The Scarlet Letter: An Analysis Of Hester Prynne

Victim Turned Sinner

The portrayal of Hester Prynne in the novel, The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, has led to many different opinionated views. Many debate whether or not Hester Prynne should be portrayed in an angelic or sinful light. The author and critic, D.H. Lawrence, focuses on Hester’s sin itself, and focuses on having the reader view an alternate perspective of Hester, seeing her not as the victim, but as the criminal, as she should be viewed based on traditional Puritan values. Lawrence achieves the perspective that Hester should be viewed in a sinful light through his rhythmic and fluid syntax, negative and hateful diction, as well as his sarcastic and critical tone.

D.H. Lawrence incorporates a rhythmic and fluid syntax

Lawrence’s pessimistic and hateful diction, he is able to express his negative outlook on Hester Prynne. Lawrence communicates such words to specify his hatred and anger towards how Hester is portrayed in an angelic and victimized way. He focuses in on how “Hester Prynne is the great nemesis of woman”, which indicates to the reader how unforgivable her sin was, according to the traditional Puritan values in that time period. Such hateful diction persuades the reader to believe in Lawrence’s views, and to take part in the idea that Hester is diabolical. Lawrence does not despise the novel’s plot, but rather the way that Hester is portrayed. He goes on to mock and ridicule her, commenting, “Oh, Hester, you are a demon… a man must be pure just so that you can seduce him to a fall”, which reveals the possible truth behind Hester’s actions, according to the critic (Lawrence). He pokes fun at the character, and once again uses sarcasm and a ridiculous pretense. His utilization of pessimistic diction is the key toward illustrating a wicked appearance of Hester Prynne. In Lawrence’s critique, he weaves in a sarcastic and critical tone as a way to effectively convey his opinion of Hester. Lawrence evaluates Hester’s sin and the consequences upon her and upon others in the novel, exclaiming “But keep up the games, keep up appearances… Look out Mister, for the Female Devotee...Mind your Purity”, which is an impactful take on how Hester is able to