Course & Year :- M.A. Sem 3(2019-2021)
Roll No. :- 25
Enrollment No. :- 2069108420200037
Paper :- The American Literature
Topic :- The Scarlet letter
Email :- sejal.solanki3107@gmail.com
About the Author
The Scarlet Letter was written by American author, Nathaniel Hawthorne. He was born in 1804 in the city of Salem, Massachusetts to Nathaniel Hathorne, Sr., and the former Elizabeth Clarke Manning. He was a descendant of a long line of Puritan ancestors. In order to distance himself from his family's shameful involvement in Salem Witch Trials, Hawthorne added the "w" to his last name.
After his father, a ship captain, died of yellow fever at sea when Nathaniel was only four, his mother became overly protective and pushed him toward relatively isolated pursuits. Hawthorne's childhood left him overly shy and bookish, which molded his life as a writer.
Hawthorne turned to writing after his graduation from Bowdoin College. His first novel, Fanshawe, was unsuccessful and Hawthorne himself disavowed the work as amateurish. However, Hawthorne returned to Salem where he struggled as a short story writer for 12 years. He published Twice-Told Tales in 1837. His insufficient earnings as a writer forced Hawthorne to enter a career as a Boston Custom House measurer in 1839. In 1842, he married Sophia Peabody and moved t The Manse in Concord. Hawthorne returned to Salem in 1845. Hawthorne then devoted himself to his most famous novel, The Scarlet Letter. The Scarlet Letter was an immediate success that allowed him to devote himself to his writing. He published The House of the Seven Gables in 1851. Hawthorne passed away on May 19, 1864, in Plymouth, New Hampshire, after a long period of illness during which he suffered severe bouts of Grave of Nathaniel Hawthorne dementia.
About the Book The Scarlet letter
The Time Period
The plot of the Scarlet Letter follows Hester Prynne, who has been forced to wear the letter 'A' on her dress, for committing adultery. In the time of the story, bearing a child (Pearl) without being married was a great crime, and was punished by the embarassment of having to wear the 'scarlet letter'.
The story of the Scarlet letter is set in 17th-century Puritan Boston during the years 1642 to 1649. The Puritans had settled in New England to practice their religious beliefs after leaving the Old World, where they had been persecuted. The Puritans were a legalistic sect of Protestant Christians influenced by Calvinism. Their beliefs emphasized God's omnipotence and the concept of election, the idea that salvation is predestined. Religious behavior was seen as both a result of salvation and evidence of it. Thus, Puritan communities were centered on the idea of purity in thought and deed, and sins were rooted out and punished harshly.
However, over time, people begin to misinterpret the letter as meaning that she is an important part of high society, due to the color and design of the letter.
It is later revealed that the minister of the town was the father of the child, but they kept it a secret for various reasons. Roger Chillingworth, Hester's wayward husband eventually finds out about their plans to run away together, and is about to have his revenge when the minister confesses what he has done, and dies.
The physical setting of The Scarlet Letter reflects the beliefs and habits of the Puritans. Throughout the book, we are taken on a mini tour of the most important town buildings and structures. Law and religion form the heart of the town. Two main characters in The Scarlet Letter are Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale.
Hester is the mother of Pearl, and is later revealed to be the lover of Dimmesdale. She is the main character in the novel, and bears the letter A on her dress.
Dimmesdale is a minister in Boston. Throughout almost all of the story, the general public doesn't know about his role in the birth of Pearl. However, fairly early on in the story, Hester's uncaring husband returns and finds out about it, and plots his revenge. Dimmesdale dies at the end of the story, and it is discovered that he bears the letter A on his skin.
There was some paradox....
Although Puritans embraced a strict life, it wasn't always somber and simple. They encouraged tradesmen and craftsmen to live among them They prized simplicity yet loved fine clothing. Their furniture makers developed great artistry and their leaders (like the governor Hester goes to visit) lived in fine houses.
Paradox is that the puritans stigmatize her with the mark of sin and in so doing, reduce her to a dull, lifeless woman whose characteristics color is gray and whose vitality and feminity are suppressed.
Over the seven years of her punishment, Hester's Inner struggle changes from a victims of puritans branding to a decisive woman in tune with human nature. When she meets Dimmesdale in the forest in chepter 18, Hawthorn says, "The tendency of her fate and fortunes had been to set her free. The Scarlet Letter was her passport into regions where other woman dared not tread".
In time, even the puritans community sees the letters as meaning "Able or Angel". Her sensitivity with society's victims turns her symbolic meaning from a person whose life was originally twists and repressed to a strong and sensitive woman with respect for the humanity of others.
In her final years, " The Scarlet Letter ceased to be a, stigma which attracted the worlds scorn and bitterness and become a type of something to be sorrows over, and looks upon with awe, yet with revenge, too". Since her chracter is strongly tied to the Scarlet Letter, Hester represents the public sinner who changes and learns from her own sorrow to understand the humanity of others. Often humans being who are suffers great loss and life changing experiences become survivors with an increased understanding and sympathy for the human loses of others Hester is such a symbol.
Hester refuses to tell Pearl what the scarlet letter signifies, and Pearl becomes obsessed with the letter. Meanwhile, Chillingworth is working in Boston as a physician, though he has no formal medical training. One of his patients is Dimmesdale, who has fallen ill with heart trouble. Chillingworth moves in with Dimmesdale to care for him full-time and begins to suspect a connection between Dimmesdale's heart ailment and Hester's crime. When he discovers that Dimmesdale has carved a mark over his heart that resembles Hester's scarlet letter, Chillingworth realizes that Dimmesdale is Hester's lover. Chillingworth decides to torment and expose Dimmesdale.
At worst, Dimmesdale is a symbol of hypocrisy and self - centered intellectualism, he knows what is right but has not the courage to make himself to do the public act. When Hester tells him that the ship for Europe leaves in four days, he is delighted with the timing. He will be able to give his Election sermon and fulfills public duties before escaping. At best, his when he worries, that his congregation will see his features in pearl's face.
Dimmesdale. When he leaves the forest and realises the extent of the devil's grip on his soul, he passionately writes his sermon and makes his decision to confess. As a symbol, he represented the secret sinner who fights the good fight in his soul and eventually wins.
In the play she suffers alot alone. Nobody gives support to her. Society creates difficulties for her. So it becomes difficult to live alone. But she does not loose her strength and faces the society. And she fights alone with society. She also confess her crime in front of society. She has courage to confess her crime. She does not loose her hope. But constantly society raises questions for her. But she gave the answer very clearly. She does not hesitate. But she has confident. And that's why her confidence gives strength to her. She also does not blames on Dimmesdale. She also does not takes his name in front of society. She remains silent. Maybe she has a hope that one day Dimmesdale confesses his truth in front of society. She is married that's why the situation becomes more difficult for her. And her hope becomes true and one day Dimmesdale confesses his truth in front of society. For Hester becomes difficult, and she get punishment to ware A, and that's why it becomes more difficult. Whenever she goes at place everybody talks about her. And they behave with her very rudely. But she becomes strong, and capable, dhe gives birth to child. And she takes the all responsibility. And she manages all.
Setting
It all goes down in mid-17th century New England, specifically Boston (Massachusetts Bay Colony). The Puritans had settled in New England to practice their religious beliefs after leaving the Old World, where they had been persecuted. The physical setting of The Scarlet Letter reflects the beliefs and habits of the Puritans. In the first chapter, we are taken on a mini tour of the most important town buildings and structures, the prison and the town scaffold. Law and religion form is the heart of the town.
Atmosphere
The novel The Scarlet Letter is mainly a gloomy, dark story because it is centered on sin in the puritan society.
Symbol/ Allegory
Pearl, Hester’s daughter, is a symbol of all that Hester gave up when she committed adultery and gave up her place in Puritan society. Pearl is a sort of living version of her mother’s scarlet letter. She lives in perpetual punishment because of Pearl, and that is why she loves Pearl so much. Pearl’s existence gives her mother reason to live, bolstering her spirits when she is tempted to give up. The name “Pearl” makes us think of precious jewels, we know that she becomes a great and wealthy heiress.
Conclusion
In the play both are equally part of this crime. But only Hester suffers. And Dimmesdale has a fear of society that's why he does not confesses his truth. And later on he realised his mistake and confesses his truth in front of society.
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