The writer who was arguably at the center of American Renaissance influencing inspiring and even generating dislike scorn or mockery other key writers was?

The writer arguably at the center of the American Renaissance, influencing, inspiring, and even generating dislike, scorn, or mockery among other key writers was Nathaniel Hawthorne.

Here's why:

* Central Figure: Hawthorne's work, especially "The Scarlet Letter," was a significant turning point in American literature. It explored complex themes of sin, guilt, and societal hypocrisy in a way that had never been seen before.

* Influence: He influenced writers like Herman Melville, Henry David Thoreau, and Edgar Allan Poe, who all engaged with his ideas and themes.

* Criticism: While admired, Hawthorne also drew criticism and even scorn from some contemporaries, who found his works dark, pessimistic, and even challenging to their moral beliefs.

It's worth noting that the "American Renaissance" was a complex period, with multiple influential writers like Emily Dickinson, Walt Whitman, and Frederick Douglass. However, Hawthorne's position at the center of the movement, with his ability to inspire and provoke, makes him a particularly fitting answer.