The Scarlet Letter (1850)

by Nathaniel Hawthorne

The Scarlet Letter The Scarlet Letter is peopled with characters who are meant to be the embodiments of moral traits, rather than realistic, living figures.It was initially supposed to be a short story, but Hawthorne was encouraged to lengthen it by his publisher

The Scarlet Letter, in brief…

It is often considered a difficult (boring?) text. Romantic diction- far away, distant,

historical, elusive This story is not about action but

about reflection. The most important action already happened before the novel begins. What do we make of that action? That one BIG mistake?

SETTING

Boston 1642-1649 (i.e., the 17th Century)Chapters 1-3 Market-Place. A June morning, 1642. Baby Pearl is about three-four months oldChapter 4 Prison. Afternoon of the same day.Chapters 7-8 Home of Governor Bellingham. Late summer, 1645. (Pearl is three years old)Chapter 12 Market-Place. Saturday night, early May, 1649 (Governor Winthrop’s death; Pearl is now seven years old)Chapters 14-15 Sea coast. Several days later.Chapters 16-19 Forest. Several days later.Chapters 21-23 Market-Place. Three days later.

STRUCTURE

Chapters 1-3: Hester’s ignominy is establishedChapters 4-8: Hester and Pearl struggle in the communityChapters 9-11: Chillingworth and Dimmesdale Chapters 12-15: Hester’s evolution and her responsibility for the downfall of both menChapters 16-20: The Forest-Talk and decision to be free!Chapters 21-23: Back to the marketplace; Dimmesdale’s victory over Chillingworth. Chapter 24: Conclusion

What was Hawthorne’s point?

There is beauty in darkness the rose-bush, Pearl, sunshine in the forest, etc.

Nature can show pity and kindness regardless of human judgment Everyone could be wearing a letter of some sort; their hypocrisy hides their own sinsHester earns redemption through her good works- a Catholic philosophy that defies Puritan values of predestinationThere’s hope for humanity: “It’s the credit of human nature…it loves more readily than it hates.” (Ch. 13)

Hawthorne’s ironic toneChapter 1: A prison is one of the first things that was

established in this “utopia”– the Puritan ideals were already prepared for failure!

Chapter 2: The fat, ugly ladies gossip about Hester, but

a pretty young mother defends her Gov. Bellingham says to Rev. Dimmesdale:

“This woman’s soul lies with you.”Chapter 3: The baby cries at Dimmesdale’s voice… baby-

daddy recognition!

Hawthorne’s ironic tone, cont.Chapter 5

Hester is the “Ralph Lauren” of Boston with her needlepoint; everyone wants her fashion– even Governor Bellingham (for his gloves). Only brides shun her.

Chapter 6 “The truth was that the little Puritans, being of the most

intolerant brood that ever lived…scorned them in their hearts, and not unfrequently reviled them with their tongues.” Does this sound Christian?!Chapter 10Pearl dancing on important Puritan graves and flinging burrs at Hester and Dimmesdale

Chapter 13 (four years later) “The whole system of society is to be torn down and built up

anew.” – Hester is a STRONG woman; Hawthorne shows how it’s not nature’s intention for women to “keep women quiet.” Feminism?

‘A’ has become able. “The scarlet letter had not done its office.”

Hester Prynne

Openly acknowledges her sin of adulteryPublicly accepts her punishment She wears the scarlet letter A which is

elaborately embroidered by herself she humbly accepts all people’s derision

and belittlement without feeling wronged; instead, she continues helping the poor and the diseased

Effect of Hester Prynne’s Reaction

Wins respect from the community and changing the meaning of the letter “A” on her bosomBecomes at peace with herself and with other peopleGrows stronger in mindSees more clearly and thinks more critically about the people about her and the sins hidden in these people

Things associated with Hester Prynne

A blossoming wild rose-bush (could also be used to symbolize Pearl later in the novel)

The sun and the shadows

The scarlet letter “A” elaborately embroidered on the bosom of her gown

Black hair and eyes

Gray attire

Seamstress

Solitary sphere

Arthur Dimmesdale

He hides his sin of adulteryEffects:

- he suffers from increasing torment of conscience (his own hypocrisy); he’s often described as “tremulous”

- he grows weaker both physically and psychologically (dims, fades away…)

- he dies from the mental torture

Things associated with Arthur Dimmesdale

Eloquence & fervor / speech of an angelNervous sensibility: tremulous mouth, melancholy brown eyes, apprehensive, startled and half-frightened look, emaciated form, gloom and terror, painWhite: white brow, pale cheekThe meteoric sign of the letter “A”Hand over his heart“Diminishing” overtime (hence his name)

“Doctor” Roger ChillingworthHis reaction to his wife’s adultery:-Revengeful-Hideously torments a human heartEffects:-changes into a cold-hearted (“chilled”) devil-like man-loses humanity and motive to live after the object of his revenge (Dimmesdale) dies.

Things associated with Roger Chillingworth

Dim eyes Deformity: Misshapen shoulders Snake / horror / terror Blackness / darkness / duskSomber, lonely, having a “chilling” effectGlare of red light / fire / flameHerbs, medicinesDevil / Black Man in the forest

PearlHer reaction to her mom’s adultery:-Inquisitiveness/Precociousness -She’s the living embodiment of the scarlet letterEffects:-She is alienated from society, so she does not have friends with kids her age; she plays with fictitious enemies and animals in the forest-She is beautiful and grows up becoming a noblewoman who inherits Chillingworth’s riches.

Things and people associated with Pearl

“Elfish”Always adorned in bright colored clothingBeautiful: “brought forth in Eden” (ch. 6)Creative and precocious Affiliated with the sunshine Also symbolic of the rose-bush? Wild in nature, but a bright spot of beauty after a dark time

Narrative methodTelling vs. showing (Stephen King would cringe!) The main action of the novel happened before

it even began!

Narrative mode: omniscient narration with frequent author intrusionsRomanticism rather than realism Unlikeliness of Pearl’s questions; later, she

plays with a wolf in the forest?