A Soul Refreshed: ‘Footprints on the Seashore’

Nathaniel Hawthorne's essay on renewing oneself in solitude

A walk along a seashore reminds Nathaniel Hawthorne of his individuality and uniqueness in "Footprints on the Seashore." Aleksandr Ozerov/Shutterstock

In a busy, booming world, we can easily lose our individuality in a vast crowd. Yet in his memoir of one experience, “Footprints on the Seashore,” Nathaniel Hawthorne suggests a solitary walk along the seashore as a remedy, for it restores our connection with nature and our individuality in a world full of people.

Hawthorne seeks the solitude and solace of the sea, sky, and seashore on a September morning. He avoids all society to better enjoy his surroundings.

‘Footprints on the Seashore’

Upon reaching the shore, his heart swells and leaps. The immense sea, the loud roar of the waves, the expanse of the shore awaken his heart and “enlarge its sense of being.” Away from the rest of humanity and exposed to nature’s raw power, Hawthorne’s individual soul stretches to its full capacity in the solitude of nature.