The Scarlet Letter

ABy Nathaniel Hawthorne

Nathaniel HawthorneHawthorne wrote The Scarlet Letter in 1850

during the Romantic Period in American Literature

Hawthorne is the ancestor of Judge John Hathorne known for his involvement in the Salem witchcraft trials.

The hereditary guilt reflects Hawthorne’s awareness and sensitivity to his own Puritan background.

Characteristics of Romanticism:

A conviction that intuition, imagination, and emotion are superior to reason/logic

A belief that contemplation of the natural world is a means of discovering the truth that lies behind mere reality

A distrust of industry and city life and an idealization of rural life/nature/wilderness

An interest in the more “natural” past and in the supernatural

Literary Technique: Gothic Novel A manuscript – a literary trick whereby the

author attempts to convince the reader that the source of the story is actually being revealed by a document, such as Surveyor Pue’s “small roll of dingy paper” tied together with a rag of scarlet cloth in the form of the letter “A” described in “The Custom House”.

Literary Technique: Gothic Novel A crime – Hester’s adultery Deformity – Roger Chillingworth (12) Ghosts – the “diabolical shapes” Dimmesdale sees in

the looking glass during his long night vigils (96) Magic – Mistress Hibbins (67) Nature – rosebush growing outside the prison door,

meteor shower (natural phenomena) Works of art – Dimmesdale’s tapestry of the Biblical

story of David and Bathsheba (77) Blood – red stigma (unhealed wound) on

Dimmesdale’s breast (90, 210 ,213)

Literary Technique: Psychological ConflictHawthorne analyzes the inward tensions of his

characters. Dimmesdale, the hypocrite, is filled with remorse, as

he keeps reviewing in his mind his guilt. His sensitive conscience forces him to keep midnight watches.

Chillingworth becomes a “fiend” as he pursues his psychological revenge on Dimmesdale.

Hester, outwardly subdued by the Puritans, continues to speculate on the her place in this oppressive society.

Pearl, the elf-child, is misunderstood by society and only wants to be accepted as part of the human race.

Literary Technique: The Indirect Method

Often Hawthorne will not tell the reader exactly what the answer to a question is. He offers numerous solutions and then allows the reader to decide for himself.

Consider the “various explanations” of the “red stigma” on Dimmesdale’s breast in Chapter 14.

Literary Technique: Symbolic Images

Hawthorne uses many symbols to create mental images in The Scarlet Letter. These images play key roles in understanding Hawthorne’s depiction of certain events.

The Scarlet Letter

The Scarlet Letter “A” begins in the novel as a symbol of Hester’s shame. She is an adulteress, a scarlet woman.

By the middle of the novel, Hester’s good works in the community identify her as “Sister of Mercy” and the “A” now means “Able”.

The Scaffold The scaffold is a symbol of the public view of things,

as contrasted with what is hidden in people’s hearts. The first scaffold scene occurs in the intense daylight

of noon (Hester and her sin are clearly seen by all) The second scene takes place in the dark of night

(Dimmesdale holding Hester’s and Pearl’s hands is not visible to people at night)

The third scaffold scene occurs in daytime, where all can clearly see the minister on the scaffold (Dimmesdale confess in the clear light of day, hiding nothing)

The Black Man

The Black Man symbolizes the Devil (Evil). Pearl calls Chillingworth “The Black Man” There is a transformation in Chillingworth’s

character. “At first, his expression had been calm, meditative, scholar-like. Now, there was something ugly and evil in his face. . . .”

The physical description of Chillingworth paints the picture of a man with the flames of Hell in his eyes and twisted by evil (Chapter 10)

The Forest

The Forest symbolizes a peaceful sanctuary during the day. During the night, the forest is the home of all evil. As a romantic writer, Hawthorne clearly supports the natural world over the oppressive Puritan society.

In contrast, the forest can also be seen as an oasis of freedom where the rules of nature, not those of society, reign

Light/sun vs. Shade/dark Imagery Pearl is thrilled at the grandeur of Gov. Bellinginham’s

house and wants the sunshine that gleams off of its front; to this her mother says, “Thou must gather thine own sunshine. I have none to give thee!” Hester no longer has the innocent moral goodness the sun represents (54).

At the appearance of the governor and his visitors, who immediately spot Pearl, “[t]he shadow of the curtain fell on Hester Prynne . . . .” It is several moments before they see her and begin the inquisition to find evidence to remove her child from her custody.

Light/sun vs. Shade/dark Imagery Roger Chillingworth’s features are dark and seem to

grow “duskier” as he whispers to Dimmesdale during Mr. Wilson’s interview with Pearl. This is indicative of his darkening moral character.

Dimmesdale, after making a splendid argument on Hester’s behalf, withdrew from the group “and stood with his face partially concealed in the heavy folds of the window curtain, while the shadow of this figure, which the sunlight cast upon the floor, was tremulous with the vehemence of his appeal.” The interplay between shadow and sunlight is representative of Dimmesdale’s internal conflict between good and evil.

Light/sun vs. Shade/dark ImageryThroughout the latter chapters the juxtaposition of

shadow and sunlight illustrates the contrast of innocence and guilt:

Pearl is bathed in sunlight wherever she skips on the dark path

When Hester attempted to step into the circle of sunshine that shone upon her daughter, “the sunshine vanished.”

In the shaded woods Hester waited to speak with Dimmesdale for the first time in seven years.

As Hester convinces her lover of hope of a future, the previously shaded forest area becomes awash with sunlight.

The Rose Bush

The Rose Bush symbolizes the ability of nature to outlast man’s activities. It also brings life to a dead place, symbolizing hope.

The Rose Bush outside the prison door in Chapter 1 (page 33) is a symbol (or token) that nature/God can be kind to/forgiving of man, even if mankind (Puritan society) is not.

Flower/Weeds Imagery Weeds represent the evil side of the human

heart – consider Chillingworth’s conversation with Dimmesdale about the herbs/weeds he gathered at a grave growing out of a guilty man’s heart (83).

Flowers represent goodness, particularly forgiveness and hope

Pearl (Chapter 6)

Pearl is something obtained at a high price. Pearl, brilliantly dressed, is a living symbol of

Hester’s sin. In the book, she is the living, breathing scarlet letter.

The Meteor

The Meteor is usually a sign of bad luck; the “A” is seen in the meteor.

The Puritans believe the “A” in the sky symbolizes Angel for Winthrop’s death.

Dimmesdale sees it as the “A” in the Scarlet Letter representing his sin/adulterous affair.

The Leech

The word leech is an ancient word for physician, but Hawthorne cleverly choose it for its double meaning.

Leech also stands for a person who preys upon another for gain – a good description of Chillingworth and his relationship toward Dimmesdale

Dimmesdale’s Red Stigma Red Stigma relates to the unhealed wound in the shape

of the letter “A” on Dimmesdale’s breast It symbolizes the unhappy minister’s remorse and

guilty conscience. There are several interpretations as to its appearance:

1. Some witnesses believe that Dimmesdale had scourged the “A” on his breast the same day Hester started wearing hers2. Roger Chillingworth had caused the “A” to appear through magic/poisonous drugs.3. God’s judgment on Dimmesdale4. No red stigma was there

Literary Technique: Irony Situational Irony is central to the action of the novel. Chillingworth, the wronged husband, who might

normally claim the reader’s sympathy, turns out to be a fiend. A physician, whose mission is to cure, he affixes himself to his patient in order to destroy him.

Dimmesdale, agonized by guilt and self-loathing, is nevertheless able to achieve great heights in the pulpit.

Hester, the adulterer/sinner, becomes a “Sister of Mercy”.

Literary Technique: Irony Dramatic irony occurs on the occasion when Hester

and Dimmesdale meet in public and must communicate in ways that onlookers will not understand.

First scaffold scene with Dimmesdale on the balcony begging Hester to reveal him as her fellow sinner (20)

Gov. Bellingham’s house – Hester threatens Dimmesdale to speak on her behalf to keep Pearl (64)

Literary Technique: Irony Verbal irony occurs when Hawthorne accounts

for the popularity of Hester’s needle work among the Puritans as follows: “Vanity, it may be, chose to mortify itself, by putting on . . . the garments that had been wrought by sinful hands.”

Hester’s “A” for Adultery becomes “A” for Able

Literary Technique: Foreshadowing

Foreshadowing is the use of hints and clues to suggest what will happen later in the plot

It is used to create suspense or to prefigure later events

Chillingworth has a supernatural ability to seek out the truth and read the human soul (12, 16)

Hawthorne opens The Scarlet Letter just outside the prison of what, in the early 1640s, was the village of Boston.

The Prison Door

The Prison DoorThe Scarlet Letter is a story of a

crime already committed, of characters whose lives are already darkened by guilt and disgrace….

Look carefully at the details of the opening scene: “The sad-colored garments” of the spectators; the prison-door itself, “Heavily timbered with and studded with iron spikes.”

The Prison Door

These details create a somber mood; they paint a cheerless picture. And they hint, as well, at a society that places punishment far above forgiveness on its scale of values.

The Prison Door One note of color relieves

the gloom. A wild rose bush blossoms by the prison door.

The rose bush suggests a world beyond the narrow confines of the puritan community.

The Prison Door

A world where beauty and vibrant color flourish and crime finds tolerance and pity.

The Scarlet LetterThe Scarlet Letter is

peopled with characters who are meant to be the embodiments of moral traits, rather than realistic, living figures.

The Scarlet LetterThe Scarlet Letter displays

Hawthorne’s lifelong preoccupation with the themes of secrecy and guilt, the conflict between intellectual and moral pride, and the lingering effects of Puritanism.

The Scarlet LetterThe year is 1642. The place is

Boston, a small Puritan settlement. Before the town jail, a group of somber people wait with stern expressions.

The Scarlet Letter

They are expecting Hester Prynne, a woman convicted of adultery.

The Scarlet LetterEven this early in the story,

Hawthorne has marked the thematic boundaries of his novel: law and nature repression and freedom hidden sin vs. revealed sin human frailty and sin hypocrisy alienation

The Scarlet Letter“The Market Place” is a

great curtain-raiser. In one vivid image, the whole story is enfolded. The lines of conflict are drawn, the issues defined, the characters placed in relation to one another.

Character Placement Pearl is the innocent victim in this tragic story who just

wants to be accepted for who she is; she longs for the acknowledgment that only Dimmesdale can give her

Dimmesdale is positioned above the Puritan society; he is placed on a pedestal as being saintly, God-like

Hester is above the Puritan society, her ability to confess and reveal her sin gives her humility, mercy, and compassion

Chillingworth is always on the outside looking in; he is never accepted nor confided in

The Scarlet LetterThe image Hawthorne

gives the reader is that of a young woman taken in adultery, and standing on a scaffold in the midst of a hostile crowd.

The Scarlet LetterThis is Puritan Boston,

where private

wrongdoing is

public knowledge.