the scarlet letter rhetorical analysis essay

The Scarlet Letter

Introduction the scarlet letter.

This historical novel of American Romanticism was written by Nathaniel Hawthorne and published in 1850. It created a lot of controversy in literary circles. It showed the settings of the Puritan region of Massachusetts Colony of the 1650s, narrating a storyline of a woman, Hester Prynne, who suffers after having an affair with a church minister. However, she alone has to suffer for that affair with her daughter for having none of her crime. Her struggle to go through this repentance won her readers’ hearts. Despite comprising strong strictures against the hypocrisy of the religious bureaucracy, this novel is still considered Hawthorne’s tour de force.

Summary The Scarlet Letter

The story begins with a crowd preparing to punish a woman, Hester Prynne, for giving birth to a baby girl without revealing the husband’s identity. The crowd punishes her by making her wear a scarlet letter “A” on her dress to show the public that she is ashamed of her action. She is also forced to stand three hours on the scaffold to demonstrate that she feels ashamed at her sin. Women, mostly jealous of her beauty and dignified manner, taunt her and ask her the name of her husband, receiving only her refusal in response.

During the shaming ceremony, the woman happens to see her lost husband as a misshapen unknown person peering at her from the crowd. He gestures to her to remain quiet to protect his own identity. Choosing the name of Roger Chillingworth, he soon discovers the truth about her from his inquiry from different people. Then, he angrily raises the voice for the punishment of the father of the child, too, but without becoming prominent in the crowd.

Meanwhile, the local church ministers, Arthur Dimmesdale and John Wilson ask her about the likely father of the child, but they also face her staunch refusal. When she reaches the prison cell, she meets her husband, Roger Chillingworth, in the guise of a physician. As a physician he suggests her some herbs and plants, though, both of them talk about their marriage and their mistakes. However, Hester faces his probe about the identity of the father of the girl to which she again refuses to share with him. He does not force her, however, but claims to know it one day and asks her not to reveal his identity.  Hester willingly agrees to his proposal.

After she wins her release, she tries to settle in the town, but ultimately leaves for the outskirts facing staunch public resentment. She takes shelter in a hut on the outskirts of town and earns her bread through her needlework skills. Living a quiet and simple life, she starts playing with her daughter to whom she names, Pearl. However, strangely, Pearl takes her “A” locket to her heart, always playing with it. Finding no other playmates, Pearl soon develops into an impulsive girl about whom the order of the church authorities soon arrives about separating her from her imperfect mother.

Adamant as she is in her refusal about uncovering the identity of her husband, she is adamant in handing over her girl. Therefore, she meets Bellingham, the Governor of the city, who is present with the church authorities, Dimmesdale as well as Wilson. Hester, immediately, sensing the upper-hand of the religious authority, pleas to Dimmesdale who asks Governor to stop this mother-daughter cruel segregation to which he agrees.

It soon transpires in the town that Dimmesdale is witnessing a sharp decline in his health at which Chillingworth arrives at his lodging to treat him. He, however, senses that this decline is due to some psychological guilt and not due to some physical ailment. Soon he sees a symbol of shame on his chest. The more the minister hides his guilt, the more tormenting it becomes for him. At last, he visits the site where Hester got punishment and confesses his guilt in isolation, for having no courage to do it publicly. On the other hand, his deteriorating health also shocks Hester, who decides to break her silence .

Later, Hester meets the minister and narrates her ordeal, telling him about her revengeful husband, Chillingworth. She begs him to leave Boston to start life afresh somewhere else. Gaining strength from this new freedom from his shameful past, the church minister delivers a fiery sermon but suddenly loses his control. He climbs on the same scaffold to confess his guilt and tells everyone about his affair with Hester. Afterward, he dies in the arms of Hester. The controversy of seeing the same letter “A” carved on his chest also faces the same fierce refusal from a few in the crowd. Shortly after this incident, Chillingworth, too, dies, leaving a good amount of inheritance for Pearl. Hester, after left alone, starts living in the same cottage. After her death, her body is buried in the grave near Dimmesdale’s.

Major Themes in The Scarlet Letter

• Sin: Sense of sin, its impacts, and its manipulation and exploitation for ulterior motives is the major theme of The Scarlet Letter. Hester Prynne has committed this sense of having an illicit relationship with a church minister. The church minister, Arthur Dimmesdale, has committed the same offense and equally guilty as Hester. However, he sits on the jury as Hester doesn’t reveal his identity while she is standing in the criminal enclosure. When the court accuses her of adultery, as the punishment for her sin, she is excluded from the social circle and forced to wear scarlet color “A” sown on her dress. Dimmesdale does not show any remorse. However, what impacts the readers most is the way Hester dignifiedly hides this fact and only discloses when it becomes imperative. Chillingworth does not show any mercy on her.
• Conformity to Religion: Religion must need confirmation, or else the person may face subjection of censure. One of the novel’s major themes, The Scarlet Letter, confirms the religiosity of those times of puritanism, for Hester, has not confirmed its convention of the religion to stay chaste. Dimmesdale, too, shows the same trait, but he keeps it hiding, while Hester could not hide due to the birth of Pearl, her daughter from Dimmesdale. That is why she has to undergo sufferings for defying a religious convention.
• Criticism of Puritanism: The Scarlet Letter is also a critique of puritanism as well as stricture on it. It is a critique that shows how puritanism, a theological concept, has crept into public life, overtaking every social, moral , and financial aspects of life. As a stricture, it shows that it has not done good to the public life, for Hester has to undergo suffering for defying its principles, while Dimmesdale enjoys privileges because of aligning with the religious clergy.
• Public and Individual Guilt: The novel also demonstrates that when an individual, such as Hester, is caught for some guilt, he must undergo suffering that they do not deserve. However, when the whole public is involved, there is a deafening silence from the clergy as well as the jury. Dimmesdale represents the public morality and the public as the church minister but has no guts and courage like Hester to stand up for a trial. However, he feels it in his heart as an individual and has displayed the symbol on his chest.
• Moral Codes: Moral codes, ethical frameworks, and their social confirmation is another smaller thematic strand in that Hester defies a social value of the ethical framework of the Puritan social fabric. As it happens openly and people see a piece of evidence , she gets punished for violating this code. However, the case of Dimmesdale stays hidden, the reason that he does not face any punishment; rather, he faces only mental stigma.
• Gender Suppression: Gender suppression and feministic resilience is another partial theme that The Scarlet Letter demonstrated through Hester’s character . However, it does not seem that Hawthorne has consciously inserted it. Instead, it seems that it is part of the story that whereas Hester is involved, she faces punishment while it comes to a man, Chillingworth as well as Dimmesdale, they hoodwink not only the legality but also the religiosity.
• Mockery of Law: The novel shows that when a law does not protect the weaker section of the society, such as Hester Prynne, it ceases to exist as a law. Mr. Dimmesdale shows that some segments can wield law for their own purposes. Therefore, it needs to be changed, as the novel has mocked such a law.
• Domination of Patriarchy: The novel also shows that patriarchy always conspires to win when men and women are put against each other. Hester Prynne has no way to win against Dimmesdale, for he is as much responsible for bringing Pearl into this world as Hester is, yet he gets away while she faces imprisonment as well as a stricture.
• Redemption: Despite being relegated to the background, the redemption theme comes in the open when Hester has to endure long-sufferings for her sin. However, Dimmesdale wins it through his sermons and isolated confession.

Major Characters in The Scarlet Letter

• Hester Prynne: Hester Prynne is not only the primary female character but also the protagonist of the novel on account of her dignified manner, resilience, and patience to suffer the stigma of adultery. When the jury awards her punishment, she does not remonstrate. She chooses to wear the scarlet letter ‘A’ and leaves the town to live the rest of her life in isolation with her daughter Pearl. On the other hand, Dimmesdale, the minister of the city, who had seduced her, stays hidden until the end. Meanwhile, Hester’s husband, Roger Chillingworth, sees her and asks her the name of the child’s real father, Pearl, but she refuses. When the Governor, Bellingham, too, turns against her by ordering the retrieval of Pearl from her custody, she subtly makes Dimmesdale confess his guilt, though it does not happen publicly.
• Arthur Dimmesdale: A respected and reverend church minister, Arthur Dimmesdale, hoodwinks Hester into his love, committing adultery followed by the birth of Pearl, his daughter. However, when she faces public shame, he distances himself from her, sitting on the theological bureaucracy’s higher stand. Inwardly though, he is aware of his culpability, which gnaws at him and forces him to accept his guilt by the end, showing the sign on his chest after which he dies on the scaffold.
• Pearl : Pearl is Hester Prynne’s illegitimate daughter and symbol of her parents’ love and passion. She is inquisitive by nature. As she is naughty as a child and fails to recite the Bible, the church plans to put her in foster care. However, the church gives her another chance to Pearl and allows her to stay with her mother with Dimmesdale’s and Governor Bellingham’s approval. Pearl is also a reminder and symbol of the minister’s adulterous affair. Dimmesdale finally dies, confessing his crime. Also, Pearl gets considerable property from her stepfather, Chillingworth.
• Roger Chillingworth: A Dutch, Roger Chillingworth is the assumed name of the former husband of Hester Prynne, who is amazed at finding his beloved wife in an adulterous affair and having a child, Pearl. However, he does not disclose his identity and let the clergy decides her fate, though he comes to meet her as a physician to counsel her. He also plans to avenge this from Dimmesdale about whom he comes to know somehow.
• Governor Bellingham: He is an authoritative and manipulative person who exploits the helplessness of Hester Prynne and orders to take Pearl away from her. His role seems critical in forcing Hester to seek help from Dimmesdale. However, his role appears to include the other side of the story as he accepts Dimmesdale’s reasoning of letting her stay with her mother.
• General Miller: General Miller is the first official of the Custom House. His collecting duty has made him a politically strong person. He protects the employees and workers from being fired. That is why his role seems like a minor character in the novel.
• Mistress Hibbins: Hibbins’ character sheds light on the witch-hunting of those times. Despite being Governor Bellingham’s sister, she is killed when it transpires that she meets the “Black Man” in the woods for witchery.
• Inspector : He is the inspector at the Custom House and has been a product of nepotism, for his father created that seat to keep his son in the job. Due to his father’s influence, he seems to have harbored the emotion of being a permanent employee.
• John Wilson : He is another minister of the church who is involved with Dimmesdale to award punishment to Hester Prynne.

Writing Style of The Scarlet Letter‎

Despite its being written around three centuries back, The Scarlet Letter still shows the beauty of the language used by Nathaniel Hawthorne in his masterpiece. Its diction is subtle and ornate, its sentences are long, complex, and intricate, while its terseness and concision resonate in the minds of its readers. However, this style ’s major feature is Romanticism, shown through a battle between the forces of good and evil.

Analysis of Literary Devices in The Scarlet Letter

• Action: The novel’s main action comprises the sufferings and woes of Hester Prynne when she is tried for adultery, thrown in prison, and subsequently ordered to keep away from the town. The rising action occurs when Dimmesdale and Wilson both award punishment, while the falling action occurs when Dimmesdale confesses his sin and punishes himself, showing his sense of shame carved on his chest.
• Allegory : The Scarlet Letter shows the use of allegory not only through its places, symbols, and incidents but also through the characters, which resemble abstract ideas such as sin, sense of sin, hypocrisy, authority, shame, and condemnation.
• Antagonist : Although it seems that Dimmesdale is the main antagonist of The Scarlet Letter in the opening chapters, it is Roger Chillingworth, who is the antagonist of the novel on account of his machinations, and stooped physical deformity that is equal to the distortion of his soul.
• Allusion : There are various examples of allusions given in the novel The Scarlet Letter. The first allusion is of Hester as she seems Eve thrown out of Paradise. Therefore, it seems a Biblical allusion. The second illusion is to Babylon, an ancient city, and third to Sir Thomas Overbury, the poet Overbury. Some other Biblical allusions include Cain, the Holy Spirit, the Pearl , and Adam and Even.
• Conflict : The are two types of conflicts in the novel The Scarlet Letter. The first one is the external conflict that starts between Hester Prynne and the authorities, including the religious church ministers, that ends in the defeat of Hester. The second conflict is the mental conflict going on in the mind of Dimmesdale because of his part in punishing Hester and her innocence.
• Characters: The Scarlet Letter presents both static as well as dynamic characters . The church minister, Arthur Dimmesdale, Hester Prynne, and Pearl are dynamic characters as they change with the storyline. However, static characters include Mistress Hibbins and Governor Richard Bellingham, as they do not change during the course of the novel.
• Climax : The climax in the novel arrives when Dimmesdale and Wilson are on the jury to punish Hester.
• Foreshadowing : The novel, The Scarlet Letter, shows various examples of foreshadowing . For example, i. A throng of bearded men, in sad-colored garments and gray steeple-crowned hats, intermixed with women, some wearing hoods, and others bareheaded, was assembled in front of a wooden edifice, the door of which was heavily timbered with oak, and studded with iron spikes. (Chapter-1) ii. It was a circumstance to be noted, on the summer morning when our story begins its course, that the women, of whom there were several in the crowd, appeared to take a peculiar interest in whatever penal infliction might be expected to ensue. (Chapter-2) iii. “It is done!” muttered the minister, covering his face with his hands. “The whole town will awake, and hurry forth, and find me here!” (Chapter-XII)
• Hyperbole : Hyperbole or exaggeration occurs in the novel at several places. For example, i. Her spirit sank with the idea that all must have been a delusion, and that, vividly as she had dreamed it, there could be no real bond betwixt the clergyman and herself. ii. The minister started to his feet, gasping for breath, and clutching at his heart as if he would have torn it out of his bosom. (Chapter-XII) Both of these statements shows facts overblown and exaggerated even if they are in emotions and not in reality.
• Imagery : Imagery means to use of five senses such as in these examples: i. When they found voice to speak, it was at first, only to utter remarks and inquiries such as any two acquaintances might have made, about the gloomy sky, the threatening storm, and, next, the health of each. (Chapter-XVII) ii. There played around her mouth, and beamed out of her eyes, a radiant and tender smile, that seemed gushing from the very heart of womanhood. A crimson flush was glowing on her cheek, that had been long so pale. (Chapter-XVIII) The first example shows the images of sound color as well as sight, while the second, too, demonstrates the presence of these images.
• Metaphor : The novel shows good use of various metaphors . For example, i. Hester’s first motion had been to cover her bosom with her clasped hands. (Chapter-VI) ii. she seemed the unpremeditated offshoot of a passionate moment. (Chapter-VII) iii. No golden light had ever been so precious as the gloom of this dark forest. (XVII) iv. The instillment thereof into her mind would probably have caused this aged sister to drop down dead, at once, as by the effect of an intensely poisonous infusion. (Chapter-XX)
• Mood : The novel, The Scarlet Letter, shows a satirical mood , though, at times, it becomes quite somber, serious, ironic as well as jubilant by the end.
• Motif : The most important motifs of the novel, The Scarlet Letter, is of light and darkness for Pearl and Hester.
• Narrator : The novel is narrated by a third-person narrator , though the writer himself enters the novel to narrate its introduction . Even the third-person narrator is also the writer.
• Personification : Personification means to attribute human acts and emotions to non-living objects . For example, i. While the shadow of his figure, which the sunlight cast upon the floor, was tremulous with the vehemence of his appeal. (Chapter-VIII) ii. The crisis flung back to them their consciousness, and revealed to each heart its history and experience, as life never does, except at such breathless epochs. (Chapter-XVII) iii. They needed something slight and casual to run before, and throw open the doors of intercourse, so that their real thoughts might be led across the threshold. (Chapter-XVII) Both of these examples show sunlight and crisis personified here.
• Protagonist : Hester Prynne is the protagonist of the novel. She comes into the novel from the very start and captures the readers’ interest through her extraordinary qualities until the end when Dimmesdale accepts his fault and dies.
• Paradox : The Scarlet Letter shows the use of paradox as “Shame, Despair, Solitude! These had been her teachers—stern and wild ones—and they had made her strong, but taught her much amiss.” (Chapter-XVIII). The narrator means that these have made her strong instead of a weak creature.
• Rhetorical Questions : The novel shows good use of rhetorical questions in several places. For example, i. But Arthur Dimmesdale! Were such a man once more to fall, what plea could be urged in extenuation of his crime? None; unless it avail him somewhat, that he was broken down by long and exquisite suffering (Chapter-XVIII) ii. “Do I feel joy again?” cried he, wondering at himself. “Methought the germ of it was dead in me! (Chapter-XVIII) iii. But where was his mind? (Chapter-XXII) This example shows the use of rhetorical questions posed by different characters such as Dimmesdale, himself, and then the narrator.
• Theme : A theme is a central idea that the novelist or the writer wants to stress upon. The novel, The Scarlet Letter shows the titular thematic strands of color and gender marginality, patriarchy, hypocrisy, and love.
• Setting : The setting of the novel, The Scarlet Letter, is the city of Boston in the 1600s.
• Simile : The novel shows good use of various similes. For example, i. But yet returned, like the bad half-penny. (Introduction) ii. a quality of enchantment like that of the Devil’s wages… (Introduction) iii. He now dug into the poor clergyman’s heart, like a miner searching for gold; (Chapter-X) iv. Sometimes, a light glimmered out of the physician’s eyes, burning blue and ominous, like the reflection of a furnace, or, let us say, like one of those gleams of ghastly fire that darted from Bunyan’s1 awful door-way in the hill-side, and quivered on the pilgrim’s face. (Chapter-X)

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Themes and Analysis

The scarlet letter, by nathaniel hawthorne.

Nathaniel Hawthorne’s ‘The Scarlet Letter’ is stuffed with themes that border around aspects of religion and human morality such as sinning, confessing, and being penalized for such sin - much to the author’s intention of sending some strong moral lessons to his readership.

About the Book

Article written by Victor Onuorah

Degree in Journalism from University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

Hawthorne’s move to go by such name as ‘ The Scarlet Letter ’ for the book’s title is symbolic in itself and already hints at the themes of penitence and punishment for the crime of adultery committed by two of the book’s major characters in Hester Prynne and the priest – Arthur Dimmesdale. There are some foundational themes as there are other subsets that still carry a vital message in them. The most important ones will be analyzed in this article.

Sin and Punishment

These are probably the two most obvious themes of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s ‘ The Scarlet Letter ’ and they are very clearly executed throughout the pages of the book – beginning from the first chapter. 

Hester Prynne, who is the heroine of the book, is one of the characters who bear such guilts of sin and punishment. The sin for which she is being punished is that of adultery – which she commits with a Christian preacher, Arthur Dimmesdale.

Being she lives in the era of a Christian-inspired puritan society, her punishment becomes one of massive social shaming and disgrace – whereby she has to wear a dress with a large inscription of the letter ‘A’ appearing on her chest in blood red color. 

Contrition and Penitence

Hester and Dimmesdale – two prominent characters harboring the most damnable sin of their era – appear to have had a contrite heart after the act, particularly with Hester, who is publicly announced and disgraced. 

Readers could feel the genuineness of Hester’s contrite heart, having been legally married to Roger Chillingworth, her long lost husband – even though she would never regret the love she feels for Dimmesdale and the product of such love being her child, Pearl. 

Gender and Status Inequality Before the Law

Nathaniel Hawthorne, through ‘ The Scarlet Letter ,’ may have tried to point out the sheer inequality of the purity society before the rule of law. Hawthorne’s time is critical of several aspects of Puritanism, and here questions why preacher Arthur Dimmesdale doesn’t get served the same amount of humiliation as Hester gets. 

Though an argument can be raised that the executors of the puritan laws don’t punish Dimmesdale because they do not know for sure if he committed the crime – especially with Hester refusing to give that information out. Still, one can easily sense that they don’t do enough to get the man who’s responsible. 

Two hypotheses here are one; their interest in not punishing men but the women in such crimes. Two, Dimmesdale’s religious status makes him a very important person, so the executors would be tricky with handling a case of such a class. 

Necromancy and witchcraft

There is a massive dose of talks and meetings about and with witches, and even the devil – who is referred to in the book as ‘ The Black Man .’ These subjects are part of what gives the book its dark, spooky ambiance characteristic of gothic fiction. 

Mistress Hibbins is a high-profile suspect whose behavior is, by a puritan society’s standards, termed diabolic and hellish. Hibbins goes about negatively influencing people – like Hester and Pearl – instilling strange, anti puritan mentality in them, conducting and attending meetings and conventions where they invoke and commune with ‘The Black Man’ or devil himself. 

Key Moments in The Scarlet Letter

• After losing his job with the Salem Custom House, a man puts together a piece of the manuscript that he had discovered littering in the attic of his former job. On the cover is an inscription, ‘Scarlet Letter A .’ 
• The story which he has assembled from it narratives the story of a young woman called Hester Prynne who lives in a 1600s puritan society. 
• She appears to have been imprisoned for a heinous crime and is processioned out and made to stand over a public platform wearing a dress with the scarlet letter ‘A’ written boldly on her breast, on which she also carries her baby. 
• The crime for which she is paraded is adultery, and under a typical puritan leadership, social shaming and scorning are the repercussions for such acts. 
• While she faces the worse moment of her life, a man stands a stone’s throw away in the crowd observing the whole event. His name is Roger Chillingworth, the long-lost husband of the woman being punished at the platform. 
• On the platform with Hester is a popular preacher of the town, rev. Arthur Dimmesdale publicly pressures her to say who’s responsible for her baby, but Hester wouldn’t tell and is thrust back into her cell.
• With a keen interest in the matter, Chillingworth lies that he is a doctor to get access to his wife, and when he gets past security into the cell, he threatens her not to let anyone know she is married to him and that if she does, he would search out the man responsible and hurt him very badly.
• Following her release, Hester moves away from town and tries to survive as a dressmaker with young Pearl. Chillingworth is still in town posing as a doctor as he tries to unearth the father of his wife’s baby. And by now, Dimmesdale, the popular town people’s preacher, has failing health and is being tended to by Chillingworth. 
• Pearl grows fond of the scarlet ‘A’ on her mother’s breast, but Hester wouldn’t tell her the truth about it. 
• With Chillingworth now spending so much time with Dimmesdale, he starts to notice an unusually strange correlation between Hester’s case and the preacher’s health history. 
• One faithful day during Dimmesdale’s medical examination, Chillingworth finds that his patient has a similar scarlet letter ‘A’ etched inside his chest. He is convinced Dimmesdale is Hester’s lover and father of the illegitimate child, Pearl. 
• With this knowledge, Chillingworth decides to exert revenge on Dimmesdale by giving him the wrong meds and treating him so much so that his health deteriorates further by the day. 
• For Dimmesdale, it seems that his inability to confess publicly is eating him up and causing him constant emotional trauma and heartache. And on several occasions, he doesn’t eat and chastises and whips himself for his mistake. 
• On a faithful day, just after twilight, troubled by his guilt, Dimmesdale climbs up the platform and is joined by Hester and her daughter shortly, while Chillingworth skulks by the shadows observing them before a shooting star shimmers through the night sky to reveal his presence. 
• What follows next is an exchange of emotions. Hester begs Chillingworth to stop torturing Dimmesdale, but he argues he’s lenient to him. 
• Hester then plans a rendezvous with Dimmesdale in the wilderness, where she exposes Chillingworth’s real identity and begs Dimmesdale to elope with her across the Atlantic to start afresh in a new, distant town. He agrees to go with her after he has delivered a scheduled sermon. 
• On the day of the sermon, Dimmesdale is moved by his preaching that he decides to confess publicly that he is Hester’s lover and the father to Pearl (both of who had joined him on the platform). Opening his chest, he exposes a scarlet cut he had been carrying in his chest and dies as soon as Pearl kisses him.
• Chillingworth’s revenge is taken from him, and he dies a few months later. Hester leaves town with her daughter – explores Europe and marries a wealthy home, and seldom writes her mother. 
• When Hester dies, she is laid to rest beside Dimmesdale, and the later ‘A’ is erected in their resting place.

Style and Tone 

Nathaniel Hawthorne’s writing style is typically one that deploys a lot of metaphors and symbolism to execute his works – with the end goal often having a ton of morals to impact on the reader.

Hawthorne’s works are mostly mysterious, somber, and morose in terms of their themes and storylines. ‘ The Scarlet Letter ’ is no different from his typical style and follows his trademark standard for novel writing. 

The tone in ‘ The Scarlet Letter ’ is mostly sad and contrite, but also critical and disenchantment about puritan cultures, their leaders, and their tendency for being highly hypocritical.

Figurative Languages

Hawthorne brings the pages of ‘The Scarlet Letter’ to life with his heavy use of figurative expressions. Among the figurative language used include metaphor – which seems to appear pervasively throughout the book.

The author also uses tools like irony and personification to highlight his critiques of the purity legacy and traditions. 

Analysis of Symbols in The Scarlet Letter 

This is perhaps the foremost symbolism in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s book and represents a variety of things. One such thing is that it serves as an identity for the transgressor or sinner of adultery – as is the case with the protagonist, Hester Prynne. 

Hester’s daughter’s character also has an allegorical attachment to its overall essence. Pearl is a direct repercussion of Hester’s son of adultery, but also a symbol of hope for a better life, in the latter part of the book.

Chillingworth

In the book’s reality, he is the husband of Hester, but in terms of the motif to which he represents, Chillingworth proves to be as his name appears; cold. He’s a cold and means man towards the people around him, and this is perhaps one of the reasons Hester could never find love with him. 

What is the main theme in ‘The Scarlet Letter’ by Nathaniel Hawthorne?

Sin and punishment are probably the two most discussed themes in ‘ The Scarlet Letter ,’ and these subjects are pervasive and heavily indulged in by the author throughout the book. 

What does the color red represent in ‘The Scarlet Letter’?

The color red represents sin, and in the book’s case, the sin of adultery – which Hester, the protagonist, is indicted of from the onset of the book. 

What narrative style is deployed by Nathaniel Hawthorne in ‘The Scarlet Letter’?

Nathaniel Hawthorne utilizes the third person narrative technique in his book, ‘ The Scarlet Letter, ’ as this allows the narrator to tell his story subjectively – but from a rounded, three-dimensional standpoint on the characters. 

About Victor Onuorah

Victor is as much a prolific writer as he is an avid reader. With a degree in Journalism, he goes around scouring literary storehouses and archives; picking up, dusting the dirt off, and leaving clean even the most crooked pieces of literature all with the skill of analysis.

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Home — Essay Samples — Literature — The Scarlet Letter — Literary Analysis of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Book, The Scarlet Letter

Literary Analysis of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Book, The Scarlet Letter

• Categories: Hester Prynne Nathaniel Hawthorne The Scarlet Letter

About this sample

Words: 706 |

Published: Feb 12, 2019

Words: 706 | Pages: 2 | 4 min read

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• UNICEF. (2021). Child labour. Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org/protection/child-labour
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Scarlet Letter Rhetorical Analysis Essay

Puritan’s harsh beliefs represented the beginning of the Nineteenth Century in the newly colonized America. Their community ruled with an iron fist: unforgiving, pitiless, stern. In The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne expresses his disagreement with puritan priorities by revealing the hypocrisy widely practiced throughout their community. Hawthorne’s utilization of dim diction aids in the establishment of his scornful tone, while inclusion of symbols and intricate juxtaposition all serve to accentuate the Puritan’s duplicity. All these factors combine to develop a critical tone which rebukes puritan society. By negatively depicting the Puritans with his depressing diction, Hawthorne establishes a scornful tone that highlights the Puritan’s …show more content…

From the very beginning, the second paragraph of the novel describes “their [Puritans] earliest practical necessities to allot a portion of the virgin soil as a cemetery, and another portion as the site of a prison” (Hawthorne 45). The first building constructed, the prison, represents Puritan priorities. Hawthorne emphasizes the Puritan’s mainly pessimistic and dull characteristics that make up their society as a prison represents fear, punishment and pain. Further in the paragraph, Hawthorne describes the new puritan community with words connoting depression: “grave...gloomy” with “darker aspects “and “ugly edifices” (Hawthorne 45). Hawthorne utilizes dismal diction, invoking a melancholy tone. Such dreary diction stirs up emotion of desolation and misery as Hawthorne’s word choice connects and reminds his audience of dark thoughts. By opening his novel with such a grim subject, Hawthorne creates a contemptuous tone as he indirectly scorns the austere Puritans for their unforgiving and harsh manners. With the demonstrated disdain, Hawthorne criticizes puritan society and prepares his audience for further

Comparing The Crucible, By Arthur Miller And The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne

Puritan communities are extremely stiff and strict. Their belief system was built upon the fear of sin. They attempted to oust sin from their societies entirely which is nearly impossible. This resulted in a society obsessed with punishing sinners and filled with hypocrisy. In the novel’s The Crucible by Arthur Miller and The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne the authors express their opinions on the faults in this belief system.

Jonathan Edwards Injustice

There are many Puritans stories out there, but only so many are popular. Most of the stories are about sin or about events that were unjustful. Injustice has been around for hundreds of years. It has torn families, friendships, and even towns. The theme of injustice is illustrated in Jonathan Edwards’ “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, Margaret Atwood’s “Half-Hanged Mary,” and Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Minister’s Black Veil” through the cruel ways people were being treated by others and themselves.

Juxtaposition In The Prison Door

In the beginning, Hawthorne sets the story up by establishing the new colony and the “throng of bearded men, in sad-colored garments and gray, steeple-crowned hats, intermixed with women, some wearing hoods, and other bareheaded, was assembled in front of a wooden edifice, the door of which was heavily timbered with oak, and studded with iron spikes” (Hawthorne). He then points a sarcastic finger at the fact that “The founders of a new colony, whatever Utopia of human virtue and happiness they might originally project, have invariably recognized it among their earliest practical necessities to allot a portion of the virgin soil as a cemetery, and another portion as the site of a prison” (Hawthorne). The transition from the colony’s beginning to its ugly blemish conveys the town’s natural progression into not a “Utopia,” but an overbearing and judgemental society. Hawthorne takes a great portion of the passage to criticize their vision of a perfect community culminating in the crowds of people standing before the prison as if entranced in a catatonic stupor. Hawthorne ends the passage with a hopeful outlook: “But on one side of the portal, and rooted almost at the threshold, was a wild rose-bush, covered, in this month of June, with its delicate gems, which might be

Isolation In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter

A popular example of romanticism, The Scarlet Letter is Nathaniel Hawthorne’s critically acclaimed portrayal of Puritan society and its emphasis on sin (and punishment of said sin) during colonial America’s formative years. This portrayal consists of an exploration of isolation, as well as the effects thereof, through Hawthorne’s rich characters and their complex inner psychological turmoil. Growing up, Nathaniel Hawthorne had deep, unbreakable ties with his home in Salem, Massachusetts. Hawthorne’s ancestors consisted of Puritan magnates, judges and seamen, most of whom had been involved in religious persecution, starting with their first ancestor, William Hathorne, who pronounced sentence on the early Quakers. William’s son, John Hathorne,

The Scarlet Letter: Puritan Imagery

In the second chapter of The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, the narrator employs a critical yet interested attitude toward the Puritans. This, combined with imagery and diction, has enabled the narrator to effectively describe the practices and beliefs of a traditional Puritan society. In the first part of this passage, one can see the use of imagery is very prominent. By describing the community gathered around with “their eyes intently fastened” on the prison door, the reader can infer that the narrator takes an interest in the doings of the Puritans in Boston. This is probably because the author was born in Salem, a major Puritan settlement in the early 1600s.

Rhetorical Analysis Of The Scarlet Letter

In the first paragraph, he begins by talking about men with “sad-colored garments”. This sets a gloomy tone because the word “sad” is blatantly used to describe the characters. Later on in the paragraph, Hawthorne begins to describe the prison door. He says that the door consists of

Puritans: A Prominent Effect Upon American Culture

Throughout the novel, The Scarlet Letter, the Puritans had a prominent effect upon American culture. Hawthorne incorporates the Puritans cultural and political aspects within the story by setting up a realistic problem that the audience can relate to. In order to capture the meaning behind the story, the author exercises characteristics that early American Puritans posses. During the late sixteenth century, the Puritans came to America from Europe to escape persecution; this movement became known as Puritanism.

Time Era In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter

New Historicism Literary Analysis Essay Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter was influenced heavily by the time era it was written in. To achieve a fuller understanding of the work as a whole it would be best to start by analyzing the time era in which it was written. There are many historical facets that can be explored to help determine some of the underlying meaning in The Scarlet Letter .

Nathaniel Hawthorne Research Paper

Hawthorne’s inspiration came from his ancestors and his hometown Salem (Brooks). What is interesting is that even in his own time period his writing was considered “Old Fashioned” (Brooks). Due to this many critics titled his writings to be “Pre-Modern” (Brooks). His writing has been said to have rhythms that can be easily measured along with being extremely deliberate and known to have a formal stance (Brooks). His writing was also considered as dark and gloomy; this is because he often spoke of guilt and sin (Brooks).

How Does Nathaniel Hawthorne Use Mood In The Scarlet Letter

In The Scarlet letter , Nathaniel Hawthorne uses a surplus amount of details such as the setting of the prison, language such as the juxtaposition of mildest and the severest acts, and tone of disinterest for the overall passage, in order to develop an attitude of disgust toward the puritans and their community. Hawthorne imbeds a descriptive detail in the beginning of chapter 2 like the of the setting of the prison in the first paragraph by explaining the surroundings that lead to the jail “The grass-plot before the jail, in Prison Lane, on a certain summer morning, not less than 2 centuries ago, was occupied by a pretty large number of the inhabitants of Boston, all with their eyes intently fastened on the iron-clamped oaken door” (chapter 2, paragraph 1). In this quote Hawthorne is basically saying that even though the puritans are very religious people, the first thing they build in their town is a jail. This relates to the purpose of presenting his attitude because, through this quote Hawthorne is

Hawthorne's Beliefs In The Custom House By Nathaniel Hawthorne

"Nature adorn the human ruin with blossoms of new beauty that have their roots and proper nutriment only in the chinks and crevices of decay..." Hawthorne calls humans out as the broken people we are and that we can only be fixed by natural grace. Puritanism held the belief that everyone was broken, torn, lost and drowning in their sin doomed to a

Why Is Nathaniel Hawthorne Important In Today's Society

Inside the World of Hawthorne During the time period of the 1800’s, Puritans obeyed their censorious moral beliefs, focusing on worship of one’s God. Honor, honesty, and virtue were heavy traits that Puritans could be defined as. Within the seventeenth century, it was unlikely for Puritans to break the laws, and commit severe crimes; one of the most disapproving being adultery. Nathaniel Hawthorne, an American author during the 1800’s published one of the most impactful novels describing Puritan society and the downfall of characters who have committed the sin, adultery. His work takes readers on a journey through a different time period, style of living, and laws that people in today’s society do not have a connection with.

Hawthorne's Relationship With The Puritan Society In The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne

They felt very strongly about people getting what they so deserved in return of their sins. In The Scarlet Letter Hawthorne uses his background knowledge and familiarity with the Puritan

Nathaniel Hawthorne Beliefs

One of the most straightforward examples of Hawthorne’s thoughts on Puritan behavior can be found in “Maypole of Merry Mount.” In it, Hawthorne describes the Puritans as a cruel and ruthless bunch that actively oppresses the Merrymakers by cutting down their prized maypole, shooting the dancing bear, and punishing the settlers. This suggests a feeling of discontent in Hawthorne’s mind with Puritan ways in the past. Furthermore, Hawthorne contemplates the topic of sin in his works, many times in the form of symbol or allegory, as “symbols play important roles in all of his important short stories,” (Canada). In “The Minister’s Black Veil,” for example, Hawthorne describes a reverend shunned by the townspeople because of a simple veil, showing how shallow and hypocritical they are, and who themselves are shrouded by a symbolic veil, blinded to their own sins while speculating the sin of the minister.

Gothic Elements In Nathaniel Hawthorne's 'The Scarlet Letter'

Point #1: Hawthorne effectively establishes a dark and gloomy atmosphere that adopts the conventions pertaining to the gothic genre by highlighting the oppressive nature of the Puritan society. • Use of dark imagery, and prison as a symbol of sin. • Juxtaposition

More about Scarlet Letter Rhetorical Analysis Essay

The Scarlet Letter

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The Scarlet Letter

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Nathaniel Hawthorne

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Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work.

Sin, Knowledge, and the Human Condition

Sin and knowledge are linked in the Judeo-Christian tradition. The Bible begins with the story of Adam and Eve, who were expelled from the Garden of Eden for eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. As a result of their knowledge, Adam and Eve are made aware of their humanness, that which separates them from the divine and from other creatures. Once expelled from the Garden of Eden, they are forced to toil and to procreate—two “labors” that seem to define the human condition.

The experience of Hester and Dimmesdale recalls the story of Adam and Eve because, in both cases, sin results in expulsion and suffering. But it also results in knowledge—specifically, in knowledge of what it means to be human. For Hester, the scarlet letter functions as “her passport into regions where other women dared not tread,” leading her to “speculate” about her society and herself more “boldly” than anyone else in New England. As for Dimmesdale, the “burden” of his sin gives him “sympathies so intimate with the sinful brotherhood of mankind, so that his heart vibrate[s] in unison with theirs.” His eloquent and powerful sermons derive from this sense of empathy. Hester and Dimmesdale contemplate their own sinfulness on a daily basis and try to reconcile it with their lived experiences. The Puritan elders, on the other hand, insist on seeing earthly experience as merely an obstacle on the path to heaven. Thus, they view sin as a threat to the community that should be punished and suppressed. Their answer to Hester’s sin is to ostracize her. Yet, Puritan society is stagnant, while Hester and Dimmesdale’s experience shows that a state of sinfulness can lead to personal growth, sympathy, and understanding of others. Paradoxically, these qualities are shown to be incompatible with a state of purity.

The Nature of Evil

The characters in the novel frequently debate the identity of the “Black Man,” the embodiment of evil. Over the course of the novel, the “Black Man” is associated with Dimmesdale, Chillingworth, and Mistress Hibbins, and little Pearl is thought by some to be the Devil’s child. The characters also try to root out the causes of evil: did Chillingworth’s selfishness in marrying Hester force her to the “evil” she committed in Dimmesdale’s arms? Is Hester and Dimmesdale’s deed responsible for Chillingworth’s transformation into a malevolent being? This confusion over the nature and causes of evil reveals the problems with the Puritan conception of sin.

The book argues that true evil arises from the close relationship between hate and love. As the narrator points out in the novel’s concluding chapter, both emotions depend upon “a high degree of intimacy and heart-knowledge; each renders one individual dependent . . . upon another.” Evil is not found in Hester and Dimmesdale’s lovemaking, nor even in the cruel ignorance of the Puritan fathers. Evil, in its most poisonous form, is found in the carefully plotted and precisely aimed revenge of Chillingworth, whose love has been perverted. Perhaps Pearl is not entirely wrong when she thinks Dimmesdale is the “Black Man,” because her father, too, has perverted his love. Dimmesdale, who should love Pearl, will not even publicly acknowledge her. His cruel denial of love to his own child may be seen as further perpetrating evil.

Identity and Society

After Hester is publicly shamed and forced by the people of Boston to wear a badge of humiliation, her unwillingness to leave the town may seem puzzling. She is not physically imprisoned, and leaving the Massachusetts Bay Colony would allow her to remove the scarlet letter and resume a normal life. Surprisingly, Hester reacts with dismay when Chillingworth tells her that the town fathers are considering letting her remove the letter. Hester’s behavior is premised on her desire to determine her own identity rather than to allow others to determine it for her. To her, running away or removing the letter would be an acknowledgment of society’s power over her: she would be admitting that the letter is a mark of shame and something from which she desires to escape. Instead, Hester stays, refiguring the scarlet letter as a symbol of her own experiences and character. Her past sin is a part of who she is; to pretend that it never happened would mean denying a part of herself. Thus, Hester very determinedly integrates her sin into her life.

Read more about the theme of individual identity versus society in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet .

Dimmesdale also struggles against a socially determined identity. As the community’s minister, he is more symbol than human being. Except for Chillingworth, those around the minister willfully ignore his obvious anguish, misinterpreting it as holiness. Unfortunately, Dimmesdale never fully recognizes the truth of what Hester has learned: that individuality and strength are gained by quiet self-assertion and by a reconfiguration, not a rejection, of one’s assigned identity.

Female Independence

Hawthorne explores the theme of female independence by showing how Hester boldly makes her own decisions and is able to take care of herself. Before the novel even begins, Hester has already violated social expectations by following her heart and choosing to have sex with a man she is not married to; she will later justify this decision by explaining to Dimmesdale that “What we did had a consecration of its own.” Because Hester is cast out of the community, she is liberated from many of the traditional expectations for a woman to be docile and submissive. She also has practical responsibilities that force her to be independent: she has to earn a living so that she and her daughter can survive, and she also has to raise a headstrong child as a single parent. These unusual circumstances make Hester comfortable standing up for herself, such as when she violently objects to Governor Bellingham trying to take Pearl away.

The novel suggests Hester’s independence comes at a price. The narrator seems sympathetic to Hester’s vision of a brighter future where “a new truth would be revealed, in order to establish the whole relation between man and woman on a surer ground of mutual happiness.” However, the narrator also makes the point that because Hester has been living outside of social conventions, she seems to have lost touch with key ethical principles: “she had wandered, without rule or guidance, in a moral wilderness.” The novel also ends with Hester returning to the community to live a humble life, and voluntarily choosing to start wearing the scarlet letter again, both of which suggest that by the end of the novel she has abandoned some of her independent and free-thinking ways. The descriptions of Pearl also suggest that female independence is antithetical to happiness. The narrator says no one knew if Pearl’s “wild, rich nature had been softened and subdued, and made capable of a woman’s gentle happiness,” implying that only by forfeiting her independent spirit could Pearl be truly content.

Guilt is a major theme in The Scarlet Letter , and appears primarily in the psychology of Arthur Dimmesdale. Dimmesdale is tormented both by guilt at his sinful act of fathering an illegitimate child, and then by the guilt of failing to take responsibility for his actions and having to hide his secret. As he explains, “Had I one friend…to whom… I could daily betake myself and be known as the vilest of all sinners, methinks my soul might keep itself alive.” The minister’s guilt is also exaggerated by a sense of hypocrisy, because he is considered by many to be exceptionally holy and righteous: “It is inconceivable, the agony with which this public veneration tortured him!”

Dimmesdale spends a lot of time lamenting what a sinner he is, but he only takes public responsibility for having fathered Hester’s child in the final moments of his life, when it is too late for anything to change. If anything, his sense of guilt is what makes him so vulnerable to being manipulated by Chillingsworth. Through the character of Dimmesdale, Hawthorne suggests that guilt is not necessarily virtuous if it is not accompanied by an effort to change or redeem oneself.

Nature vs Society

The theme of nature versus society is exemplified by Hester and Dimmesdale’s forbidden passion, and the product of that passion: Pearl. Hester and Dimmesdale are drawn to each other by desires that cannot be controlled by the rules of social, legal, and religious institutions. They follow their impulses, which leads to conception and reproduction. While Hester’s pregnancy is condemned by society, it is the natural outcome of a basic human impulse. The relationship between Hester and Dimmesdale explores the tension between natural desires, and the ways in which society tries to control human nature by imposing rules and laws.

Similarly, Pearl, a product of natural impulses, exhibits a personality that aligns her with nature, rather than society. She is a wild and impulsive child, and the narrator attributes Pearl’s personality to the circumstances under which she was conceived: “In giving her existence, a great law had been broken; and the result was a being, whose elements were perhaps beautiful and brilliant, but all in disorder.” The novel’s climax, the key scene where Dimmesdale, Hester, and Pearl are finally reunited, takes place in the woods. This location highlights the tension between nature and society. In a space that is still untamed and not ruled by social conventions, Dimmesdale and Hester can speak openly with each other, and even dare to imagine a future in which they might be able to break free and find happiness together. Hawthorne depicts Nature being on the side of the lovers: “that wild, heathen Nature of the forest, never subjugated by human law, nor illumined by higher truth—with the bliss of those two spirits!” Likewise, Pearl can roam safely through the woods because “all recognized a kindred wildness in the human child.” However, while nature offers a safe haven to the unconventional family, they are ultimately still subject to the laws of society, and must eventually live with the consequences.

Throughout the novel, characters either achieve or fail to achieve feelings of empathy for their fellow humans. Both Dimmesdale and Hester achieve greater compassion because they have suffered, and can sympathize with how a good person might still make mistakes. This ability to show empathy makes Hester and Dimmesdale highly sought after within the community: Dimmesdale gains a great reputation as a minister, and by the end of the novel Hester has become a kind of wise woman: “people brought all their sorrows and perplexities, and besought her counsel, as one who had herself gone through a mighty trouble.”

Meanwhile, characters like Governor Bellingham fail to show empathy because they are too busy judging others and focusing on their flaws. For example, Bellingham suggests that little Pearl be taken away from her mother because he thinks Hester’s sin makes her unfit to raise a child. Both Hester and Dimmesdale argue that the child can learn from her mother’s mistakes, but Bellingham shows judgement rather than empathy. Hawthorne connects the experience of suffering to the growth of empathy as a way to suggest that even tragic events can have meaning and value.

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An Analysis of the Scarlett Letter

How it works

In the novel The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne a recurring theme is fate versus free will. Fate is the development of events beyond a person’s control, determined by a supernatural force. Free will is the ability to act at one’s own discretion. In the novel, Hester Prynne is sentenced to a lifetime of judgement by wearing an A on her chest, which symbolizes adultery, one of the biggest sins in a functioning Puritan Society. From the beginning of the novel we learn of Hester’s feisty personality, a woman who decides what happens in her life and who takes responsibility for those decisions.

“She repelled him, by an action marked with natural dignity and force of character, and stepped into the open air, as if by her own free will” (Hawthorne 45) . Even in the circumstances of her being released from her own jail she seals her fate with the choices she makes. In this quote you also see the words “as if’ saying that free will for somebody like Hester Prynne was thought to be ridiculous. The Puritan society believed heavily in fate because of their belief that God was in control. When Hester acted as such it was seen as she is rebelling against her own fate. Fate did not make the choice of how Hester would live in her later years, her strong stubborn decision to not conform is how she decided her own “fate”.

Hester is not the only example of free will. Arthur Dimmesdale, who is her partner in the commited crime, is all too sure that his fate will be sealed when Hester steps onto the scaffold to be questioned. He is a Reverend so he must believe in fate, however, when Hester refuses to speak we again see her remarkable strength exercising free will and he is taken aback. “He now drew back, with a long respiration.” “Wondrous strength and generosity of a woman’s heart! She will not speak!” (Hawthorne 59). When Hester made the decision to not speak his name she altered his fate as well as her own. Fate is not something out of our control, determined by a higher power. Since Dimmesdale was a respected reverend within the community he is expected to let fate take control of his life, therefore he believes that everything is beyond his control. Hester took control of everything in her life; these two characters are complete contrasts of each other. This could be one of the reasons these two were attracted to each other, because of Hester’s freewill and Dimmesdale’s trust in fate. When characters take control of the things in their lives it is safe to say that they are an active participant in what we would call freewill. However, characters who let their life unfold for them believe in fate. Roger Chillingworth is an example of both of these. ” Better to fast and pray upon it; and still better, it may be, to leave the mystery as we find it, unless providence reveal it of its own accord.” (Hawthorne 95 ) It appears here that he entrusts fate and is strongly committed to it. ” I shall seek this man, as I have sought truth in books; as I have sought gold in alchemy.” (Hawthorne 64). However here he takes the matter of finding Pearl’s father into his own hands. By doing this he is exercising free will. If you possess what we call free will then you have the ability to make decisions that are not determined by philosophical or religious purpose. Most characters have the ability to accomplish this. Although those that do not achieve this have a difficult time enjoying what they do or who they become, while the others who can determine what happens with their own life experience a sense of fulfillment.

Pearl is a significant example of a character who believes in free will. Pearl is Hester’s daughter born after her mother’s affair. Because of this Pearl grows up in great adversity. This does not stop Pearl from doing the things that she wants to do, like learning. She grows up smart which was unheard of for women in the Puritan society as they were not taught everything that the boys were taught. She speaks unlike any other seven year old and appears to be wise beyond her years. ” What a strange, sad man is he! Said the child, as if speaking partly to herself. In the dark night-time, he calls us to him, and holds thy hand and mine, as when we stood with him on the scaffold yonder! And in the deep forest, where only the old trees can hear, and the strip of the sky see it, he talks with thee, sitting on a heap of moss! And he kisses my forehead, too, so that the little brook would hardly wash it off! But, here, in the sunny day, and among all the people, he knows us not; nor must we know him! A strange, sad man is he, with his hand always over his heart!” (Hawthorne 188 ) In this scene Pearl seems to be one those characters who speaks their mind, much like her mother. Pearl’s free will, however, derives from her wanting to become something out of nothing, because even as a seven year old she knows her name has a certain connotation. ” The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of them all” (Mulan). This quote indicates that you are not born with a certain fate or a destiny to become a victim of your circumstances and become just like the people who raised you and live in the same place. It is your decisions that determine your outcome.

Although the choices are yours to make, your environment, meaning your homelife, churchlife, and family can sometimes make it difficult or complicated for you to exercise your free will. Such as within the Puritan Society their beliefs are that you must abide by all laws and practices of the doctrine guiding their mission. The Puritan society seems to be an early recorded form of hypocrisy simply because the things they persecuted for where the exact things that happened behind their closed doors. All of the Puritans were expected to believe in fate as strongly they rely on God and on one another. One prime example of Puritans not being very “pure” is that Governor Bellingham’s sister is classified as a witch. He kept that information hidden in order to satisfy the rules of order in which they live their lives. The Governor is a very standard man and is an example of “fate will handle all”. “He wore a dark feather in his hat, a border of embroidery on his cloak, and a black velvet tunic beneath”a gentleman advanced in years, with a hard experience written in his wrinkles. He was not ill-fitted to be the head and representative of a community which owed its origin and progress, and its present state of development, not to the impulses of youth, but to the stern and tempered energies of manhood and the sombre sagacity of age; accomplishing so much, precisely because it imagined and hoped so little.” (Hawthorne 55). The governor is one of those people who lets life take hold of him rather than the other way around, much like others living within the Puritan Society.

We decide everyday what that day will become. Whether it be what meal you eat that night or the homework assignment you do not do and the grade it results in that might lead you to tears. Small everyday things contribute to a much larger picture in life. Hester Prynne learned this first hand when she made the decision to sleep with Arthur Dimmesdale and he with her. Roger Chillingworth experienced this when he made the decision to search for Dimmesdale not even knowing who he was or what he might discover. Pearl made this decision to further her education, vocabulary and curiosity while repairing her reputation. Pearl’s choices gave her the power to escape the restrictions of the Puritan Society. The Puritan Society relied ultimately on their beliefs and their beliefs only. This is believed to the be the cause of their downfall. None of us are born with predestination that takes away the joy of the journey of life. Fate is altered at the hands of the choices we make everyday.

Works Cited

• Hardy-Gould, Janet, et al. Mulan. Oxford University Press, 2010.
• Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlett Letter: a Romance. Vintage, 2016.
• “The Scarlet Letter Quotes by Nathaniel Hawthorne.” Goodreads, Goodreads, www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/4925227-the-scarlet-letter.
• Tanenbaum, Leora. Slut!: Growing up Female with a Bad Reputation. HarperCollins, 2000.

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Scarlet Letter Rhetorical Analysis Essay

The author of “The Scarlet Letter,” Nathaniel Hawthorne, utilizes a variety of rhetorical devices to reveal to the audience that he viewed Hester Prynne as a strong, beautiful woman who was confident in herself. Although Hawthorne believed Hester deserved a punishment, he thought that her crime shouldn’t get in the way of her being ashamed to continue living her life. The author shows Hester’s remarkable character by describing her inner strength, her honesty, her compassion, and her defiance. It is known through the novel that the author holds women in high esteem and they should be respected. Hawthorne communicated his attitude toward Hester Prynne by explaining her physical appearance, showing dialogue between other characters, and using …show more content…

These characteristics made her unique, unlike the other members of the Puritan society and were therefore known by the rest of the community. In paragraph 2, Hawthorne references Hester’s appearance and looks by describing her as “tall, with a figure of perfect elegance” and her most impressive feature is her “dark and abundant hair, so glossy that it threw off the sunshine with a gleam.” The author gave her natural beauty on purpose because he wanted her beauty to give her confidence. These details Hawthorne utilized when describing Hester reveals that he admired her unique beauty and her ladylike features. Hester’s attire also astonished Hawthorne which caused him to think of her as special since she had just been released from prison and came out of the prison doors. Hawthorne thought that Hester was so physically stunning that he noted the letter on her clothing was “artistically done, and with so much fertility and gorgeous luxuriance of fancy.” Hester was a character intentionally made to get attention and Hawthorne successfully achieved his attitude towards her by noting his opinion on the bold letter “A” on her clothing which made her stand

The Scarlet Letter Rhetorical Analysis

Nathaniel Hawthorne, in his bold novel, The Scarlet Letter tackles a variety of themes that include: sin, guilt, redemption, postfeminism, and organized religion's abuse of power. Hawthorne spoke in a somber and grim tone, designed to arouse a sense of suspense for his readers. The audience in which he was addressing would have been conservative Christians and women suffragettes, all of whom reflected the ideologies during this time period. By instilling clever diction, Hawthorne exposes hypocrisy in Puritanism and objects against the religion's superfluous punishments; which force individuals to endure unnecessary and extreme suffering.

Scarlet Letter Romanticism Quotes

“…it was nevertheless to potent to be resisted,—she felt or fancied, then, that the scarlet letter had endowed her with a new sense.” (72) The fact that Hawthorne gives Hester a new

Physiognomy Scarlet Letter

Hawthorne's Hester Prynne is the underdog protagonist that the reader cannot help but want to succeed. She is flawed but her flaws are outshone by her good heart and spirit. This shamed and humiliated woman is the one the reader, with the help of Hawthorne’s descriptions, wants to support. This sinful woman, with a child from wedlock, a diabolical “husband”, and a secretive lover is the motivating force that drives the reader to continue on with The Scarlet Letter. The language, descriptions, and plot of The Scarlet Letter show that Hawthorne believes the reader should look past gender stereotypes because not everything is what is

In his essay “On the Scarlet Letter,” D.H. Lawrence criticizes Hester’s immoral behavior for her adulterous actions. Lawrence views her as a shameful member of Puritan society and centers his argument on her sin and its effects on the story’s plot. D.H. Lawrence’s use of different literary techniques strengthens his claim that Hester is not the heroine through his sarcastic tone, abrupt syntax, and biblical allusions.

Rhetorical Analysis Of Hester Prynne

In his work “On the Scarlet Letter,” D.H. Lawrence addresses the controversial character of Hester Prynne. He is just one of many critics who have analyzed Nathaniel Hawthorne’s fictional character, where some look to her as a hero and others blatantly shame her for her sin. Lawrence makes up the latter of this crowd, and is able to prove his case in a very meaningful manner. The critic believes that Hawthorne sugarcoats Hester’s image, and tries to make it look as if she is the victim of the tale. Disregarding this sympathy, he addresses the root cause of her sin rather than its consequences. As he writes, he uses a multitude of literary techniques to help convince readers of Hester’s seemingly evil character, using descriptive diction, a

Compare And Contrast Wes Moore

Having unseemly high expectations in her community, Hester began to realize that no matter what she did, she will always be publicly criticized any place she went. Hawthorne sets the theme of public ridicule and expectations by using the literary devices of diction and tone, the same as Moore used in The Other Wes Moore. The townspeople were aware of Hester’s beauty. In doubt, they noticed her persona “Was so artistically done; and with so much fertility and gorgeous luxuriance of fancy, that is had all the effect of a last and fitting decoration to the apparel which she wore; and which was of splendor in accordance with the taste of the age, but greatly beyond what was allowed by the sumptuary regulations of the colony” (Hawthorne 37). This caused the townspeople to denounce Hester more. They became jealous of Hester because of the beauty she gave off, even after she had committed adultery. The jealousy they presented towards Hester is captured by Hawthorne using the literary device of tone. Hawthorne describes all of the beauty Hester presumes inside and outside of her, but elaborates that her beauty has been terminated by the townspeople because of the “regulations” they placed on her. The public shame eventually caught up to her and her beauty began to fade in people’s eyes. Similar to the writing of Moore, Hawthorne added how the misery that was consumed by Hester was shared among others at

Rhetorical Diction In The Scarlet Letter

‘The young woman was tall, with a figure of perfect elegance.” and “She had dark and abundant hair, so glossy that it through off the sunshine…” (4). While managing to face her realities, Hester accepts her “sin” and fate with dignity.

The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne

The central character of the novel, Hester Prynne, undergoes a significant change in character, mainly due to the shame stemming from being forced to bare the scarlet letter. During the first scaffold scene in which she is undergoing trial, Hester is described as: “lady-like . . . characterized by a certain state of dignity . . . her beauty shone out, and made a halo of the misfortune and ignominy in which she was enveloped” (Hawthorne 103). Despite the presence of a multitude of women sneering at her as she makes the seemingly endless walk to the place of her trial, Hester maintains her cold, almost pompous facade. It is a testament to her initial immense amount of resilience of character and mental strength to keep from breaking down into tears while on the scaffold. This idea of Hester desiring to and succeeding in maintaining a proud and aloof air is further evidenced by the ornateness and intricacy of the scarlet letter itself.

Scarlet Letter Rhetorical Analysis

“I was chained between two nations” Throughout the novel, chains was mention variously. Figuratively of course. Chains, in the novel, is suppose to represent her inability to choose her own opinion, whether it’s being a loyalist or a patriot. She is stuck between her two choices to choose because they both promise something that she desires; freedom. It was unclear as to which side she will choose, as her opinions changes throughout the novel. In the beginning, she was a patriot. her friend, Curzon, promised her that if she becomes a spy for them against the Locktons, (who were loyalists), then she and her sister will receive freedom. She does what she was told, and acted as a spy, and gave many important information to Patriots. But the patriots didn’t keep their own end of the deal. Isabel soon believes that even if the colonies become independent from Britain, slaves will

In D. H. Lawrence’s essay “On The Scarlet Letter,” Lawrence analyzes Nathaniel Hawthorne’s portrayal of the adulteress Hester Prynne. He argues that Hester’s character is not worthy of the praise she receives in The Scarlet Letter because of the severity of the sin she commits in the novel. Instead of focusing on Hester’s character after the sin, he bases his argument on the sin itself. Lawrence uses terse syntax, an accusatory tone, and biblical allusions to depict Hester as the sinner of the story.

The Character Of Hester Prynne

The author established that Hester was a beautiful woman: “The young woman was tall, with a figure of perfect elegance, on large scale. She had dark and abundant hair, so glossy that it threw off the sunshine with a gleam, and

One simile I found in this passage is " But methinks, dear Sir, you look pale; as if the ravel through the wilderness had been too sore for you."

How Is Hester A Strong Independent Woman

Hawthorne doesn’t reveal any information about Hester before the actual book starts. The author brings these attributes of Hester to our attention. We come to a clearer understanding about Hester being a strong independent woman implied by the persona. Hester being publicly shamed, Hester’s confrontation with Chillingworth, Hester being threatened with Pearl’s separation, and Hester contributing to her society show how the author liked Hester; the events portrayed her in a good light.

Morality in Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter Essay

• 5 Works Cited

As a result of this eclipse of her former personality, Hester became everything the Puritans wanted physically. She was a great Samaritan in the community, and was utterly humble and honest. When she showed the worst in her at all times, she had nothing to hide from the people who she met, and their opinions of her could only raise. The irony in the fact that she became a model citizen in the eyes of the Puritans only points to Hawthorne's distaste for the Puritan way of life, for Hester manifested a perfect Janus; a two faced entity of whom no one knew the true nature. Physically, the Puritans loved her behavior, actions, and example.

The Character of Hester Prynne in The Scarlet Letter Essay

• 1 Works Cited

In the beginning of the novel, the reader is presented with a physical appearance of Hester that is pleasing to the visual eye. It is Hawthorne describes his heroine of the book by

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• Nathaniel Hawthorne
• The Scarlet Letter
• Short story
• United States
• Hester Prynne

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Scarlet Letter

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Rhetorical Analysis : the Scarlet Letter

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In the Bible it says, in Matthew 5: 27-28, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery. ‘ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart”. In the Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, the main character Hester Prynne was an adulteress in the seventeenth century during the Puritan era. Three rhetorical strategies that really stood out were symbolism, archaic diction, and irony. The use of these rhetorical strategies enables Hawthorne to tell the story of the woman who was condemned for adultery and to expose the hypocrisy in a Puritan society.

The first rhetorical strategy is symbolism. In the book, The Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne was being punished for her sins as an adulterer and was forced to wear a red “A” on her clothes at all times. Also, in the end when Reverend Dimmesdale was filled so much with guilt, reveals his own scarlet letter engraved on his chest, for he had sinned too. Another example of symbolism is Hester’s daughter Pearl. Hester went to the governor’s mansion, after she heard talk about Pearl being taken away and put in foster care because she was unfit of a mother to take care of her.

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Dimmesdale assures Governor Bellingham that Pearl should not be taken away because Pearl is Hester’s reminder of the sin she has committed. The next rhetorical strategy is archaic diction. Since this book was published in 1850, and that was maybe a little over one hundred and sixty-three years ago – depending on when Hawthorne had initially started writing the book – the diction is of one we no longer speak. “She hath good skill at her needle… ‘but did ever a woman, before this brazen hussy, contrive such a way at showing it,” is an example of archaic diction.

Basically saying that Hester is good at sewing but she had (the woman speaking) never seen someone do it to seek sexual attention. Other examples of archaic diction is, “hast thou” and “if thou so choose, it will bear thee back again. ” The third and final rhetorical strategy is irony. Irony plays a big part in the whole story since the condemner is really the condemned. The question is how can you preach what you do not practice? Hester Prynne could not have possibly committed adultery on her own because she was only a woman, not the Virgin Mary.

One of her condemners was in fact the one who had impregnated her, Reverend Dimmesdale, who did not come forth to the townspeople until after proclaiming that he, himself was a sinner during his last sermon. Afterwards, we find out that he too is an adulterer and the father of Pearl. In conclusion, the author’s purpose for use of the rhetorical devices, symbolism, archaic diction, and irony was to tell the story of the woman who was condemned for adultery and to expose the hypocrisy in a Puritan society.

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Rhetorical Analysis of the Scarlet Letter

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The struggle between conformity and individuality is highlighted in The Scarlet Letter. Since the Puritan government has strict laws, all Puritans must work hard to appear pretty in order to blend in. Hester, the novel's lead villain, is an adulterer, who is against Puritan rules. The Puritans seek Hester's obedience because her disobedience endangers their faith and protection. Hester, on the other hand, refuses to comply and faces the repercussions of her decisions. The townspeople punish, shun, and humiliate her. Hester gradually becomes a lesson for the town, as she is used to frighten everyone with the intention of violating Puritanism's social morality. Hester remains unshakable and believes in herself, her devotion to her daughter and her love for Dimmesdale all of which empower her to resist the enforced Puritan rules (Hawthorne 133). Hawthorne, the author of The Scarlet Letter argues that is imperative to embrace individuality rather than focusing on strict conformity to societal standards.

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Hawthorne employs Romantic characteristics as a Romanticist to portray the Puritan values and standards. As a critic of the Puritan society, Hawthorne believes in the strength of individuality and the human heart. As a result, he disapproves the Puritan punishment bestowed on Hester with an intention to put her to public shame. Hawthorne, therefore, uses Hester’s perspective to showcase the societal attempt to correct sin through the struggles of an individual. The Romantic feature of dark versus light is put forth by Hawthorne when he states that, "It was only the darkened house that could contain her. When sunshine came again, she was not there. Her shadow faded across the threshold." (Hawthorne 134) This portrays that as Hester carries the burden of her sin through grace, he is yet to achieve salvation. Her beauty, lightness and purity are overshadowed by her adulterous behavior.

Hawthorne employs symbolism in his Romantic ideals by using Pearl as a reminder to Hester of her mistake (Hawthorne 91). Moreover, Pearl has a dual nature towards Hester by showing her playfulness as a sign that she is a child who tries to "catch the sunshine" (Hawthorne 153). Hawthorne is a strong believer of Romantic ideas regarding the dark side of man, the relevance of the human heart and the individual power. The Scarlet Letter has symbols that exemplify philosophical aspects in the novel. Hawthorne uses these symbols to develop a social commentary regarding the flaws of the Puritan society alongside the severity of their punishments. The Scarlet Letter is considered a Romance with constant interactions between the imaginative and the real. Hawthorne uses symbolism and imagery to tell the tale about Hester’s sin and the consequential punishment. The Scarlet Letter itself is a symbol as it represents the different layers Hawthorne wishes to express using Hester’s plight. Hawthorne (135) marks Hester out in terms of being an adulterer to symbolize her sin. The symbol ‘A’ is the red letter or the scarlet letter that neither the reader nor Hester are allowed to forget. The letter ‘A’ will either have a disturbing or evil significance for Hester. Hester is aware of the stigma in her bosom which symbolizes that the sin she committed broke the commandments of the Puritan belief even if she does not see herself as a sinner. She is even considered a social outcast more so that the scarlet letter gives her bosom a burning sensation.

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Hawthorne uses the imagery of the heart to explain the character of Dimmesdale in The Scarlet Letter. Dimmesdale’s hand is always over his heart and he is rumored to have an imprint of letter ‘A’ on his heart. Chillingworth has had a glimpse of this letter whenever Dimmesdale is asleep. Some people also see it on his breast when he dies (Hawthorne 212). The letter is shaped as a meteor that flares across the sky whenever Dimmesdale takes his place on the scaffold with Pearl and Hester. Hawthorne uses the imagery of a meteor to symbolize Dimmesdale’s remorse as a minister and a mark of punishment towards Hester. The townspeople consider it a symbol of Angel which Governor Winthrop becomes after he dies (Hawthorne 209). People in distress owing to Hester’s punishment render the letter ‘A’ an acronym of able.

Hawthorne uses point of view in The Scarlet Letter as a way to undermine the mood. Chillingworth is considered a noble physician, which lightens the tone since the point of view arises from the townspeople or anyone without any knowledge of him (Hawthorne 145). The point of view is a lense in the novel that enables the reader to view the book. The scaffold as the tale begins is where Hester faces hostility from the townspeople, hence its crucial role in The Scarlet Letter. Consequently, the same scaffold is where minister Dimmesdale was compensated. This was done under vigil on the ark night and when he climbed the scaffold to confess of his guilt in relation to Hester’s struggles. Hawthorne uses point of view to ensure the reader sees how Dimmesdale takes full responsibility of the sin he committed after watching the way the society demeaned Hester. He imprints the letter ‘A’ on his chest to constantly remind him of his sin and guilt.

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Hawthorne uses figurative language by incorporating the forest and the marketplace in The Sacred Letter. The forest is a place of sin which Mistress Hibbins considers her domain while Chillingworth takes a stroll around there frequently. Pearl was also possibly conceived there hence the forest is not just an evil place but also a place of freedom whereby one can flee public judgment. Dimmesdale and Hester have frequent meetings in the forest to discuss their future. The last time they visit the forest made Dimmesdale refreshed, enlightened and vivacious since he felt free (Hawthorne 63). The marketplace is Puritan’s location during the day where they enact harsh laws and pass judgment. It is at this marketplace where Hester is coerced to take her punishment each day. Despite the serene deportment, Hester went through her ordeal until she came to some sort of scaffold at the extreme western part of the marketplace.

The Scarlet Letter encompasses ambiguous characters that Hawthorne has used to symbolize the scarlet letter itself. Ambiguity in the novel provides a common understanding that some bad and good things happen to us as extremely intermixed human affairs. Although failure may be involved in a different way, Hawthorne puts forth that the same failure could be a kind of triumph. Hawthorne uses Pearl’s dynamic character to portray ambiguity in the novel. Pearl constantly reminds Hester of her sin including Dimmesdale who portrays it by compressing his hands on the chest (Hawthorne 149). Pearl is attracted to the scarlet letter, which is the color of her dress. Hawthorne (88) notes that "But the first object of which Pearl seemed to become aware was the scarlet letter on Hester's bosom... the infant's eyes had been caught by the glimmering of the gold embroidery about the letter and, putting up her little hand, she grasped it..." This signifies that Pearl is a child of great worth and value whose extraction from the ocean depends on great labor. Moreover, she was a result of her mother’s public condemnation hence her presence in the world as a constant reminder.

In conclusion, Hawthorne employs literary and rhetorical devices in The Scarlet Letter to give the reader a perspective of individuality and conformity. The author being a Romanticist condemns the punishment that Hester is given for being adulterous. Despite her sinful nature, Hawthorne feels the ordeals she goes through at the marketplace is inhuman and pushes one towards resistance of societal values and norms. The Sacred Letter is undoubtedly a symbolic novel that puts into context Hester’s struggles in gaining conformity to Puritan values.

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Works Cited

Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter. New York: Modern Library, 1950.

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AP English Essay Prompt: Rhetorical Analysis of The Scarlet Letter

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This essay prompt gives Advanced Placement English Language and Composition students the opportunity to develop their close textual reading, rhetorical analysis and timed writing skills. It identifies a specific passage from The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne for rhetorical analysis. The prompt was designed to be used for an in-class writing assignment (within a 45 minute class period), but it could also be given as an out-of-class writing assignment. This prompt does not come from the College Board.

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Scarlet Letter Literary Analysis Essay

Show More Puritanical Mores in The Scarlet Letter In The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, a young, female adulterer residing in a 17th century Puritan community faces public shame for her sin by wearing a scarlet letter A on her chest, leading her to support herself and her daughter single handedly, which reflects the inability of the various Catholic followers to escape their social expectations and follow individual will. Pearl, Hester’s daughter, metaphorically represents the purity from the inner corruption of a puritan society. Also, Hester’s strength in her community to raise herself and her daughter reflects the strength of women, disproving the patriarchal Puritan family structure. Natural imagery conveys her self reliance after isolation from the …show more content… Despite the constant shame and alienation from the rest of the Boston community, she continues to live there. With her care for the poor and the maternity towards the community, Hester gains the respect of the townspeople who shunned her. Her crime also contradicts the Puritan role of a woman to produce and raise children for her husband and take part in a model patriarchal society as she breaks the marriage contract and makes decisions for herself in risk of punishment by male figures in her community. Her choice to stay and raise her daughter single handedly as the sole breadwinner of her family also reveals her strength as a woman to undertake a traditionally male role, disproving association between females and weakness. Her letter changes meaning from ‘adulterer’ that the community’s male authority brand her as to ‘able’, an interpretation gained from her own good deeds for the townspeople and a just judgement of her character. Hester proves herself as more than merely a display of sin and eventually gains the respect of her community with her ability to play the role of her male equal and still labor for the

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Related Topics

• The Scarlet Letter
• Nathaniel Hawthorne
• Hester Prynne
• John Winthrop

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