Theme Of Romanticism In Scarlet Letter

Romanticism in this book is described through the author in his effort to imagine Hester Prynne’s story. He describes that the use of light and setting are great techniques when using romantic themes. Hawthorne describes that details “are so spiritualized by the unusual light, that they seem to lose their actual substance, and become things of intellect” (Hawthorne, 35). This then leads him to describe that at the right time, “when one removes further from the actual, and nearer to the imaginative” (Hawthorne, 36), the romance writer can actually , “dream strange things and make them look like truth”(Hawthorne, 36). The purpose of this chapter is to serve basically as a preface, for it describes information about the author himself, leading

him to describe the basis of the novel, when he had found the Scarlet Letter “A” in the Salem Custom House. Along with that, he had found sheets containing historical manuscript for which the rest of the story is based upon. “This I now opened and had the satisfaction to find, recorded by the old Surveyor’s pen, a reasonably complete explanation of the whole affair”(Hawthorne, 31). Hawthorne also describes throughout this chapter his connection to his ancestors. In my opinion, he has doubtful feelings about their role in his life. He states that his ancestors were, "dim and dusky.., they are grave, bearded, sable cloaked, and steel crowned"(Hawthorne, 7). To Hawthorne, his ancestors would find him unsuccessful because he "is a writer of storybooks"(Hawthorne, 8). However, though he disagrees with his ancestors and feels as though they may not approve, he feels a connection to Salem, and he knows that their blood runs through his veins. As for his job, just like Hester, Hawthorne feels alienated from the people around him. And so because of this, he finds that writing is a necessary component to his life, even though his Puritan ancestors would disagree. He finds the Custom House to be half finished, "the room itself was cobwebbed and dingy with old paint"(Hawthorne, 5). He finds his co workers to be incompetent yet basically secured by family connections for oftentimes, "they were asleep, but occasionally might be heard talking together, in voices between speech and snore"(Hawthorne, 5). I think he viewed his coworkers like this because Hawthorne was imaginative and used the Custom House as inspiration for his stories. Because people were so connected to their Puritan roots, it was believed that writing was indeed foolish. They would have said, " why, the degenerate fellow might as well have been a fiddler"(Hawthorne, 8). The dark and gloominess of the Custom House is seen throughout the rest of the novel, for it describes much of his views on Puritan beliefs.

Journal Entry 2

In chapter 2, the attitude Hawthorne feels towards the Puritans can be seen through his description of the women and their condemning comments towards Hester in front of the prison. Some women describe how Hester had, “brought shame upon us all, and ought to die,”(Hawthorne, 49). However, though many of the comments made by these women were cruel, and surely describes past American Puritan life, Hawthorne includes the comments of good women to show that not all Puritan women were bitter gossips. For example, a woman stated at the condemning of Hester, “let her cover the mark as she will, the pang of it will be always in her heart” (Hawthorne, 49). These types of comments differ greatly from the comments of the other Puritan women, but Hawthorne shows his feelings towards women in that time, saying that most of them had religious attitudes. Hawthorne also describes his attitudes towards Hester in these chapters. She appears to contrast the gloom and darkness of the crowd watching her. She appears to have grace when walking. However, what stands out the most is the elaborately decorated letter she wears which is meant to be a symbol of shame. In fact, this letter seemed to “take her out of the ordinary relations with humanity and enclose her in a sphere by herself”(52). Throughout these first two chapters, some symbols begin to emerge. For example, in chapter 1, the setting is very dark and ugly, symbolizing the Puritan society and culture. However, this darkness also is foreshadowing the gloom of the novel itself. The chapter mentions a prison and a cemetery, which are, “practical necessities”(Hawthorne, 45). Weeds grow in front of the prison, however, there is also beauty seen here, and that is the rosebush. This rosebush is wild, and seems to “had sprung up under the footsteps of the sainted Ann Hutchinson”(Hawthorne, 46). In fact, it offers “fragrant and fragile beauty to the prisoner”(Hawthorne, 46). This image of beauty contrasts from the Puritans and their darkness. The Puritans created this prison and cemetery early on, but it just proves to show that even though their intentions may have been good, people always fall back on their moral nature of sin.

Journal Entry 3

In Chapter 3, Chillingworth is presented as having “a disarray of civilized and savage costume”(58). He appears to be misshapen and deformed causing Hester to “press her infant to her bosom with so convulsive a force that the poor babe uttered another cry of pain”(Hawthorne, 58). When Chillingworth, who is actually Hester’s husband, saw her on the podium, “a writhing horror twisted itself across his features, like a snake gliding swiftly over them”(Hawthorne, 58). Chillingworth states, that the man of whom Hester had an affair with “will be known”(61). This gives hints at Chillingworth’s drive for revenge. In chapter 4, when Hester and Chillingworth were communicating in her prison cell, he admits that, “I betrayed thy budding youth into a false and unnatural relation with my decay”(Hawthorne,72). It was in fact during his time of increasing his scholarly knowledge that he failed not only Hester, but himself. However, as this conversation continues, Chillingworth appears to hint at being one of the novels symbols of evil. When Hester refuses to share the name of her lover, it is clear that Hester is showing more concern for her lover, than her marriage. Chillingworth seeks revenge from her lover stating, “I shall seek this man as I have sought truth in my books… I shall see him tremble”(Hawthorne, 73). And so, with this, Hester is persuaded to not reveal that Chillingworth is her husband. I predict that further in the book this secret will affect both Hester and her lover. As Hester puts it, Chillingworth is like the “Black Man that haunts the forest round about us”(Hawthorne, 74), for he lures others into sin. This theme of evil should be seen later in the novel.

Journal Entry 4

In Chapter 5, Hester is released from prison, technically giving her the freedom to run elsewhere.

Oddly enough, she decides to stay and moves to a small cottage between the wilderness and town. And so because of this, the Scarlet Letter forever has its mark on her physically and emotionally. Having a home not quite in the town but not quite far enough away isolated her from society. However along with that, she is being punished for a sin, a sin that the letter “A” represents. Overall, society views her as, “the figure, the body, and the reality of sin”(Hawthorne, 76). The letter she wears, not only publicly scorns her, but it causes Hester to see the sin in others. It gives her “sympathetic knowledge of the hidden sin in other hearts”(83). So even though this letter separates Hester from society, she is now able to recognize the sin in the society that in fact persecutes her. This shows the true nature of the Puritans in the fact that they were hypocrites. People condemn Hester for her own acts of sin when in fact the condemners have sins of their own. The letter Hester wears can sense these sinners for, “the red infamy upon her breast would give a sympathetic throb,”(Hawthorne, 84),whenever she is around someone masking personal sin. In chapter 6, Hawthorne describes Pearl in a way where she becomes a symbol. Pearl is in fact the product of a sin, and yet, she is such a treasure. The Puritans believed that extramarital sex was evil but “God, as a direct consequence of the sin which man thus punished, had given Hester a lovely child”( Hawthorne, 86). In this sense, God’s treatment of Hester contrasts greatly from the Puritan’s treatment of her. However, how can Pearl, a product of evil be good? For it is thought that a child born from a sexual affair will be evil. This creates a struggle for Hester because Pearl is a sign of Hester’s punishment and treasure. Also, it isn’t surprising that Pearl is intrigued by the Scarlet Letter that her mother wears. “One day,

as her mother stooped over the cradle, the infant’s eyes had been caught by the glimmering of the gold embroidery about the letter”(Hawthorne, 93). Pearl is captivated by this letter, and it ironic how both Pearl and the letter are seen as disdainful, yet enchanting.