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Virtue Ethics in Hawthorne and Aristotle: A Literary Analysis

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Abstract

This paper examines Aristotelian virtue ethics as illustrated through Nathaniel Hawthorne's allegorical story "The Great Stone Face." It traces how each character's pursuit of self-glory fails to achieve genuine happiness, while Ernest's selfless benevolence aligns him with the story's ideal of moral greatness. Drawing on Frankena's principle-based critique of virtue ethics, the paper argues that virtues must be grounded in guiding principles rather than mere pursuit of happiness. The analysis concludes by reading the story as a Christian allegory, proposing that Christ's teachings in the Sermon on the Mount represent the ultimate fulfillment of virtue ethics—a perfection achievable only beyond earthly life.

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What makes this paper effective

It weaves together philosophical theory (Aristotle, Frankena) and literary analysis (Hawthorne) to argue a unified thesis about the nature of virtue and happiness.
It builds an escalating argument: from Aristotle's foundational claim, through Frankena's critique, to a theological resolution, giving the essay a clear intellectual arc.
It uses Ernest's character as a sustained example, returning to him repeatedly to ground abstract claims in textual evidence.

Key academic technique demonstrated

The paper demonstrates cross-disciplinary synthesis: it reads a work of literary fiction through the lens of ethical philosophy. Rather than treating Hawthorne's story as mere illustration, the writer uses it to test and probe the limits of Aristotle's virtue ethics, then brings in Frankena as a corrective before arriving at a theological conclusion. This movement from one framework to another—each qualifying the last—is a strong model for integrating multiple academic sources in a short argumentative essay.

Structure breakdown

The paper opens by introducing Aristotle's teleological ethics and immediately connecting it to Hawthorne's allegory. It then analyzes the story's characters, focusing on Ernest's selfless end as a contrast to self-seeking figures. A third movement introduces Frankena's principle-based objection to pure virtue ethics. The essay concludes by invoking the Sermon on the Mount as the story's deeper allegorical referent, framing Christ as the ultimate fulfillment of the virtue ideal Aristotle only partially captured.

Introduction: Aristotle and the End of Human Action

Aristotle notes that "if then there is an end for our activity, this will be the good to be accomplished; and if there are several such ends, it will be these" (p. 316). In other words, the idea of virtue ethics is that the most moral course of action is that which leads one to his final absolute end, which is happiness. Aristotle suggests that virtue is what can make man happiest. This idea is essentially repeated in Hawthorne's story "The Great Stone Face," which is about a succession of people who try to live up to the ideal of the Great Stone Face in the mountains, only to have it revealed that they possess character flaws which prevent them from fulfilling the local prophecy—that one would be born great enough to be the living embodiment of the Stone Face.

The Great Stone Face as Virtue Ethics Allegory

The problem with each of the story's characters is that, ultimately, he has been living for himself. Some vanity, pride, or lack of charity has prevented him from possessing the kind of benevolence that truly accompanies greatness. But Ernest shows this benevolence in his preaching, and the writer suddenly recognizes him as the Great Stone Face. Yet Ernest waves him off, for his end is not to be praised but rather to preach to others. He does not seek this praise. It is for this reason that he more and more resembles the Great Stone Face—he has the character that the mountain face depicts.

In this manner, the story exemplifies Aristotelian virtue ethics, for it is a story about what is really man's ultimate end: himself, or some greater glory? Those seeking their own glory do not find the happiness they desire. Those who receive praise are not satisfied, for they cannot supply the happiness they seek. Where does this happiness come from ultimately?

3 Locked Sections · 310 words remaining

Ernest's Benevolence and the True End · 90 words

"Ernest's selflessness as true moral greatness"

Frankena's Principle-Based Critique · 120 words

"Frankena's argument that virtues require guiding principles"

Christ and the Ultimate Embodiment of Virtue · 100 words

"Christ's Sermon on the Mount as perfect virtue ideal"

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Key Concepts in This Paper

Virtue Ethics Eudaimonia Benevolence Moral Perfection Allegory Principle-Based Ethics Teleology The Great Stone Face Sermon on the Mount Happiness