The Scarlet Letter Analysis

1568 Words4 Pages

Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, published in 1850, is a classical American literature novel. It is a story that takes place in the puritan town of Boston, Massachusetts during the seventeenth century. The novel tells the story of a woman, Hester Prynne, who commits a crime and is severely punished by the Puritan community which she lives in. The crime is so atrocious and condemned by the Puritans that they sentence her to a life of isolation. The story follows her decisions and warring struggles of her everyday life and that of those she loves. Hester must decide between carrying the burden and punishment of the crime she committed or lightening her sentence by sharing the guilt and blame with the one she loves. Hester Pryne’s crime was adultery and out of her misdemeanor a child was born. Hester seen as committing a sinful act and her daughter as a product of that sin are forever tainted and viewed as corrupt and immoral. At the same time, the love that God has created for two people will prove stronger than the community can manipulate “The novel is structured like a symphony, with each character given his or her own movement. The cold, Puritan community is symbolized by the ever-present scaffold in the marketplace where Hester and her shame are first put on public display. The only escape for Hester, Pearl and Dimmesdale is the dark forest. Here God's love and the world of nature offer them a temporary sanctuary from the unforgiving world of men” (Otfinoski). The novel reveals the secrets of several characters, which are brought to light by the scandalous act of Hester Prynne, and expose the sinful acts of many.

Hester Prynne is told to reveal the name of the man whom she has committed adultery with, but she refuses...

... middle of paper ...

...ays. The sin that Hester Prynne has committed is adultery. She is guilty of that crime and is punished by society for it with the scarlet letter. Hester takes the scarlet letter without remorse and manages her sinful act by turning it into an advantage and making the most of her circumstances. Dimmesdale manages his guilt of adultery differently than Hester. He pretends like it doesn't exist in the public eye. Dimmesdale feels truly shameful of his sin and his guilt increases after the community tortures Hester. The sin that Roger Chillingworth committed was the sin of revenge. He felt no shame toward his sin and he showed no sympathy for Dimmesdale’s suffering. Pearl with all her beauty and grace although magnificent in her own unique way will always be seen as a product of sin and devilish like. This is a tale of how sin changed the lives of four people forever.

Open Document