Nathaniel Hawthorne was influenced by many Puritan writers and European authors in developing his own distinctive writing style. He enjoyed reading works by Shakespeare, Spenser, Scott, Rousseau, and Bunyan. Hawthorne's writing was characterized by lengthy descriptions, formal character dialog, and use of symbols and allegory to explore themes of morality, sin, and human psychology. His background in Salem and work at the Custom House also influenced his writing.