Individualism In The Scarlet Letter

Individualism, although specific for each person, is extremely vague in different societies. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Puritan-era novel The Scarlet Letter intensely presents the contradicting representations of individualism and its effect on not only the individuals themselves, but also on the entire society. In Puritan society, individualism is abhorred, yet many influential characters are strikingly different individuals. The Scarlet Letter presents individualism as an integral part of society due to the diversity of human personalities and passions, yet the strict society that Hawthorne depicts limits the true potential of individualism. Hester Prynne, an adulterer and supposed widow, mostly thrives on being an individual, yet is compelled to become active society and declines as the story progresses; Arthur Dimmesdale, however, is very active among the Puritans as a minister, yet has to conceal his true identity as the father of Hester’s child, which creates guilt that ultimately plagues his entire life and leads to his death. Pearl Prynne, however, has no relation or connection to the Puritan society,

He is sensitive and in-tune with emotions unlike the other minsters of the community; therefore, he is highly regarded among the townspeople. Among all of the characters in the book, Pearl is the most exemplary individual and possibly the human embodiment of individualism. Although she is a product of two Puritans, she is not a child of Puritans; she is a child of nature; she is the only child ever displayed as being born in the New World. While growing up, Pearl is unapologetically bold, right down to her luxurious clothing, handmade by her mother, who chooses to instead remain in the Puritan fashion of gray and simple clothes. Individualism in The Scarlet Letter is constrained due to the rigid societal influences of the