today’s social context marked by the prevalence of religious fanaticism on the one hand and loss of moral values on the other hand, the questions of the essence and justification of religion as well as the squaring of religious practices with religious ideal are raised with intensity. The 19th century American writer, Nathaniel Hawthorne, in “The Gentle Boy” addresses the religious issue through his portrayal of a confrontation between two Christian sects: Puritans and Quakers. Using the reader-response approach in conjunction with new historicism and structuralism, this essay shows how the story functions like a gospel parable calling for religious toleration. In this respect, the study excavates religious fanaticism, making religion a repulsive practice with regard to the torments that it causes and the social cohesion that it jeopardizes. This state of things is naturally appealing for individual and collective changes that can agree with the Christian religious ideal, which should serve, not as a catalyst of division and hostility, but rather as the cement for social cohesion and peace. To this effect, two allegories will serve to bring forth the paradigm set in the parable: the Good Samaritan and a Christ-like figure.

Puritans, Quakers, persecution, religious fanaticism, religious toleration