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Hawthorne’s ancestors were some of the first Puritans to settle in the New England area. His great grandfather was one of the judges in the Salem Witch trails.

Hawthorne was the son of Elizabeth Clarke Manning and Nathaniel Hathorne. Hathorne was a Captain in the U. S. Navy. He died when his son was four years old. He left behind Elizabeth, Nathaniel, and two sisters.

What’s in a name?

1 www.hawthorneinsalem.org/ScholarsForum/MMD1114.html

Though Hawthorne added the W to his name, it is unclear why. It could have been to go back to the ancient spelling. Many believe, however, it was because of the guilt he felt over his family’s involvement in the Salem witch trials. 1

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Nathaniel Hawthorne was born on July 4th, 1804,in Salem, Massachusetts.

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The Salem Witch Trials of 1692

Between June and September of 1692, 19 people, both men and women, were takento the gallows for witchcraft. One man was pressed to deathbetween heavy stones because he would not confess to the crime. He was over80 years old. Dozens of others were accused and kept in prison without trialuntil the hysteria ended. All the tragedy began with the mysterious illness of one child.

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17th Century

1642-1649

Massachusetts Bay Colony

(Later Boston)

Puritan – “Pure” A strict legalistic religion.

Puritans believe that good works are important because of predestination; the belief that everyone is ‘pre-determined’to go to heaven or hell. They, however, don’tknow which category they fall in, thus theneed for good works. They also believe evil has to be punished, and every evil work is of the devil.

Setting

The Scarlet Letter - Characters

Hester Prynne –ProtagonistHester struggles to live a new life of repentance and dignity after her affair. She transforms her life, even though she lives in isolation.Pearl – Hester and Dimmesdale’s daughter

Arthur Dimmesdale – Reverend who commits adultery with Hester. Although Hester must live in isolation and wear an “A” publically, Dimmesdale torments himself secretly. He is in more captivity by keeping the dark secret. The guilt ultimately kills him.

Roger Chillingworth - Antagonist He is Hester’s husband, but changes his name and makes her vow not to reveal his true identity. He lives to find Pearl’s father, and increasingly sinks into evil, tormenting Dimmesdale to his death.

Governor Bellingham – Considers taking Pearl from Hester, but Dimmesdale sways his opinion. Ironically, his sister, the widow Hibbins, is a witch.

Reverend Mr. John Wilson – Strict preacher that emphasizes punishment of sin, Hell and damnation; the opposite of Dimmesdale’s message. He can be swayed byDimmesdale’s opinion.

Freytag’s Pyramid Scarlet Letter Summary

Introduction: Custom House – Finding the letter –Moonlight – unreliable narratorWritten to act like a true event, but in the moonlight, we know it isn’t actually true.

Scarlet Letter – Setting 17th century Massachusetts Bay Colony (later Boston).Puritan settlement = law and religion are always connected.

Freytag’s Pyramid Scarlet Letter Summary

Conflict- Daylight – Hester is on the scaffold, guilty of adultery, even thoughher husband was assumed to be lost at sea. She now has a child. She will not confess who the baby’s father is, even though he (Reverend Dimmesdale) is questioning her. She sees her husband in the crowd and he demands to know who the father is, vowing revenge. Hester is forced to wear the red “A” for adultery.

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Freytag’s Pyramid Scarlet Letter Summary

Complication – Dimmesdale’s health has taken a knock. Chillingworth – the fake name Hester’s husband took on, is a doctor. He moves in with Dimmesdale and beginsto suspect the reverend is the father of Hester’s daughter, Pearl. One night, while Dimmesdale is sleeping, Chillingworth looks under his shirt and sees what we assume to be an A. (Night-Darkness- Chillingworth is evil)

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Freytag’s Pyramid Scarlet Letter Summary

Rising Action – Moonlight/ SecretiveDimmesdale goes to the scaffold at night and sees Hester and Pearl. He asks themjoin him. He admits his guilt, but still can’t do so publically. They see a meteor in the shape of an ‘A’ and Pearl sees a shadowy figure (Chillingworth). Dimmesdale looks bad. His health has been deteriorating for years because he is held captive by his secret guilt.

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Freytag’s Pyramid Scarlet Letter Summary

Climax – Hester and Dimmesdale plan to run away together, but the plansfall apart. Dimmesdale knows he is dying. Hester finds out Chillingworthhas booked a ticket with her and Dimmesdale on the boat. After the best sermon of his life, Dimmesdale makes his way to the scaffold. With Hester present, he publically announces his sin, shows his A, and dies in her arms.

Freytag’s Pyramid Scarlet Letter Summary

Denouement – Chillingworth dies, but is appeased by the confession, so he leaves his money to Pearl. This allows Hester and Pearl to escape back to theold world for a time. When Hester returns, she once again wears her ‘A’ voluntarily, but the meaning has changed to ‘able’ in the minds of the villagers.She is buried near Dimmesdale. "On a field, sable, the letter A gules.“ is the inscriptionon the tombstone.

Symbols/Archetypes – The Scarlet Letter – Static symbols

Pearl/Hester’s Daughter – Sin, passion, the letter ‘A’ embodied.

Forest- Freedom, witchcraft

Dimmesdale – Dimness, weakness

Chillingworth- Cold, evil

Prynne – Rhymes with sin

Rose and Prison Door – Prison door = Punishment/Rose - Represents grace

Light/ Dark and the color Grey – Good and evil – Truth and deceit

Scaffold – Punishment, then ultimately redemption

Symbols/Archetypes – The Scarlet Letter – Dynamic symbols

The Letter A and color Red – Adultery, then Able/Angel

Hester – Scarlet woman turned solace and counsel for other women.

Themes/ Motifs

Civilization – Where the ‘righteous’ liveverses

Wilderness – Hester lives in the forest with Pearl. Forest represents freedom, but also darkness, witchcraft, etc.

Sin, the knowledge of good vs. evil, and the human condition

The nature of evil. Who or what is evil?

Daytime /Light – Truth and social acceptabilityverses

Moonlight/Darkness-Secretive/deceptive

Identity verses society. Hester embraces her punishment, embroideringthe A herself. Dimmesdale, however, can’t confess to it publically.