The Scarlet Letter: Compare and Contrast

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Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter is one of the most respected and admired novels of all time. Often criticized for lacking substance and using more elaborate camera work, freely adapted films usually do not follow the original plot line. Following this cliché, Roland Joffe’s version of The Scarlet Letter received an overwhelmingly negative reception. Unrealistic plots and actions are added to the films for added drama; for example, Hester is about to be killed up on the scaffold, when Algonquin members arrive and rescue her. After close analysis, it becomes evident of the amount of work that is put into each, but one must ask, why has the director adapted their own style of depicting the story? How has the story of Hester Prynne been modified? Regarding works, major differences and similarities between the characterization, visual imagery, symbolism, narration and plot, shows how free adaptation is the correct term used. The characters of The Scarlet Letter showed the ruthless, orthodox society of Puritan society. Hester was a feministic, self-reliant conformist, living on her own. In the novel, she showed she wasn’t able to abandon her society completely, leading her to move on the outskirts of town. In essence, she could keep her distance but maintain her connection to the community. She and Mistress Hibbins, who she admired in the film and despised in the book, are the only characters in both the book and movie who behave according to their own personal beliefs. Hibbins’ minor function in the book evolved into an imperative role in the film. Her relationship with Governor Bellingham wasn’t well portrayed in the film, when this connection prevented her prosecution in the book. Dimmesdale’s significantly strong... ... middle of paper ... ..., Dimmesdale escapes his inevitable death when his Algonquin best friend, Johnny Sassamon, arrives with Algonquin members for his aide. Hester, Pearl and Dimmesdale then move to the Carolinas to start a new life, leaving no recollections or legends for the town to remember. At times, the film seems to reenact a modern love story to appease a modern audience. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel showed his readers love and sin can be one of the same. Each author made what they thought would suit their own personal or public preference. Joffe’s purpose to take the chosen route was to give the character an extended theme basis from their original plot line. Neither story is “better”; one may be more entertaining while another being more informative. The film may have edited out one of the drastic details that made the novel’s success, explaining the films failure.

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