In The Scarlet Letter, written in 1850, Nathaniel Hawthorne illustrates rugged individualism through his characters. Rugged individualism is a common term, defined by Karl Marx, meaning that most all individuals can survive on their own and that government help for the people should be kept to a minimum. His storyline is based off of the Puritans and their lifestyle. They were very religious and believed that any sin was excruciating and deserved a punishment, in which they were quite harsh with. It is noticed in the book that they take the punishment to a complete different level for very small sins which do not receive this much attention in your everyday life nowadays. In the story, two of the main characters are Hester Prynne and Pearl. …show more content…
With this happening, the punishment was to stand on a platform in front of the colony for three hours in shame, not only for that amount of time, but also with her very young infant. They took it way past the limit and punished not only her but her child too for being born(Hawthorne 120-121). So this shows that she cannot depend on their government, so she moves out from town and raises her daughter with great care trying to give her what she needs in order to succeed in the world. Even when she was in prison and was offered medical attention, she denied it until she was forced to receive it(Hawthorne 159). This shows rugged individualism, she depended on herself, not help from the government. And the child, bringing us back to Pearl, followed in her footsteps. Her mother taught her from her mistakes and instructed Pearl on what was right and wrong(Hawthorne 250). Pearl did not put her faith in the hands of the Puritanism teachings. This kept her from corruption and helped her to see the world from a different viewpoint(Hawthorne 203). Yes she depended on her mother, but she kept her individualism also by staying with her mother and not going into the colony
In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s well known novel, The Scarlet Letter, extensive diction and intense imagery are used to portray the overall tone of the characters. In particular, Hester Prynne, the wearer of the Scarlet Letter, receives plentiful positive characterization throughout the novel. Hester’s character most notably develops through the town’s peoples ever-changing views on the scarlet letter, the copious mentions of her bravery, and her ability to take care of herself, Pearl, and others, even when she reaches the point where most would give up and wallow in their suffering.
...eril of death and infamy, and the inscrutable machinations of an enemy; that, finally, to this poor pilgrim, on his dreary and desert path, faint, sick, miserable, there appeared a glimpse of human affection and sympathy, a new life, and a true one, in exchange for the heavy doom which he was now expiating.
A great deal of blood has been shed and many wars have been fought during the history of
A symbol is an object used to stand for something else. Symbolism has a hidden meaning lying within it; these meanings unite to form a more detailed theme. Symbolism is widely used in The Scarlet Letter to help the reader better understand the deep meanings Nathaniel Hawthorne portrays throughout his novel. He shows that sin, known or unknown to the community, isolates a person from their community and from God. Hawthorne also shows this by symbols in nature around the town, natural symbols in the heavens, and nature in the forest.
“To the untrue man, the whole universe is false,--it is impalpable,--it shrinks to nothing within his grasp. And he himself, in so far as he shows himself in a false light, becomes a shadow, or, indeed, ceases to exist.” (Hawthorne 115) Throughout the hostile novel The Scarlet Letter, author Nathaniel Hawthorne used contrasting settings to represent opposed ideas that were central to the meaning of the work. Some have argued that when it came to the theme that secrets have a destructive effect on the secret-keeper and truth, by contrast, was natural, a character evaluation would best advocate these differences. However, two settings, Dimmesdale’s house and the secrets that lie within, and the scaffold representing the truth, better embody the adverse ideas posed by the point at issue.
Pearl is a symbol for innocence, punishment, sin, beautiful, and a devil child. Pearl is the punishment that came out of Reverend Dimmesdale’s and Hester’s sin. She constantly changes back and forth between different symbols. Hawthorne expresses Pearl’s symbolism very well and in the end it really shows Pearl’s true identity. “Mother,” said little Pearl, “the sunshine does not love you. It runs away and hides itself, because it is afraid of something on your bosom. Now see! There it is, playing, a good way off. Stand you here, and let me run and catch it. I am but a child, It will not flee from me; for I wear nothing on my bosom yet”(Hawthorne 202)! Pearl is essentially a product of her mother, Pearl and Reverend Dimmesdale’s sin. Pearl is Hester’s sin and, Pearl is always by Hester either by her side, holding her hand, or hugging her. Pearl always ends up being a little pest but she is the only thing that Hester has going for her. “So Pearl -- the elf-child -- the demon offspring, as some people up to the epoch persisted in considering in her -- became the richest heiress of her day in the New World. Not improbable, this circumstance estimation; and had the mother and child remained here, little Pearl at a marriageable period of life might have mingled her wild blood with the lineage of the devoutest Puritan among them all. But, in no long time after the physician’s death, the wearer of the scarlet letter disappeared, and Pearl along with her”(Hawthorne 287). This quote states that still after everything has happened Pearl had hope and trust. She turned out to be one of the richest and successful people. She has changed so much throughout the novel and it’s amazing to see how Hawthorne used Pearl’s symbolism in The Scarlet
The man Nathaniel Hawthorne, an author of the nineteenth century, was born in 1804, in Salem, Massachusetts. It was there that he lived a poverty-stricken childhood without the financial support of a father, because he had passed away in 1808. Hawthorne was raised strictly Puritan, his great-grandfather had even been one of the judges in the Puritan witchcraft trials during the 1600s. This and Hawthorne’s destitute upbringing advanced his understanding of human nature and distress felt by social, religious, and economic inequities. Hawthorne was a private individual who fancied solitude with family friends. He was also very devoted to his craft of writing. Hawthorne observed the decay of Puritanism with opposition; believing that is was a man’s responsibility to pursue the highest truth and possessed a strong moral sense. These aspects of Hawthorne’s philosophy are what drove him to write about and even become a part of an experiment in social reform, in a utopian colony at Brook Farm. He believed that the Puritans’ obsession with original sin and their ironhandedness undermined instead of reinforced virtue. As a technician, Hawthorne’s style in literature was abundantly allegorical, using the characters and plot to acquire a connection and to show a moral lesson. His definition of romanticism was writing to show truths, which need not relate to history or reality. Human frailty and sorrow were the romantic topics, which Hawthorne focused on most, using them to finesse his characters and setting to exalt good and illustrate the horrors of immorality. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s experiences as a man, incite as a philosopher and skill as a technician can be seen when reading The Scarlet Letter.
Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter explores guilt’s destructive physical and psychological effects on individuals in relation to an implied conscience. The human conscience exists to distinguish between right and wrong, a trait entrenched in humans throughout evolution. Scientifically speaking, the conscience resides in the anterior prefrontal cortex which performs reasoning and judgment tasks, originally developed to limit self-preservation in order to prevent self-destruction due to unrestricted competition. Often referred to as the “inner light”, the conscience allows people to feel the sensation of guilt, remorse, and conversely, integrity. The conscience has been questioned in society for ages; however, famous explanations include Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalysis and Charles Darwin’s evolution, as well as various religious interpretations. Hawthorne’s novel reveals the timeless influence of the conscience in human society and individual action across all eras by using various reflective materials as devices to demonstrate the physical manifestation guilt for each character. Those who sought truth find themselves elated without the burden of guilt with clear, brightly illuminated reflections; however, the identities of those who attempt to justify sin against their conscience become unrecognizable, later reflected through the physical manifestation of their psychological instability, therefore altering the perception of their identity.
The Scarlet Letter is a romance written by Nathaniel Hawthorne that takes place in the Puritan Community in Boston, Massachusetts during the 17th century. It tells the story of Hester Prynne, who commits the sin of adultery with the minister of the church, Reverend Dimmesdale, and conceives a baby girl, Pearl. Hester's husband, Roger Chillingworth, returns and seeks revenge. As Pearl grows up, her mother learns how to deal with the scarlet letter of shame and Dimmesdale feels guilt. When they decide to run away, Dimmesdale confesses his sin in public and he dies. The story end with the death of Chillingworth and all his belongings and property go to little Pearl. Pearl grows up and probably gets married and Hester becomes a mother for all women in need.
The mantra of the Era of Romanticism is “Imitation is suicide”, Nathaniel Hawthorne demonstrates the need to be an individual in his novel The Scarlet Letter. At the time, puritans were forced by the pressures of society and the church to lead these sinless lives in order to reach their ultimate goal and transcend their mortal lives.. In the story, Puritans followed the example set by the church and lived what society considered a perfect life. In short, Puritans have idea of purity thrust upon them when in reality purity can not be obtained through following the masses. Hester Prynne, the protagonist, strays from the beaten path and separates herself from society in life rather than in death. Hawthorne’s idea that the
Portrayal of Puritan Society in Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter In the introductory sketch to Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel the "The Scarlet Letter", the reader is informed that one of the author's ancestors persecuted the Quakers harshly. The latter's son was a high judge in the Salem witch trials, put into literary form in Arthur Miller's "The Crucible" (Judge Hathorne appears there). We learn that Hawthorne feels ashamed for their deeds, and that he sees his ancestors and the Puritan society as a whole with critical eyes. Consequently, both open and subtle criticism of the Puritans' practices is applied throughout the novel.
Written in 1850, The Scarlet Letter stood as a very progressive book. With new ideas about women, main characters’ stories intertwined, and many different themes, The Scarlet Letter remains today as a extremely popular novel about 17th century Boston, Massachusetts. Not only was the 19th century a time for the abolition of slavery movement but it was also the beginning of the first wave of feminism. Women such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, and Lucretia Mott catalyzed the women’s rights movement. These prominent women believed that a woman’s role was no longer in the house and that women should be afforded the same opportunity as men. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s sympathy for women is evident in a feminist reading of his novel The Scarlet Letter.
In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, there are many moral and social themes develped throughout the novel. Each theme is very important to the overall effect of the novel. In essence, The Scarlet Letter is a story of sin, punishment and the importance of truth. One theme which plays a big role in The Scarlet Letter is that of sin and its effects. Throughout the novel there were many sins committed by various characters. The effects of these sins are different in each character and every character was punished in a unique way. Two characters were perfect examples of this theme in the novel. Hester Prynne and The Reverend Dimmesdale best demonstrated the theme of the effects of sin.
In the novel The Scarlet Letter written by Nathaniel Hawthorne in 1850, the author leaves an underlying theme of how one wants to appear which contradicts their true intentions or feelings. This not only appears in instances with individual self versus society but also in internal thought and actual speech. The story develops three characters that express the motif. Understanding these characters’ motives and situation, as well as seeing how they struggle with their alternate personas, is vital to understanding Hawthorne's message.
The amazing short story writer Nathaniel Hawthorne. Nathaniel Hawthorne was born in Salem July, 4th 1804. He is a short story writer. He is one of the Best short story writers in his time. Hawthorne is most famous for his novel The Scarlet Letter. Nathaniel Hawthorne, the author of The Scarlet Letter, makes symbolism, romance, and tone stand out the most.