Hawthorne Scarlet Letter
Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, published in 1850, uses the Romantic ideas of inner feelings, allowing the characters to have an insight of secrets hidden in the Puritan community. Set in the 17th century Puritan Boston, it is the story of Hester Prynne, who gives birth after committing adultery (which is why she wears the letter A), and denies to tell the name of the father. As a result, she is sentenced to wear the scarlet letter of her life. Even though the novel's setting was in Puritan times, Hawthorne did reflect Romantic ideals. He did this by using symbolism, setting, and plot.
In Romanticism, symbolism is used quite frequently, and Nathaniel Hawthorne uses objects and characters to communicate Romantic ideals. Hester Pyrnne, through the eyes of the Puritans, is a sinner; disobeying the Puritan ways and committing adultery. However, the Romantic ideal Hawthorne uses puts down the Puritan beliefs. She is a beautiful, young woman, who has sinned, but is forgiven. Hawthorne represents Prynne as Divine Maternity, as she can do no wrong. Not just Hester, but the scarlet letter itself, a Puritan sign of sin and shame, but it becomes a powerful symbol of strength to Prynne. The scarlet letter was her passport into regions where other women dared not tread. Shame, Despair, Solitude! These had been her teachersstern and wild onesand they had made her strong, but taught her much amiss (Hawthorne 188). In the beginning of the story, the letter mean adultery, but later on it changes to able'. As a result, symbolism is one of the important literary elements which reflect Romanticism.
Even though symbolism is key to the Romanticism, setting is important as well. As the reader knows, the setting of his novel is in 17th century Boston which is surrounded by forest. To Hawthorne, the city represents Puritan ideals, while the forest represents Romantic. One of the ideals of Romanticism is that Romantics shun the artificiality of civilization, and seek unspoiled nature. Hawthorne also ties in the wilderness with Pearl. Pearl has a untamed, and wild spirit just like nature. That's why in Chapter 18, she's a little gentler and youthful then she is in the city. Romantics prefer youthful innocence to educated sophistication.
Plot in the Scarlet Letter also reflects the beliefs of Romanticism. The main
part of the story is When Hester Prynne is led from the town prison with her
infant daughter, Pearl, in her arms and the scarlet letter A on her breast.
One of the townsmen in the story explains what Hester did, 'else you
would surely have heard of Mistress Hester Prynne, and her evil doings. She
hath raised a great scandal, I promise you, in godly Master Dimmesdale's
church' (Hawthorne 56). Although this quote does not directly show the plot, the readers know by a fact that Hester had committed adultery in Puritan society
and therefore is in trial(Lee). This certainly shows that Hester's behavior reflects to the belief of Romanticism because Romantics value feeling and intuition
over reason.
In conclusion, literary terms like symbolism, setting, and plot used in
this novel reveal that this story is written purely on Romanticism.
Hester's letter, Puritanism, and Hester on trial because of adultery
are the examples of each terms in the Scarlet Letter; they reflect the
Romantic beliefs. Upon considering the characteristics of Romantic
literature, Nathaniel Hawthorne was correct on his claim; The Scarlet Letter
did value romantic ideals.
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