First in The Scarlet Letter, we were taught by Hawthorne about overcoming the initial stereotypes and biases of specific characters in the novel including himself. The author uses slow transitions in the novel to change our The view and his portrayal of Hester. He also uses Hester’s character to compare and bring attention to himself. Hester in particular, is first described in the novel by Hawthorne as deviant
Nathaniel Hawthorne, a famous American author from the antebellum period, notices the emphasis on individual freedoms in the works by Ralph Waldo Emerson and other Transcendentalists during his residency in the Brook Farm’s community. In response to these ideas, Hawthorne writes The Scarlet Letter, a historical novel about Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale’s lives as they go through ignominy, penance, and deprecation from their Puritan community to express their strong love for each other. Their love, even though it is true, is not considered as holy nor pure because of Hester past marriage to Roger Chillingworth, and thus Hester gained the Scarlet Letter for being an adulterer. Hawthorne utilizes biblical allusions, such as the stories of
Hawthorne’s writing style provides readers with a more vivid and colorful reading experience that hopefully pushes them to be more engaged in what they are reading. In having to decode the majority of the novel, it leaves a mysterious and open effect on the entire book. With all this in mind, it is important to recognize Hawthorne’s subtle use of literal devices like alliteration such as “married, happy, and mindful of her mother” (Hawthorne, 360) in his writing. Slight additions such as this spice up his typically repetitive language and peak interest on readers by keeping them on their toes. In having all the skills to represent the darkness and beauty in life in remarkable ways, Hawthorne uses syntax in The Scarlet Letter to improve and enhance the overall quality of his
Symboilsm essay In the novel The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne used symbolism to show the importance of or the meaning of many things. It is demonstrated throughout the entirety of the novel. Henry James, a famous American novelist, said, ".there is, I think, too much. It is overdone at times, and becomes mechanical; it ceases to be impressive, and grazes ." One may feel as if Hawthorne did not overuse symbolism, but I agree with James's opinion.
Puritans are well known for conducting witch trials and burning people on suspicion of witchcraft or heresy like the incident in Salem. These two groups originated from the Anglican Church of England. A movement that took place after the English Reformation, known as the Puritanism, advocated strict religious disciplines, religious rituals, the belief of salvation, and Christ as the center of faith. Between the two, the Puritans were the original group who sought the return of a simple and virtual Christianity. The Pilgrims were Separatists who were once Puritans, but were discontent at reforms.
Hawthorne uses his abilities to weave tone, mood, and style all into one story questioning his purpose of this tragic tale of shame and redemption. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s purpose in writing the Scarlet Letter is to address the punishment Hester endures at the hands of the Puritan society and he utilizes the appeals of Pathos, Ethos, and writes with a moralizing tone in order to develop our feelings towards female strength and how one women could defy the society she lives in and live a life of punishment. Hawthorne sends hidden messages through allusions to give off what a character is going through or to give depth to a scene. Hawthorne brings to the table many references to the Bible and Greek mythology to better describe his characters and the theme of his novel. When he says “..like a snake gliding swiftly over them..” (Hawthorne 42), Hawthorne is referencing the Bible.
Within The Scarlet Letter Hawthorne developed characters that can be related to. By Hawthorne mentioning his Puritan ancestors in the beginning of his book shows that he studied the topic of puritanism before talking about it. Hester Prynne was a character well developed by Hawthorne who goes through problems that society could possibly go through. In Hawthorne's novel The Scarlet Letter before the novel began critics talked about the book and the characters, and gave a good description to Hester Prynne as a “Creation of someone who loved woman, saw her, as verdi did, as necessary tragic and alone, but emotionally sacred in a diminished world (Hawthorne).” This description of Hester was a excellent when it came to describing her as a bit of a outcast among her peers. As mentioned beforehand Nathaniel Hawthorne was born in Salem, Massachusetts in 1804 and but he passed away in 1864 in Plymouth, New
Puritan’s harsh beliefs represented the beginning of the Nineteenth Century in the newly colonized America. Their community ruled with an iron fist: unforgiving, pitiless, stern. In The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne expresses his disagreement with puritan priorities by revealing the hypocrisy widely practiced throughout their community. Hawthorne’s utilization of dim diction aids in the establishment of his scornful tone, while inclusion of symbols and intricate juxtaposition all serve to accentuate the Puritan’s duplicity. All these factors combine to develop a critical tone which rebukes puritan society.
Although written for different reasons, Nathaniel Hawthorne and Arthur Miller express similar concepts about sin and morality in The Scarlet Letter and The Crucible. Although these works are similar in time period and aspects of plot, both authors use characters to convey their themes. Readers can see strong parallels between characters, such as John Proctor and Arthur Dimmesdale. The audience can find evidence of sin and morality within all of Hawthorne and Miller’s main characters. Hawthorne wrote during Puritan New England because of personal connection, while Miller drew inspiration from social disorder.
On the other hand, the society built by the Puritans was stern and repressive, with little room for individualism. In this society, the "path of righteousness" was very narrow and taught through stern sermons on guilt and sin. The irony, of course, is in the difference between public knowledge and private actions. Dimmesdale and Chillingworth, both "sinners" for their part in this drama, are valued and revered members of this repressive community, while Hester is an outcast because of her publicly acknowledged sin. These "iron men and their rules" provide a backdrop for Hawthorne 's story that keeps the conflict alive because public appearances and penance were dramatically important parts of the Puritan