BY KAREN BOSSICK
You’ve probably never looked at Nathanial Hawthorne’s classic “The Scarlet Letter” the way Jan Peppler looks at it.
Peppler will examine the mythological influences in the novel about a Puritan woman who is branded after she conceives a daughter through an affair as she shares a paper she presented at the American Academy of Religion during a free discussion at 6 tonight—Thursday, Jan. 11—at Light on the Mountains Spiritual Center.
An hour of group discussion will follow.
“Hawthorne was well versed in Greek mythology and the main characters in his most famous novel have a similarity to Greek deities that is undeniable, yet has been completely ignored,” said Peppler, who has titled her presentation “A is for Aphrodite: Mythology and National Hawthorne’s ‘The Scarlet Letter.’ ” “I believe that this was always Hawthorne’s intent.”
The free talk is part of the Joseph Campbell Foundation Mythological RoundTable of Ketchum. The group, open to the public, meets at 6 p.m. the second Thursday of each month to focus on a pre-determined topic.
On June 8 the Rev. Wendy Collins will lead present “Marianne Williamson: Breaking through Myths of Love and Religion,” followed by an hour of discussion.
On July 13, the group will look at a Bill Moyer interview with Joseph Campbell titled “The Message of the Myths.” The interview is Episode 2 of “The Power of Myth” series.
The JCF Mythological RoundTable of Ketchum has been meeting monthly since August 2015. It is facilitated by Peppler, who holds a Ph.D in mythological studies and depth psychology.
Topics have included Zoroastrianism, The Hero’s Journey, Star Wars, Love and the Holy Grail and Winter Holy Days. Those with a topic of interest or a desire to present or facilitate a discussion are encouraged to contact Pepper.
“This group has clearly touched an interest in our community,” said Peppler. “Every month participants express how much they enjoy the caliber of the group discussion.”
JCF Mythological RoundTables exist around the world, with 33 in the United States. For information, go to www.jcf.org.