A
Te~ching
Guide to
The Scarlet Letter
An itonors Thesis (ID 499)
by
Lee A. Bird
Thesis Director
il rt l1
St?te University
~;uncie,
~f.?y,
1ndii'lna
1973
CONTE1\TS
Abs tr 2 C t.
1
Bior:r?nhy
2
B'1C
lr::p;rOlnri on flu ri t('lDiSl'J
jJi~cussion:o:
t1
of Chr'1)ters
6
Thmr:es.
34
Ch?r;cters.
37
Symbols
•
42
Str'lctUl"e ?no Unity
49
Ir';1gery
47
Style
'52
Pos s i hIe
T0;S
t
'~u es t
ions
53
F()f)tnot e s
56
Bibliogrpl)tJY.
57
t2u~;11t
;Ifter VV11l['
Iff:' 1 t
(~ (:
t i l ;-
t
tilE" r C
s
lr
vel r) ' . 1 C son 'lIn J ',C:
;")rovi,1p
S~.l("'t
?
te:,c
t'1C
~ ew C'
•
Sc~rlet
nee ('l for
letter d1Iri,)g stu, tnt te,'c!ling
,~
Ti 1 i s t 11 e sis, t
1i11[;
0
r
t (' ~ C : I 1 n g
r c for e, i
~
i
11 "
I \(
n :1 ho o1r
,f! 11. i r,! e
!1 ten d edt 0
glliic.
Ti1c n;-;:)("r inclu(1"s g-=:',\>r,11 critic'l rliscnssi\.)l1 of illdiviliucl
c~,~~t('rs,
style.
tlcr:es, c"arClctf'rs, symbols,
h['s:~c
Only very
:1re Drescnted;
t~le
~-lncl
gE.:;]('r~11y
iP1C(gery, ,)nd
8cce y )ted critic"l coroucnts
fu,1(:ti:)11 of t'lis tilCS1 s
new insir;'lt on t!le bo')k but r,'t'l('r to
USE'?blc
~trurt'lre,
bci:-I[~
c0I1(1en~c
not to provide
m;'teri;>ls into a
form.
',15(' of Src0:Lrhry
Enf~lish
tC?C'wrs.
I \,,,is'l to (''<Dress PlY ( 1)nrecir>t:ion to Dr. Erlwarci t'. Fo!:'tE'r
for ilis unf::1iling n2tience "nl1 3s:::ist0nr:e ollrinr t'le 1tJrit~_llg 0f
t'1is ttlesis.
1
Ancestry
N('lthaniel Hawthorne
Purit?n
b~c~ground.
w~~
horn into
<":
f,"mi1y wit!l a New bngland
file first rrember of the fC1l1ily to set foot in
Americ::l \\I?S Wil1i?IT1 Hclthorne, ".ho emigrr1ted fran. Eng12nrl in 1630.
t~e
He W:'S D::Irt of
<'nd he heC?T1e
;1
groun whicil founded the
I)olitic;:>l Je?--1er.
~\ass;lct1Usetts
colony,
A.s I:18gistr;:>te, he is prirrC1riJy
reIT1(,p'bered for his nersecution of Qu?kers.
,I/illi::lm's son, John Hat1lorne, succeeded his father;)$ n'Zlf',1Str~te
1692.
?nd W:lS one of the tllree judges CIt
AccordinR to tr?dition,
one of tlOSP on tri?l.
It w;::s
Cllrse
q
the S?lerri wi tC:l trials 1n
W?S
sepr~ing1y
nlr"cecl on the f8nily by
effective for tIle fl8ttlOrne
line feJl i::1to rp.lative obscurity, and ilawthorne's e?rly life W<1S
sDent in re18tive povf'rty and solitude. l
Chronologie,l T8ble
)804
Born in S81em, t-l8Ss;:>chusetts, July 4, t Ie second of tl1ree
ctlildren.
1808
His f;:>ther, ('l se? c8Dtain, dies of yellow fever in Surin?rn •
1813
An iCljury to llis foot confines ll;rwthorne to the house for
two ye?rs rmd nron:otes ?n interest in re?cli ng.
IS18
His f;)ty1ily moves to R?ymond, tI;;:tine for one ye?r.
1819
They return to S?lem, ~nd H?wthorne hegins oren8r8tion for
college.
1821-'5 Attends Bowc1oin Col1err e wit 1l Longfe1lo\,: <'nri Franklin Pierce,
:nld gr8.duC!tes eigllteenth in ? cl?ss of thirty-five.
Retllrns to ~lis !rother's horr.e in S<llem, Clnd, insteCld of
182'5
entering his uncle's counting house, he lives in relative
secl.1sion for t.le next twelve ye8rs, devoting hirr:self to
writing.
Publisles Ilis first novel, ~3.nSh2we:
A Tale, anonynously
1828
and 2t his own expense, <'!TId ttlen c0IT1p1etely dissoci?tes
himself from it.
1830-7 \'irites over one hundrerl t<lles 3nd sketctles, all of them
anony~ous or pseudonymous, published in rrag2zines, newsDapers, and 2nnuals.
2
1836-7 Edits the j~erican Mag~zinp of Useful and Entertalning
¥nowledge and v.crites Peter Parley's UnIVersal History for
his publisher.
1837
Publishes Twice-Told Tales, \'\hich Longfellow reviews
enthusi8stlc?11y.
1838
Decomes eng?ged to Sophi~ Peahody, a semi-inv?lid.
1839
Receives his first Dolitic~l ~Dnointment 2S weigher And
g~u~er in the Hoston Custom House.
1841
Lives for about eigllt rronths in t'le utooian community of
Brook P?rtTJ, hO!'ing to ')rovide a homf' there for Sop:li("l
Pe ('l bC)riy.
1842
l'ublishes em enlarged edition of Twice-Tolo fales, ClS well
as Biograohical Stories, and, on July 9, marries Sonhia
Pe~Dbdy.
1842-5 Lives at the Old j\"(lnse, in Conco rd, ro rT'f'S to knmi'7 Emerson
;lnd fhoreClu, and continues to write tales and sketctles
puhl:i.sled senarately in rraga7ines.
184')
Edits and writes ?n introduction for Journal of an Afric;:w
Cruiser, by :1i5 friend 1l0r<1ti 0 Bridge.
1846
})ubl ishes ~'os~ps fron' an U]ci i\:;:;nse.
1846-9 }{eceives a politic81 <lnrointrr:f>nt ?s Surveyor 1n tile ~2leIr
Custom House :1nd lI';rites very little. !le is disc!l?rged
from tile officE' in June, 1849 by the new vVhig sdn i inistr2tion.
] 850
Publishes The SC2rlet Letter, is immediately celebrated as
An'eric2' s lending Ii ter,uy genius, Clnd enters ~is nost
nroci!lctive yeClrs as a writEr. i\~oves to Lenox, i\lelssachusetts,
where he elnd r.;eJ vi lIe hecowe friends.
1851-2 PU81is:1PS The d0 115P of Seven GClbles, The Snow-In'3ge nnci
Other I'.d ce:Told fa 1es, A Wonner Hook""""TOr Boys ;md G1r1s,
T~e!J1i then (lIp RornClnce, ?nct frue S"tOr res from HIStory c:nd
13ioa;·r~DI1).
The l;:1st of tl1ree cl1ildren is born ( Una, Ju1i(ln,
~1"10 Rose, ?:nci the farr,ily IT'oves to \\lest Newton, ~lass?c lUsetts,
ne2r Boston.
Buys "fhe l'Jays-ide" in Concord in 18'52 ~:1ci
rnoves there with 'lis LlIr.ily.
~;jrites the catnh?ign bingr?Dhy
of f r (In 1<1 in Pierce, WllO is e Ip ct ed Presiden t.
Publishes T;:1nele\.\Ood r21es for Girls and Uovs. Receives
1853
from Presicient Pierce ('In ClnPo1ntTflcnt -;:;S-United States Consul
"t Liverpool, wt1ere 'le lives uhtiJ 1857.
Publ ishe s pn e:112 rged edi t ion of the Mos ses.
KeeDs an
1<"554
extensive journal, in nreD?r~tion for writing a novel about
England.
1858-9 Travels throug~ Fr?DCe 2nd by se~ to Italy; sDends snring,
18'18 in Rome ann th<Jt sumrrpr in Florence, where he stC!rts
writing The IviC'rble Faun.
Returns to Engl;:ltld the next yepr.
Publis'1es The ~:,arble fnun, his last cnn:nleted rom2.nce.
1860
l\.ttempts unsuccessfully to write sever::)] others--Dr. Grimshav,;'e's Secret, Tl1e ii.ncestra1 footste}2, SeptiI1us Felton,
'8]1d The Do11i ve r ROm<Jt1ce.
H.eturns to "1'lle I'W'ClY s1de II in
Cnncord.
Publ is les Our Old Home, a volume of ess 8YS of l1is in:Dressions
1863
of England and the English.
Uies
in ~lay on a tour of New liampshire for his healttl and is
1864
bnried in SleeDY Hollow, Concord. 2
ftle Puritan
m~tely
lArly
2n~
1620
Rro~nd
er~
j~crican
in
1740 and
secu1~r
(IS
~entered
M3SS?C~usetts
Purit?n soriety, and the
well
?S
~istory
Uay.
churc~
occurred between approx1-
in the New England
i<.eli;-;ion
W:1S
8re~,
particu-
tile movin[c; force of
was tnc dominant institution in
sDiritu?1 life.
iJasie prinicinles of yuritanism
(1) God is the 1l:11in'itecl, cOJY'nlete 3ut i lOrity of the un1verse,
l1nd dis wi 11 is reve;) led in the Bible.
(2) God directly intervenes in tle ?ctivities of ttle world,
(lnd !lis intervelltic)[[ is called
Provi~ence.
llle Puritans
"Jere constclDt 1y searching tor s.gns of God's will,
tiley
an~lyzed
,md
Clll events <lnd ptlenomen,l in terns of
llis will.
(3) All men are born in S1n hecause of Ad?rr's fall
he 0 i nn in ,(~ of t ir."e.
he oap'ne1.
Sin
w~s
?
at toe
Conser'uen t 1 y, 111 l'en de serve to
(l':lis ")rinciple is c2J1ed "N?tural iJeDravity.")
f;:Jet of life for t!le Puritims, and t'ley
sought to fig'lt it in Clll forms.
w?S tlerefore
(I
nul1lic aff;=> j r in
Puni shr'CIl t of sin
Wl1 j
ch
tilE'
whole
eorrrunity took Dart.
(4)
~;or1
in dis Deerey selects sorE' l:en to be saved from
(Llmnation; not ling t'l?t Il;ln does, however, can influence
God's decision.
Being selected
God's grace
W?S
known
(IS
W?S
t
~
election, zno tlds ide?
is called toe Doctrine of t1e blect.
W?S
?
of knowing
relicrious
'-)
ll
wlet~er
one
only salvution.
w~s
~
l'here was no
rne~ber
of the elect;
ex ,>erience"--Derson2] di ville
4
rev('l~tion--
WPs tilE' only 'Iosi tive 'Hoof of election.
nerson:ll conviction
WClS
Tllis
necess,'1ry for membersllip
l'tlerefore, an e lemen t of cb llbt
pn,:l f"lestionillg was 81w?ys an undf'rtone of t'le
religion.
(5)
Anyt ling w'lir.11 stirred tile emotions or ",',s sensu"l
w~s
sinful.
c~r('ful1y
Purit('ns lived n systen?tic ('nd
rontrol 1 ec life, 1;,\lich
God., not tr)W,rrl t:1eir fellow men.
5
W?S
directec toward
UISCUSSIG~
0F
Clhl~fHRS
ftle Custom House
"T1le Cl~'stOr. House r' is ll'l'.Ntnorne's introd 11cti')n to Thc Sc?rlet
Letter, 2nd ?S sue'l it est?blis les (or :->tter:l")ts to est:->hlisfl)
ilistoric?l b?ckf',ro'tnd 2nei v?li,iity,
tller~es,
8D,1 symbols of tie
story.
:ii'wtilorne ?tterrrts to {::.Jvc historic;ll b?ses for t:1E' book
tlirO\l~;:l
tile descrintions of ili.'
~'l;rit;lll
?rlCfstors Cine t'leir strict
:.ie fl~rticillarly !lott~S tile sevE.'rity,
c lstorrs.
sternnes~,
and
It:)ersecutin:: s';irit r, WllCil 1,,'crc import"nt )J~'rts of tileir Cl~r3Cterse
T'1l1S, i,e prcwidps
'1
Q?sis for t:1E ?ctiO!lS of tne .i;Juritcl1
:~,:v.t'lOrtH:~
con-ll'unity 111 tllE' story.
,1]so ?tter:Dts to
2~t?blisil
t le re::lisr of t:u"> nlot structure by c1cscribilH" ci OC11r:cnts :)ert:linin'~
to i:estpr Pyrll.ne \'I!iicil v,ere s'.!t)t)oscc:ly f01!nel in tile
The USE' of nClmes (:11Q
time nrrioGs ;->lso hel'Js to verify t:1(' hooY.
file t'ler:f"'S of sin ?nc1 'Jl1niS ilPE'nt (lre
iDtro(1Uce(~
def-crir,tiO:1S of ilawt!lOrnp's Pllritqn foref(1t:'ers
descrintions of tne rlocutrpnts.
is strilciJgly 11ro'J..c) tt to tilE'
(l1lc1
1n tilC
in tie
fne syrrl)ol of tne sc;:>r1ct letter
forf'~)roun,'
;'s liClwtilornE: describes
its 'fJ'e;cr:>nce 1n s'larp det;,il, :'s ",'ell 2S Ilis re;H"tion \,.. lE.n he
pL~ce(J
it
3.g~inst
!lis O\'.'n Clest.
nl'ile Custor: 'louse l l <11so gives tile
s :! r rOll w! c ct t i1(' Wr i tin i~ 0 f
!~:->1'.'tlorn("s
<1biUty ;os
rl
t! te ron; ;c n Ce
writer.
6
b2c;'~;roun(1
:~
r!. ci
,)f events 'J;;licll
a t t e DC ]I t s t () e ~ t ;> h 1 i~; II
-
C l13nter I
The title of t1is ch?oter, tl1e "Prison-Door," is very
2t')nro'Jri2te 2S tne entire C'l(1Dter serves <JS
rest of tll{' story.
ClW!
"door" to tlJe
lJawt~lorne
In tnis s',ort sketch,
imCl i~(:S anel t lelre s wllie!l wi 11 be deve loped
gresses,
?
;:1 s
presents
the s tory pro-
he establis!lE's tne nrev;:;ilinr: mood of tIlE' bODk.
file first
p~L\f"r:l]11l
imnedi8tely g1.ves t'le n:'2der an
irr;nres,ion ::If o;orkness :onrl nE'<'viness.
liawtilOrlle describes
(1
crowd of oeo;)l(' \oI.'eClr1.np, clotnes t lat Clre "se1 el-colored tl 2:ld
t;r?y, fa,in/; Cl door "1eavily timbered" ann "studceej wit;l 1.ron
spiKe
S.'I
In the
'HP.'lS in Boston:
Cl nn tile se
C1
secon(~
D(1r(1gr?~)il,
the 'lut'lor focuses on t;lreE
The nris"'n, the cemetery,
re<> sere close 1 y assoc iCl ted wi t
ideCls of sin, de?t:1, and s('lvCltion
~re
::]W1
tile church-y?rc,
E'l' (,'1 otlE'r.
1
sUB~,:ested
thus
81
TIle
'
d will
become centr81 tlerres.
fhe orison, em irr:portl'lnt symbol, 1.S described 1.n terrr:s of
d?rknes~~
(1wl he?viness.
comrr:unity, the Drison hClS
lJes'Jite tIe
~lre2dy
youtlltulnes~
of tile
taken on t Ie aspects of age
and 2nticuity.
Flower and weed imugery 1.S introduced
on the weed olot ;-:nd rose-husl1 in front of
~s
H?wthorne focuses
tl1e~)r1.son.
Color
im<>eery of reel 3n1 black is 8lso introducE'd.
The rose-hus'l is
8nd it is i·ientified
trIP
vritJl
tile sole symbol of hone.
-
one bri,-lt in:;>p,e 1.n this ch2Dter,
Pearl
fhe
throu(~ilOut
brif~h tnes s
t11e s(tOry,
WlO
of the rose-bus
1,
is
1101,veVe r,
is oversh?d::lwed by the r!(1 rlmess of t le ottler irr?:,ery nresented,
7
against the code
w~ich
condemns her.
It (and thus tllC Sln it
renresents) has the effect of t8king Hester out of tne comp.on
sn!1ere of ilumanity 2n(1
the other
sin.
Tll Cljor
isol~ting
her frofYl ot'lers.
Tile scaffold,
syrr:bol, is rf'nresent?tive of the IJUnis:lIT:2tlt of
It is describeri in terms of weiWlt (lnd d<lrkness, ,mci
li?wt tlorne !Jl ;"lees it ciirectly hf'ne: til the e;:lves of tile dl ureh,
1
rlgain !JointinG out t'le p'ui t;->ns' ohsession wi th sin 8uci the
closeness of tneir reli,'ion ?nr1 tlleir l?w.
By tIe cor'narison of Hester ;lnci PeClrl witll the ~2donn? and
Ctlild, t!rH·!t'lOrne emohClsizes ttle desn('ir (lnci sorrow wldch surround
ttle two, ;clnci which are tile results of S.1.n.
rf'view of the liff' she h8S
'ler backgromd, ano the c
ted
W~11cn
l~r(1ctpr
introduceci in f-}er tllOU'.'(tltS.
;lester begins a nent81
sllows ttle reeder son,!" of
of koeer Cl1illingsworth is
His intelligence and IllS nrobing
n8ture ;::Ire c(rph;-rsiZf'd, (1nd 118wthorne dwells on h:is ctetorrred body,
Art!lur
Uin'resG31e is ;11so mentioned, ;lnci 'lis concern with I,ester and
his godliness is nointed 01lt.
Cllf10ter 3
r'lis chpj')ter is tle first of ttlf' crur::i?J SCJftold scenes.
Chi 11 in:~swortfl t irst ?nrW('lrs
t'le c:larpcterist.ic wast emDha-
3'1(1
sj7eci in llis descril'tiol1 is 'lis intelligencE'.
TtlE
sn?ke-like
exoress:ton ,,/l:1ch cros.<:ps 11is f"lce?s he rccogni7es Hester rev('als
tne \lirlr'en t1,'J'ist('d nature wllicrl is to enier~;e ?nd, (-",Iso, reminds
one of t"'1e S'lt;-lllic sernent ?W~ iwlicc'tes tile d('vilisil nature of
t:l€ fT1::ln.
Tl1('re is CO!1st~nt fores l l;cldo,-:ing in !lis actions ;;n(l ilis
4
ilester is onp of s:ilPTlce.
II P
11 in
ts
0
f tie nee rl f I) r t 11 e rt is-
covery of trIe n?rtner of Hester's s1n, and one sees his deterITlinCltion to fino t!l;lt nerson eve!} at :this point.
fhe otilcr medor f i~;ure in the d r8n18, Art!lUr lJimmesd'lle,
is also describeo in t
for nis p;odlines~"
esteerr.
11S
chapter.
and one can sef
lie
is noted first of all
tllC1t ne is Ileld in nigh
lie is described as tieing very emotiunal, sensitive,
mel:1ncilolic, withdrawn,
?rO~_llln
from t'lose
(lno very relivious.
15 tIle [;reatest irony ,)f tIle book, for,
to m21{e.
become
?
n!~
is isolated
him as Hester is isolated on her scaffOld,
(lna t'lis conr11 ti_on is a resul t of his sin.
he is nleaii
He
for himself.
His D1e8 to Hester
un~no'wn
to the cro\\-d,
Diml'"'eSc1 al c is asking lies ter to
fhe sneech is indic?tive of the hypocrisy
lJ~rt
~lich
will
of ilim.
1'he IT'inor Clla ra c tt::rs of Gov e rnor Bell ingham and l{ev. Wilson
are s ym bo 1 s
0
f
a6pe c t s 0f
I'll
r it? n cuI t u r e •
1'Ji lson
is symbol ic
of the churCh, and his close ?S!'Oci;ltion wi til iJellingrlalT:, sYlTbol
of the state, en'ohasi;,'es c>gain tne
l?w in Purit(1nJsm.
interwe8v:inl~
The two 8re fit leaders of
of relir,ion and
t:1E
COl'!lT;unity for
t;ley (1re bot1. severe <lnd rigid in tileir Cltti tudes.
The symhols of Pe2rl
3n~
t1e letter are develolJed 1n this
Pearl, 1}'li1e rer(1ining symbolic of l1ester's S1n, also
becomes symbolic of
l1('r
inner sect!1ing (J;1d
a~ony;
her cries are
mClnifestations of !tester's pmoti:)ns.
uimmesdl11e, s11e also
repre~ents
acln:owleognent of sin.
10
The letter
becomes lege;ldC1ry ane! as"t.!IT'es <In
the eyes of the comrrunity.
livin~
it will TI'alce ilester a
~ointeo
~wful
and hellish asncct in
As Dointed out by Chi11inrswortn,
Sern!(ll1 imd sX<1nc nle of sin, to be
out to all.
Ch:1')ter 4
l'his
lS
C'1<'lractl"rs
the first of ttle scenes wlich foc:lses on two
t()f~(>t!ler,
ano in it Oile sees, Jester
i1tlc1
C!1illiw s-
wo r t '1 's r e 1 ~ t ion s 11 ins.
de s ter' s imlN'di 3 te rea c t iun to C!lill in: sworth is
fear and rristrust.
revenl:e,
illS
S ile 1S already
th~t
of tile likelihood of
anc1 s Ie fears for tile dl ilc' and ilprself.
C'1illillf:s'Nortll,llOWE'VCr,
so
a"'JiHE'
)nE:' of
exnres~'es
,1isdf's1.re for hester to Jive,
his revenge n;:y be carried out tilrOl1p;ll tile S:laI'le of
t Ie scarJ et letter.
CllilJ ingswort!l 1.S seen 1.n tlle role
Hester
of it.
IwS
connittec.
(1
si.n ':l1;<linst
il.1.m,
()f
tile wroIlf:ed ill!sbaud.
and Sile
1.S
full y aware
ilowevcr, :ler !t'lsband C'drrits that he, too, is ,)2rtly at
f~ult.
11e Ir2de the first T'oist<'lke;
npvp r t '1e 1 es '", he des ire s rf'ven,'';E' on hE'r
IJ;"
rtner
1
n s 1n.
ctlC1Dter, therf'f"He, one sef'S Cilil1il1f:Tsl.':lrt:l as '1e has
c~'ld
SCllol Dr
1X:!O
In tlis
be(n--~
p"Joe a venn atteIr')t to 11ri nr tllman \'arnt'l into
ilis life--and as 'Ie \\ill be--a nan of secrf'cy, obsessed wit!1 Vle
need for reven;r,ej wno "'.Ilil use
'llS
intelli[':encc to ro ntrol nis
victirr:; a.nd \.,10,,'.'111 becon,e, in sdort, a devil.
11ester
ClUe!
CililJ iugworttl are
llO,ll1C1
togct 1e1' 1n an oat'l of
secrecy to v' lic l} llC'stcr ilgrf'eS only because ot
11
t'le tilrc:::.t to\\'a1'd
tIe
IT'Rn
S1C loves.
As \fill be seen,
t:lis conce;-,lr.-'cut of identity
will be tile riowufall, ironicf111y, of hot'1 tile victin clD0 tIe
victiITd 7er.
Pe~lrl
.1S
ngain sf-en <'s t:1e syrr:bol of ilester's 1nnpr
t~lrr.oiJ
ChClDter -'5
,1· .:>
an exposi tory cl13;::>ter
\'J
t ich
des t e r 's I if e aft e r her reI e asp fro pj
1)
ex))10 ins 2nci riescribes
r 1 son a ~ rl til e e t r' e c t
0
f
the sC(lrlet letter on iler existence.
1''1.e scar1et lettfT becomes toe hclrnen
every riay; Sl1C beCOti
."lnd
S1)iri
tu;;l'_y.
,\:()tlingrr~lkE's
e~
W~l..l.cil
dester must carry
t Ie eIT'bodiment of Sln for tile C')I run1 ty .
S'1e lives alone,
Ilester fecI
;IS
()W,,~'
from t11C town,
if S 1(' belongs or
i~
(l[!0
her
accepted by
Inste(1c1, she 1S constantly rerindec1 ot tile Sln
t lis Doirn, ilOwevcr, 11ester
D:
;0
Ill.::: i
strug~~les
to believe in t'le f-000 of
nei •
In snite ot t'leE:.e agon1es, liester does not leave
lhree re?s')'lS rue
(~lVEh:
jj~ston.
s le 1S still a D'!rt of t,lE:: soc1cty
12
",:ork- •
, ; 0 ',\ eve r
:lester
r'ily rebels ,ir;;linst
:LIlv\';
nun1S ment,
(ICr
is ex~'rcs.c;c.'l in tilE:' gor',,r'O~IS o\.tfits in
,e~ter
for ft: r
t ' l t '1(>r
:.;:'\','t I101'n(',
l(,tt'~'r
in
3
l1C'W
1
",,:.11C t
,
t lis oefiance
GrJ,ej
cresses 11':'<!r1,
Si}(
,ils·) retuscs to ',rdY tor t Ie
1:'Urital~s
r(l),er ni;'nt becon'(' a curSf.
c:p~,ter',
ll1 t:lis
torn.
is
1t
also
'rese:1ts tile sc?rlct
lO'l: :i t
legend:' ry a c1 is t
n:);·
f'lis C'j,;F·ter is " (iC's('riDtion of 1->c<-r1 ann
.Pe;lrl lS n;'Pled su iJecause
lS
?
to
cor.n;'nioIl
feel~
lcr not:ler
t.pt S 1E' \·';·s hurc le"eet ":J.t I a gre''1.t nric(', 3nclttlf' n(I1IE' also
ex"res.scs
!
les ter IS def i a nee<
of tile conrt,ni ty 's
W
'1 S e viI, l' e r I, tie res u 1 t
l>P;Jo1
lS
c1C"scrihe''j
(~s
bCll1;;
a
i) f
t hat sin,
l
~
hm.
w]
11 a 1 so lJ (' e v 11 •
ra(1.1(;111t be(,uty, \\illful and
tia\\ttl )rne rcneatecly :->oints out :ler
\,:11ic1 is the evidence of riester'
en n:1 t
lester tc ,rs t'1."t bec~lU':'C
In sr:ite of tler love tor l'e,lr1, t'10;1 I,
:lE? r S J, n
CI'llej
~'I,'ssion:ite
oClssion.
I!pster's SJ,n, :1cr !linden rf'bellion (WI1C:l eX'lresscs itselt
t1(, vivid, frmc1f1l1 clnt
IH!f~
n(iture
~n
W)iC:l Pearl VI'('<'rs), !ler lnner
turroil, hpr 'laS'ion;lte Il;1ture, ;Jnd her subducd be:lilty.
Ft'om
letter.
the
beF:in"in~~,
It is t:1e first
the cnilcl is
t
ling
W11'
8s~oci2tec!
en Sll,
l10ticps
as an infilnt, anri Inter S'lf' arnlses Ilersclf by t
13
lAit:1 t l1e scarlet
(~tJout
lrowln~
IEr I:ot ler
""lId tl()\\crs
at it.
S 'le lS 'lersplt
syn:bol of sin,
',unis
trle er:lbudirLent of t Ie letter, t:Je living
lJ1(-Il t,
an:i even tUclll y redenl)t ion.
She is
thus b01>1 n1e;.1s·".. re ann n,lin for 11er motiler.
Her use as a symhol is emnl1asized by :ler ] ack ot :lUman
(;u ali tie s •
~nrl
?n
S!1e
J
The neo'll(' of t
U'l,.
(,li 1(1 , z.nn
is des C rJ, 1) EJi as bE' in g
;:'1
f (' i ry, an elf, as:, r 1 t e ,
town be lieve 11f'r to he
1f'
lester i1('rsf'lf (uest,ons her origin h'i1en
fienrl npcring frOD! tle
c~lild's
~t
ler c di'lrf'n and, as an outc,st,
hatred forH'r
'eers.
S if'
den'onlmagllles
eyes.
Pe,lrl is -dso isn1:1te(1 by l.cstf'r's Sln.
wi til
2
S;l(,
Sile refuses to Y1]ay
has,
nClscjon;:-te
nL~ys,
filis 11atred is actp(1 out ,,",Ililp S·lP
as natural objects uecome tovmst)eolJle wllom Sl€ deslroys.
Chapte,r-Z
liawt:lorne uses t lis exnosi tory cilanter to dEvelop the
c 1aracters of lwstE'r
Again,
c '18 ra c t
p
t'le
~~nctPearl
'l~,ssionate
r is en')!) asi zed.
fight for tIe
eX'lrps~('s
C 1lilrl,
(1fld
to develoD synb01s and in'agery.
def iance
~~nd
indenenclencc of liester I s
S'le r.oes to tile Gove rno r' s
regardless
r:;f
!lOU se
societal prejudice.
to
~ne
'leI" nro'.lrl rehellion in tl1.E' c1ress of l'earJ, \Injcil is
rleliherately )Trlde to lont JiKc t1e lettpr.
in t1e chnoter, one sees
ho~
Yet, a
l~tt]e
t13t letter has hidden
l(r
later
inrtivi~uality.
i'.'tlen Hester 10 r ,}<:s into tIC r..,irror-like surface of the arDor, the
scarlet letter is n.?gn1.tiecl
1Jart of 'ler features.
f,rc~tly
ilmi hecoITes ttle p'ost Drorr_inent
nl1.S D<'gnification is symbolic of the
exaggeratecl a\'Jareness of sin in Puritan cuI ture, ClS ",·ell as
enotlasizing
t
1('
centrality of llester's ounif.llIHnt in ner life.
She seeD'S 'lanlly able to exist witilout its oresence.
14
ru~biguity
rhe
ClCl'Jte r.
~eJrl
of
She is seen n'os t
scarh"t 1 f't ter ilncl' 11
'~nc1
:::cl'I_rlet
gold dress.
f0r life,
f orcefu11 y as t he en boel in en t
t'lett it stands for beCC1\lSe of
out, as is the i'l'lsive
~0tential
as a symbol 15 also develoDcd 1n t lis
:iPr
nc1s~i(m
rlevili~tl
~o'Je,
~T'(l
ler
bC2uty are <;150
side of !lEr clpraCTE'r.
~re
and rerleffintinn
It SilOU]d be noted, iIO\\'t'ver,
brOt~g'lt
,ier
also oointeo out
sy~bols
Wlen SIC calls for sunsh1ne and roses,
life.
ot t tIe
of orom1se
~nd
tlat ,tester is uDc.ble to
f;1ve her da:lg'lter t'1ese t Lngs.
1\li5 cllJ.ntE'r also contains excellent
(jovern~)r'
s fl18nS1on.
of the
It 1S inTerestin;', to notice t lat despite
t'le suns [In( on t Ie outside ot
nx~~~~r~t'on
(~escril'tion
l1011~(',
tile
(\n( still sees tile
of t1(, mirror on the inside of it,
t~o
conflicting
syrr:holic irr;lges.
Chanter :3
'l'his cll:'ntpr serves t:le dual
C:l;1r(lcters and
ela'lsed;
brjn,"in[~
'~ur-'OE',e
of develo"TI,ent of
tIle rearier Ut)-to-date. Three yrars ilave
all of tile mClin C wr:'!.cters
~]nd
tt1e inmortant nincr onE'S
are nresent in a 'Juhlic controi'Lltion.
Une sees again iicst(r's not entirely subdued
'ler deterp'in;:,tion to kef
tl
ler "bac,cE' of Sl;Jrre" wlicl will
;l
kinei of s;llvatlun.
:leli~
SllE'
is gc::ining
lJearl 1S botil <in illstr\ln:ent
syrrbol of lovc, !1o'Je, ;}n rl life
\'iilf'11
1X1sciom from
:H-'r to find (: :·12cc in h,lManity
salvation all4 of Hester's DunishfTient.
off of;) rosebusll,
1n
tile c lilc1 or to resign herself to
Sl1e 'Joints out t'lat
and
r<,Sl,~;ns
0ne
~lso
sees
ot'h~.t
~e2rl
S'lt' says th:'1t snc 1'1iaS nluc' ed
'mel "'hen she kissps lJir'p('scLde's l1;)nc!.
15
as a
e'l~wges
fhe C l::>r;'lcter
JrClde note of.
in iJirnesdale
iester cannot :l('l
t
)
~nd
C l1 il1iru swortl
y
;~re
hut notice tilE-' up:Iiness, ctetorrr;ity,
z:nri d1rknps:,-; ",ll iell now ar'le: rs in Gni 1 J ingswortl1' s t
as indicC1tions of tlis deterloration into Evil.
<~eE';
211 serve
un ttle otH'r
~l(nd,
tl1e frailty-, neldncLPJ1!, , ;)nd em?nci;J8tion of iJimmesoale's face,
iudi eat es til e g r:)1;.1 ng r:ui 1 t
W
lle il tormer; t s
:11 S
soul.
!fresence of lieJ linghaIr and {wilson indicate tl1e nevET-cllanging
f11E'
existf'nee of tlle t'uriLm (' lUre;l ane! state in l1uman
a1Jnf~ar?nee
(~f
of cvil 1n
~l]
~fL.iirs.
Yistress ,]ibbins serves as a ren incl at
f11e
tllC DOSSlbility
men.
of his nresenee.
C ''n'I 11. r:.g s\'.'or t1 I s intell.:igenee is
reSCl:lreef ,llnes· witi}
W l;e l
a~~ln
derronstrated in tile
1 11E' ()tt,cI1E's himself to t[l(' townspeonlc
?nd to Uimn:esd31E' (as a leech att3(,11e5 itself to
,1 \lurnr-n body.)
One learns ()f t11e n:lysieal rietf'rior8tlon of uillnesdaJe, ea'-1sed
by his irlcreasing guilt.
!l2'.dlloPle :;ives tile r earier some ins.. ght
into iJirrn'es0:1le's person;dity will.ell sOP1 ewll;:tt <lee-aunts for llis
s 'ame:
R
mind
~~ieh
eorrnre'1f'n rl pd 'mrl tile
w'lie:l woq10, of
<D
on
necf's~ity
.:irle~s
until t ley are eorenletely
of f::lith- for his Dcace of njnc,
urse, be ttlreatened by reaJiz(ltion of '11~ sin.
Hawthorne also
wort!l ma 1{es 1n his
dl~el1s
~l-Jows
cie~ire
tile
rp~ctE'r
the nrogress \-.;11el1 Ctlill ings-
to know tl1e n;1.nister un to tile noint
1:\1'1ere i1e is ?bIe to scrutin:!7e Div,tresri,llE"s f'very trover-ent;
16
one sees ('vidence of tile searC;l1.ng, curlous, probing IT'ind wlliel1
eventurtlly ,,,,ill cause his own dmvnfal1.
The fiendis;ness of C1lillingsworth cll;uacter is fores:1Cldo1;,ed
by t'lE' towr's in('reaslnp susnieion t tat tIe is a devil
in
di~:guise,
sent to test tile s?int1y younf' n'inister.
ChaDter 10
In tlis cf1aDter, Hawthorne reve<is the lowest denttls of
Chillingwortil's movement t01,A"ar<i evil,
his relationsnip with
UiIT'~esdale.
2.S
well as the nClture of
11ere, too, 1S the first sJggestion
of confession WI.!.'l will save Uin'n1esdale's soul, and lia",tilurne thus
turns from tile life of !testE"r to t;le exar. ination of the eOl,flict
and struf'::8les in IJimrnesdale's Cilaracter.
ell i 11 ingswort!l 's nesi re for revenge rlas taken over l1is fiind
"nd SO:11 coTtm1i='te1y.
~is
sparcllinf: ann Drying in Dimrresdale's rrind
reveCll tile rJinister's .(~ui1t.
Ctlilljn~sworth
W
he
W?S
i~
the
licl he llones will
Jl:lwtnorne remirris the reader of
t~le
's naturE" twfore 11e a 1 1m/,"ed
to t)ossess 111m:
~ctivity
sole purnose and
desire for revenge
l'incl., ca 1r!' , 3ncl uDrivl1t.
Ilis original
inten tiOIlS in t'le se2rcl1 f or the f atner ",ere not evil 1n n2 ture;
oe wanted only tile truth.
;lOwever, t1E: has since become fascinated
and obsesserl witll Uif'1resdale as
?
curious srecimen of hunl?n nature
and t lC'refore slbjeet to expCrinC(ltation.
the minister for "the u.rt'
~
,Ie begins to exap1ne
sake," for nis
0\\11
kno\.\"led~;e,
and
lle is tilUS well on t\1e ",ray to comr"i tting liawtllOrl1e' s tJnf)Clrdonable
Sin.
He is raDictly becoming
:1
fiend, and Petirl accurately labels
l1im tle "1112C1.- t. 1 an" 1/"ho il<lS ".(~ot flo1r] of
17
tile r,inister.
. .1,4
heeo~inf
Dimmesdale is
engulfed in his
is eng 111feel in ilis revenge.
himself to be false.
~uilt
~s
Cuillin:swortn
lie can trust no rr:'n, for )le knows
lie ;:llso realizes tile s81v8tion and p<>aee
wlich he could findin confession of sin, yet he offers several
reasons
w~y
such confession may be
i~nos~ible.
lie
is 2n umdlling
hyooc rite WllOse f e;1rs kee;:) 'lim f rOf;1 tlla t w llien he mos t era ves-tile Trutil.
l'he syrrbols of Pearl aWl the sC21rlet letter
l'e;ul
rieveloned in tnis chalJt<>r.
J.S
;~re
furtilcr
seen as dit ferent t
rOfi
tile
rest of l'lrpnity; slle does not rf'SlJect tile graves sae (lances over.
is()l~t:ion
Ijer freedorr,
noted.
The
sc;~,rlet
;:Inn seeringly uncanny perce8tion are
letter
lS
s ,own in
;~pot'ler
IT;('rmer; Pearl
covers it w1tl1 burrs, anel i;! ... e unsightly vegetation adheres to
it
re~rlily.
lS
found in t lle blacl<: vvced s
il.not If'r exarr,)le of llnn8tural or unsir::1tly vegetCltion
IV
n ell Chi 11 in!:sl:.'Ortl1 di scover s, and
wne!l serve to errmil<lsi7c llis evil anel tile sin
'AI-
lieil struggles to
be revealed in every n'an.
Chapter 11
1'111S short exnosi tory cll~-pter serves the purpose of
bringing the reader up-to-dJte on Uimrresdale's sutfering and
g rm"ing ins;' :1.i ty and 01~0 of cienons t r at ing C:1il1 in gswort h 's comple te
su brr is s i em t
J
llis () bse s~ ion vi til r even ge •
Dirrr'psc'11e herome~~
toy \':lic'l the nhysician c('.n lIl;ly \.,..-itll.
?
dedeterrr"nes to become Uifl".nesdJle's closest frie;-,rl,
11 i s r (' v e n r. e :"; rea t
f'
r,
;:lD rl
torture of tile ninistf'r.
0
thus Faking
n p set's his inc r e ;l sin f, n 1 e a sur e i n t II e
liis
0",.'11
wrete:1.edr:ess, Ilo'v\'evcr, is 2.1so
Dointed out.
One learns 1n thi~ chppter of the extent of Ui~mesdale's
18
suffering
1.S
ilis
1.n
llis s:ruggle with guilt.
love of trutil, for
be ot)erwise t Ian
8
ilis s.lftf'rings, but
confessi_,ns 'wlic
his
:,uhlic estp(·n'.
il('
"p
ironically fincts it imDos: ible to
IlP
1.S
to·) V!e;-:k to do so.
can only
lie
<lrcli11f-true and ;:wlu::uous, thus
1
f\S
1.S
can
.
t'
~'inister
to
D uri f
y
,111, S C ;
'l1S
r"ockery of nenitence.
IIC
t ,
:lirr self is flynocritic?l.
1:1 S
(1estructi on
nlis is the second scc,f+old scene, (";nd. it
noint of the story.
ng
to ot1ers hut not to 11inself.
is conticu<l1Jy r'isillusioned '.dt!l tile world, tor no
u n ~l b 1 e
.
1.l1Crp;1S1.
ure and Fore intwined in nis own
hut it i3 only intensifier' by
see truHI '}round il;m v\"len
DJa're
aJso intensified by tlte:.;rmntl ot ilis
rH' heC0[reS
:{p
i~uilt,
t;reatest torment
illS
hynocrite.
!lis suffering
'J '11.n •
t>erlla'")s
c~nnot
:le
(' .los i n <'(r
1.S
1. "
,)
is
1.n.
tile
LJiIrr:escLJ}efs e>ng lish c:l1C iun, r confljct
"e is driven
'e
te11o"~'
1.S
men.
tie is confrol,ted witl} sever,:]
re(11 ot)')ort:1l11ties to revea1 ilimself,
but !lis fe;n aLiows them to sli" j1LlSt.
19
1ii~; conf pssic>n lS
Pezrl.
two
t~
hy on1 y two lIeODlc --Jiester 2nd
T I1ey J01n [1im on the scaffold, Clnclfor once tile L'r.:ily lS
uni tec1.
forn!
\.Ji
,,11
Thev
2,S:",UITf'
t:leir true r ,les
plE"ctric ch~in of life.
?~ults
~re
~'nd
life anel 1n so (oin:
T:1ey ere corr»lete to:E'i:her.
lin~ed
symboljc(1lly
ill
11Y Pe~rl,
rerresp~t(ltive
t:l(,Y
1'I1C'
of
t'leir love,
t leir sin,
re;:11:i7~tion
of tile futilit\' of tns Teve 1 2t:ion; S;lE as 1"s hir1 to
st<ln~
v,i til her' ~lt noon,
T."
LJi!T1resclalc I"Jst t'lke to
refuses
~nri
At t
1,
~gajn
t
of trutll.
licft is, in ('ss' nee,
:edeve sC'llv?ti':;n.
tlH'
course
W IICI
:towever, tile pinister
denies hinself.
yrlr)rnent,
iawt!lOrne again brings one's focus back to
tile sC:1rlet 1ett f'r, vhie'l ;;P')E";HS in ttle sl{y aw!
lif~11ts
ni; 11t 1n Cln unne rued
~osition~
tle
fOllr
0'.\,.
It reve8Js the true
of
main C'larClcters:
joinec', t':)[,;et 11er on
t'lem,
,:]
tile
11101"",
t~le
SCdft o]d, ann ChillingS\A.ortl1,
111S fut] rn ;,1iciousnesE-:
tO~h01;"
'.,10
on :1is fdce.
ligllt of t1e rreteor is fclJse, nevert I1eles<:, ':1ec;:Juse its
(loes not reve(11 tlis tr'lth to tile rest of tile corrrunity.
too, is f:11 SP
;'I
t t ilis 'Joint ,
observes
rIle
li~;:lt
Lester,
for Sle CilO'lses to continue 11e r
dPC'E'ntive silence ()hollt C'1iJ1ingsv.rorth's true
~dentity.
Pcar]
ren1 C1ins t 1e tr1ltllfnl c: lararter in t'lis sr:ene; shE' alone r1E'P'(lnds
the 2'JnE'dra!1Ce of jiester, lJim i 'f'sc1ale, ond iH:rself 8S a faIT'i]y.
Hawtl10rne
devf~loDs
the syn'bols of tile sCnrlet letter, t:1e
scaffolo., ;<n1 l'earl in tlis Cil8nter.
ment of trutil; S!lC 1)oints ttle w(:y to salvot:ion for lJirrlnesdale.
1'tle sC<lffold becorr:es not just
a
~YIT'bol
of nenitence.
(l
symbol of runis'm ent, but 81so
rhe letter senes
20
;~f~;lln
as ()
rerTinder of
ruilt, :'nd it is ironic th<lt w1lile it reveals
'llS
jjir:-p~esrl;dE'
~n
true stnte ·')f beinp;, it iE'. false beca1lse tile townsncoDle ?re
not 'Iresent.
tll~)t
( It P'ii''lt he noteci
?ll four of tlle
~;1in
symbols are nresent.)
CI12Dter 13
filis c1uipter brinI;s tile rearler to date on the C,1Dracter of
HeSLer, Clnd one le?rns tl('t the nirllt on tIle scaffold is (' turning
noint in her life.
;lester 11<:'S survived seven yc<:'rs of Dunis'lll cnt ln ap:,arent
resl")cct of tl1e community "nrl is
,l] 'O\,'C'C
to :ldve S,)TIle closer
cor~tact
witll it.
ann it is dllrini< tll€"'e 'Ieriods tlpt S1€ is accepted on eeual tern's.
In hetter tipes, however, she rep'nins
a kind of (lwe.
i~ol?ted
for she now insnires
Indeed, for n;.:lDY t:le sCilrlet letter stands not
for arlultery, out for A,bIe, ? symbolic term of goodnes:,.
0ne
Ie~rns
of tlle nrice wllic
1
ilester !laS hild to Day
'1<1
r sll, seVE re,
~n
suh-
mlSSJOn.
and her womanliness.
::>!1e ~s now
most of iler Puritan nef'rs.
s')me love
~n
ano dr ab, 1 i 1<e
IJe;;rl is tile one object \VinCil
l~e(ps
ller Ileart ,:nd thus l{eeps hEr llunan.
turned fro~ rebellion outwardly to radical t lought, 2n~ it i5' ~n
:ler th'JU"'ltS t'18t
me Finns evi(lence of tl}e
sDirit w'l'ch is so reDres:~('d.
~he
pa~E'jonate,
defirll1t
tlint.:-s ;:11)ouT subjects wllicll
Rre t<>ho() in the eyes of t'1E' !1uritClns 2ronnd her.
The sC'c::rlet
letter, whic:l W2S sl1n'()sed to force l!estE'.L to conform to I'uritclil
v21ues, tl<1S, i;'ste::-d, turned 11E'r away from t lem.
21
Following 11er mep.tini; with Uimrresdale, hester suddenly h8S
a new objec t of attent ion.
~l1e
1S s IOc 1-ed by tilE' weaknes-::. she
wi tnessec 111 the minis ter, <.inC1 she re a1 izes t1lat StH" has comn, i t ted
2.
sin in
allO\~ling
Chillingsl,'.ortl1 to Dursue him 1/','itll no
\\'ar11111g.
'::'he has develo'led to the 1')oint WllerE' she is 2h1:- to stal1ciUD to
C1lillin{,;swortn, .1nri S;le resoJ ves to 11€1n Dinr esdale, tu ."non s 1e
owes the 811egi811ce of love.
:>
'(1 'ler incie'lencience.
Ctl8ntpr 14
ftlis is the first Driv::Jte ITlE'eting of ilestE'r wi t\1 Cl1illingsv-orlth
since tileir ctisc.ls s ion in ttle n rison, (: nd t 11ey 11a ve come to fu 11
self-re~liz0tion.
ilester sees t,le true C1l<lnge in Ct1111ingslA'ortll,
W10 makes nc t:ltteri;lJt t:) ilicie tl11l'Self fron) her.
.slIP realizes tile
full extent of his evil 2nd rleterioratlon; he hvs becoffie
incanablc of human emotion of rny Idnd.
2
fiend,
uestcr also realizes t;l(1t
ttlis nCln's rn1n 1S ')artlYlE'r fault because of ner sin, and Sl1e
feels dpen1y resnonsihle for tne ciestruction of both uimn;escLlle
0nci the
c
nhy~ician.
l~r::}cters
Nevertheless,
SlP
recognizes the greater
<1re fully aW;1re of thE' n8t'lre of UiITIIT.es0;11e
('l1d
of ilis
weRknesses.
Chi11ine;s1A'ortrl ('llso reC'L'!11ZeS t1e state of 11,1S o\-\,n nature;
he sees cle,lrly !lis ow1I nrogre:~s into evil.
reven~~t'
Ii o",'ev('t',
:lis drive for
wil] :1ut :1110,,", nirr to ')revent furtllE'r l~ctcrior;}tion;
he bl?iles Dimrr.esGdlc for 'lis
0'.":1
22
nrp:.;pnt stotE', :Jnd
iH'
~;lo::ts
H1
f~ct,
over
r'J)(', wl1ie!1
wasted in tleir Il'ltures.
WetE.
l'~e
,1
e s rv i r, f
t1;.~y
::Jl~o
0 1~,
~n
s r, i t
f'
0f
tIe 1 r
ell?- ')te rends 0::
'1
note of
rea 1 i 7 (l t 1 0 n 0 f b <l :::; i e r, 0 'd n e s
spe t11:,t t'lfY rlre llO")eles,c;]v trapped in evil,
~
,
2nd
Chi] J in0swort 1l is so rert;"]ln of this that he agrees to the
I~S
reveJ<1tirm of
tr:lP jrlentity to Uimrnesdale.
lle sees no ho')e
for t'.e fut'lre; he ciellies the ab11ity to (" l;1nge
~lis
destiny.
Ch,lDter 15
In
worth.
tli~~
chanter, Hester exnresses 11er feelinrs about C!li11ings-
'::'he is <In;,17ed 2t jlis evil and
.~ympathetic
l1alf-exne("ts nature to be
with tIer ilorror and hntrcd.
though :latred is
(1
s~n.
for she hates nim, even
Ilester feel!':' strongly tilat Cilillingsworth
11:1S
comr itted
:1
greater er1Tiie to\\'ard :1er th:ln sne 'las toward lun,_
SIIE'
£onsi~ers
:ler ITer' i<lge t:l him to be fler grE'::ltest s:in, 2nn S;le
never repen1cs of 11er love for Dir.'J'esc1,de or of t 1leir <let.
Fol10"r:in o
ilpr t :()l1:"lts "ftcr tile peetinp- wit'} Chillingswortil,
HcH".'tllOrne <lgain brings into
~")l)y
:>nr1 rleve 1 0IJs fllrtiH'r t'le syrrbols
Pearl, as always, feels;:) strong
con:H
("t~on
witll tile letter on "ler motlerls dress.
1'!lis is exnressed
even in 'ler 'Jlay, for S'le arranr~es sr>3weer. on her o\<\'n riress in tile
StlaDe of a gree'1
A.
l'iH' C'orrc:1ation between ttle two symhols is
thus re-·emnI12si7ecl, ?nd the green seav'eed ren1tnris one of i>earl"s
C] 0
se
truth
?
s so ci at
;U'c1
10
n 'vI'i t
lL
nat u r e •
~earl
s~mbolically
r('lJresents t:le trutil when sl1('
(l~ks
11et"
looks for
p,,;til.er Wllc:t the
Iptter r ean.e::. Rnd "'Thy tile rr inister 1101ds 'lis IF,nd over 11is [H'(1rt.
At t lis Doint, one sees the greC'Lt 10nelillC'sE
il
hilrt of :iester' s hurcien of rmnis i1P'ent.
tr()uble~~
w~th
to tell all
teri~tics
",")1C 1
lIas been
She lonfs to SlClre her
(ll1otller, and, for one flE'E'tjn;:; rr:)r;E'nt,
S'lE'
is tetnted
to Pei1rl.
of i-'PClrl
are ,1{scussed as llE'ster ma1-es 'lote of the 1I0ssib" e
traits of courage, strong will, nride,
a 1](1 tile abjJity to see
t:lrollV'l f:11se i lOnd wlieil can l1e seen errerging in i'e;Jrl.
;lovevcr,
dester's old habits of silence rer::ain witn her, ann for the first
time in seven ye<lrs slle is untrue to tle scarlet lptter.
not s-jtisfy iJearl bec<luse it is false,
'ler mother for inforn'.;:>tion on tne
l',)is does
(lnci s le continues to nress
letter.
C l lCl.hter 16
Tllis CI'l:1hter sets the
tal.;'p nl?ce in t'le forE'st.
st~l~~e
for the next tilree cha r l1:prs, wilicl1
Tile forest is syn:bolic of t'le evil 1.n
Hester 2nci Dimrr.esd<lle ;lnn tlle lflT'oral '',\'ilclprnes<:: in ""!liell she and
ot~er
c~:1ractcrs
nre lost.
ancl con'esnonds to tlf' f,loorr
.it is dclrk, si lp'lt, c,JJc1,
and son'bre
in bOtll ilester ::lna Dinnesdale's nines.
lile symbol of t'earl is <'galn as,::;oCJ ated 1Ivi til nature ann lifht for
Sle
1S
ln iu:'r eler;ent in tne torest, and slle ?lone is
~ble
to stand
ln t\le sunlif3ht lAri1ich only titful'y anpe'HS.
Pearl bei:s ner trot 1er for
;1
story al:Dut tne "b14ck
~,an"--t:le
devil--W'lO sun'losec11y llaunts tile forest in searCi1 of Sll,licrs aIld
tells i-lester ,of the 'IopuLlr belief tlat tile sC<lrlct letter is tile
sin--anri t
1:"
t
S i1f'
bears qis
Anotl1f'r symboJ
C'12uter--t'l(' brook.
covered with Sh8riOW.
n~ark.
is introducec4 <'nn c(ma" cted wi til 1'earl
It, like PC':l1'1,
l':lere
is
<lt1
24
H1
t 11S
is of unknown or1;'n ann is
essenti<'ll clifference beth'epn thE:'
two
syr~'hols,
Clgain \yi t!1
by
J1
est (' r,
~ site
s t e r,
',lDUSl;)l
q
t!H' hr )ok rr;)l<es
!1CH,,:eVer;
r
tr
p
t
lOS
:1 vel s
trut:lf1l1ness.
e
lV 1 i C ; 1
1
n rl P ('....,
\to'i
?
Tlel;'(l1c loly SOllnc as if it
:Ier ('1fsti()n~,
1 1 1 e ::1 ci to
S Cl
tilOU;.\
;:~voiC1eci
1 vat jon.
S 1 ;vl 0 IV •
gloom of tile forest.
CtDotE'r ] 7
sees cle;'r'y t'le octf'T'Ior:oti n of lJirr>resrialt' to t:le nOlnt of 110'lf'-
esteprr(>(l 'l"sitiu'l ir.. thf' comn'lDity,
The rrinistE'r, howpvpr,
resnp('t~:
Cd~
ot
tin~
,~n(l
she (ltternts t:J cnrfr)rt hirr.
comfort 1n 3ny source.
for snc reve;'ls Ct1iJ 'in,".c\\ortn's (l('lu(ll identity.
"ointec out.
f,'J.:'::.~el1:)ods;
but
jJir,'rr:esC<~tle
is d)le to
for~;jve,
to re,llUIl;lfl
t'lcirs ••
1'iley find tLOlrE:'l1t,'ry '!(",lce
be tnpn;selves, :::.ne:
to E"aC!l at ler.
tley
~:1
2hle to reve2.1
(lTe
t;leir inn'ost feelings
COl;~se
l,ere one sees t'lC
of :lction.
o solution; 'lP cloes not 'l?Ve t'le cO-l.4..cage (1l1d
c t '1 e
",;0
r 1 rj •
;; cst n r is
:-0
sec only death as
c~:n
l'C
(-~ C
nClture they C(in
1'11ey rio not forget tilE:' outside K)rld, tnoug:l, and
t'ley seck to detprr.ine son'c
f
~n
HIe forest, for
streiJ~;t:l
D ):\ l:Y d at . I is f P '1 r, 11 u t
of ldlJ
to
~,: 1 e s t rug I; 1 e s
Clla::)ter 113
decision to If'?.vE:' the ccmrmnity is nacE:'
~lle
[las been set ::lDart fro];·
lon~cr
deuenrlent
u~on
it.
soc~ety
~Ile
11e1S
longer COl:forF's to i'uritan belJcfs.
(,3~ily
transcencpc
?
it~:
mr. E:' s cL 1 f',
only;; ITeFbcr of t'le ~)urit?n society, t'ut
\
l.S
ye~rs,
for seven
1.J i
VJit:lout
1S
rc~;ret~.
an,'j
:~lWS;
: I 0 \\ f: VE r,
SLIt
~::
no
SllC no
i s not
onc ot its If?(:crs.
c.J er~;yr':ln, ·1""\.. is tot;;l'y 'O'ovprned 11y tile Puritall cocte, 2nd ne
;:>6
~
;:' rieli}'cr:ote GPcisir)D r)etv:cE'n life rlS
society rlnri life
ClS
r1
l rYl
DrE'Sent life is unl 1 e,lLlb1p
t:l<JU;:
sin,
i
r 1 1'1T,';ni'
8it',lY
the confession
s~n
O,,'l
ilY'Jocrite wi,Flin t'l:,t
cr outsi,'e of t 1l;)t society •
bf'CF1SE
it
J.S
not tr':t'lf'll; 'loc'ever,
rr:~1rE'
f1-or, his res'>onsibility y;il]
;-)li;l
"r 1<:r>:)Wlec1"rcnt
.J1S
l-{no\~'n
of it wi 11 not 1Je
t'in;--llly,
;l
'lis
Dubl ic
because of
tiester's stren;l and !1is O\I\;n wea'ness, 'lE gives in to tne terr'ptation
rtH' two r" is taken Iy tlink tllel t
tlley c?n eSC'1t)p t'lei}" 'last anc: C:1?nge their 'Nays.
nleir ciE'c-ision is n :v1 e C, sier bC(':luse tilE)' 2re
They
ir'''u1sE'S and
C(1n
be o"en :~nr'
c~n
~n
obey
nature 3..n
n~tur?l
true to t 1eir niltures.
Natare seel"inrly resl")ono.s,
0nr11awtll0rne
SlOWS
t'lE' rea'l('}" t:1E'
;oy of tile ,auple in the snnliGht
wlic:l engulfs t'lem.
;',?tilral irry)ulsps 8]SO
overn l'e,Hl
W'10
srenc1s her tin
e 1.n
Slle is in her elewent here and blends in v!i til the
Vle forest.
2
i
n i IT' ? 1 san d t '1 e DIan t s •
becorr.es t r l y
CI
('il
i~ <;
S [1 C
rI (1 ()
ild of na.ture,
r n s h (' r s elf w j t h flo we r s, s 11 e
811(i
stle lS PeS ,,\}ild and free
:lS
tIle forest itro:J1ld ller.
Cha 1)ter 19
Pe~rl
functi0ns nost ef~cctively as a sy~bol in this chRDter.
She 1.S at t 1e S2FE' time, the slgn of nature
an~
n?tural 1?w2s; the
symbol of the love of ilester 8n(1 DilT" esdi1}e; and tlle symbol of t!wir
'?-7
S~-le
sin.
S:lves l:ester fror corrr ittinf
<'not tler S1n by 11er
(Hester's) rejection of the nunislrrent of the scarlet letter.
h=: <' r l,
as t 11 e s y IT; bo 1
~cl\nowle:lge
t;18 t
0
file s t c r 's s i
t:l;1t sin.
syn'bolic,~J
511e e<nnot be
tr~lly
for c e she r t
0
(' C ('
e lJ tan d
It is only \\'hen [-testcr re!')J;-1ccs the letter
Pe ;:lr 1 is able to re J01n Iler.
se~8rC\tE'rl,
11,
Unti 1 th2 t
r<lr.b~
ly, by tile
t)oint slle is
brook from :ler Ii:,otiwr.
a n;-,rt of the sphere of Hester and lJir.;r es-
d.31e 'l,itll()11t tile 1)rOrHr conte/(t of sin cmct ')unislment.
The effect of the sC<lrlet Jetter unon !tester is stril<:ing.
tier
s~d,
'1('t~Jral
gray
J::Isc;ion and love are sUD'lres<'('d, and
Wa~9n
S,lC
becorrcs "
a~('in.
3.gf1,in for Din'r-esd:lle, W'lO canrlot ('bide Pearl's tantrum, tile DerSOH
for Wl0Il' she rf'fT'oved it.
Uil11resct{lle
Cel!1
no
!ongpr
be t
rue~
he c"nnot acl~nowJ('dge his
family nub'icly, ann J-'e:'rl ('gain 'Joints directly to tIE [1ea["t of
t:H:
n'C tter~";:len
S:1e as s iflE' ,vi 1 i
join t 11em in the town.
Symbolical',y, 1.fter l.hml'esdatf"S refus 1 to do so, I'earl will
112ve not1 ing to do wi t
file fOrESt
1
nim.
ag8in F,dls into gloom;
tnc ctJar':lcters cannot Esc2pe
tfleir 1);15t, <lnei th.eir r)ositons rCIT'din the S2ne.
continup to be,'lr
Ilpr
')uni~lrrent,
ilEster TIiust
anc9. vin:Tiesriale H:IT;1:lnS
2,
hypocrite
who takes no responsibility for his sins.
C 11?ntE'r 70
~J;Jl.yti1n!ne
ctr?n'8ti'1.11y SI\O l >\iS one the effects w LtCh the forest
interview 11(1S unon iJilT:;'eso;JJe.
In the forest
11e
I
le 1 s (' con'. n let f' 1 Y c 11 an V e d n:' n •
yielded to cielibcr:·te sin; '1e denied the t>llritan
28
1 iC~l
code w
v:a ~
P;UC'l
SO
82rt otl.1m,
C1
Clnj
lle is runninr: c\WCly f ron '
confession, th~ only ~ay to salvation for him.
Ci-l(ln~e
trying to
brouzh t
de has given up
s.1n, (mel tile full extent of 11is weakness is
:).1S
tie r'i SC0vers (' sIdden urge to do wick ed t'lings and
OUt.
js tempter! to snock sever<'l.1 of :lis rrost resDected 1)'si:-:'loners.
til e sap" e t i
TI' e,
ht
n e is? f r a i .' t .1 a t n e 0 pIe wi 1 1 say Ll:l the neg 1 e c ted
us rl.ut1E'S if 'le left before tile Election Sern10n.
1hwt:10rne
'libbj'15
uses vim!' es"--;) J e
to em"l1asi7E' t'lf neIA E'vi!
Hibl)ins .15 '-, syr'ho]
kinS'lil)
S.1n lS
IN:i t't
VP
'l<3'l',inf'Ss
iTl
t:1
"',T1,1
C
l! '1
~-is tre 55
~i~;tress
thE' rinst('r's scml.
of tlf worlj of tot..,l evi], ann
Dirl ('sehle,
'la,S
11)'
c'l;tng p d
('on fran t;1 t i:)11 ",-]
III't '10 rne
S;lYS
SILl"
fec 1s ('
ttl" t 11is yic'cling to
like t Ie (,OF'J?ct Hith the dev.1I tlat S:le vloul,--'
1'-y
vip" csd?lc
11:-
'~
t,~l1:erl
rE'f
:)1'']
'lin~'elf
~J.ining
.1
:1S
:1E'
Jnto bE
K;~S
licvifl~;
t'l:.t he C',:mot
before t:l'c- forest scene.
h'~vE'.
~
ttaip
lie
result of ilis Cl1?ngE' is (lis new ElectF111 ..)erron.
He Cd s (' 1 Y t ,Ii n 1, s ;1 ips e j t
J
n ~ ~) ire d •
C;1il" irl:::sv!ort'< n'cotni7es tile c ·;;nge 1.n iJirr,;;esd(11( ane:
,lIsa rCClli7f'S tl)c't
r.l 1 ,/sici2n.
t11~
ninister rCCOljni7f's tIle truE. nature of tne
1'rtey Clre no
1Cin~;cr
victin, .'1n:' ;]vel1!cr, ,'ut :tre nov.'
cnmn(1ninns in evil.
Ch?nter 21
Tlis dl<lnter,
:;lon~~
tIle setting for the f-inCll
ili s
tOT
i c 1 b (1 sis for t
'I e
wit'l the ne:<t, Druvioef· hackgrouno <'no
f'VE"1tS
of t'll': story.
c P J. e b r ~ t ion
W1
One learns of VIe
i c 11 i s t ;: : 1<;: in;r:; ,,1 ace,
t '1 u s
making the lClst events nare significant.
fhe SCE'YlE' is rT'(lrlE un of ell1
tYPES
of Deonie:
townsfol"K-,
frontiersrr('n, sCli10rs, lnoinns, etc., and, tney serve to glve a
29
univers~>lit~T
reve 1 qt-,on
to tilE' scene.
l'1S
,jawttlOrnc: tnus 'Joints out V12t tile final
sig~lificallce
\'ilic 11 is beil'g eXl)lore<l
In t!le rr:irlst of
tor ;'Ill neonle, fln': t>e tle1l'e of sin
is '!Diversal.
t~11S
sr:ene, destf'r stands t1ttireo in gray,
bJ e'irls '1er fif~ure into t:1P crowd ;:.11:.d repre~.ents tlCr out,·v;-'rc.
w~l1ch
ccmforr'ity to its 1?ws.
i'ile sCClrlet letter, 1101Never, isol?tes 11er
j-'eC1rJ
bri~(ltly,
is dres:;ed
exnress t Ie
in~er
gaily, (lnc1 her dress ;-'nri contjnu;11 ;'Ictivity
excitenent and emotlons of her rrother.
Pearl
ag('lin sr)eaLs of tile fact t 1"t Dip" esdale assocj;:tes ,,\'itli them in
tile
d(lr~:npss
in the
f
aC
of the nigllt and the forest, yet \,611 not
sunlif~ht
t of
Uim~lE:sda
before ot 1('rs.
Unl'nov,ringly, she llits
Ie I s si ta(1 t ion:
1<:~OW
0'1
t.lE'm
t!le cent.ral
:lis f e;.H of CD nfession.
1\t t'H' end of t lis CI1<1'Jter, l:ester le,:rns of C~illingsv:ortll's
lie c'rnot a1]o".' Linn esd;:lle to escape
(I1S
ClutC'lPS; his rf'venc;e lIas l)ecoF'e tIC centred tmrncse of IllS life.
Chanter ?2
Tension is bu i 1 t
C:l(lt)tpr.
UD
tOW2 reI t;IP c I iFax of tile story i;l trd s
li?wthorne 8es('ribes t'1(' T)rocession w·lich
celebrati:::m, 2t tile end of "nicil \<vClH:s iJimrresdale.
lis t)ersonnlity Cln be seen
~hysically,
strenl:-t:1 ane1 energy tl8.n rver
b~fore.
l~ibhins,
elTp~'!.JSi7ed
part of the
1'lle cilange in
for he wplks with rrore
lie seems isol at eo , however,
even from Hester, and t lis is the result of !1is
evil in hin is '1gain
i~
~;reatr
r Sin.
The
by the apDearonce of l.,istress
\\';0 sUf;;'jests to ilester tl2.t Dim esd21C' carries the rr.2rk
of the devil, soon to be revealed.
30
t~lE'
child c)f the devil, ,\r'1iCil ?1so
Dimr:e~(1;l1p.
The innp.r <'gony of
illdir~ltes
DiP1]'l~esd?le's
tile evil found 1n
so 11
eX;Jre~:~es
itself in tflE' p'p.lanc'10lic ric;lness of [lis voice.
The tension is intensif ied by the rer:>eti tlm of n uch of
w,ich occurred seven years before.
by the·sc8.ffolrl;
i~S
',: i 1ens tl f'
W:l S
t:lere is ('
r2gniiicabon in
Dun i s 1 e cl, the S (";1 r 1 P. t
c~:urcil,
in thE'
st
r,'~
;lHi
stare.
,lcr
is i101r1inv t1e
un
(l
pnsition
snot for 'ler.
t1C
] e t t t r C;1' 1 s e she r t 0 bet !l e
cprlt,r of attention ill t'le II :,nlEt-t)lace.
letter, yet til0SC' 2ro
ta~es
llester
tl12 t
h.t
~ittcnti\Jn
isoL~ted
.:Jne is
tilE'
s~mc
time,
b
j
tile
JJiF'n'e~dale,
"f 'li:.:. D:i.ristlol 1 crs
Hl
<:
ng grp).
f~_l1al
A
cieci~on
elE'lr:(~nt
tIE' c1evelol}-ing criSs 1S
to rome ;:i1)0ard t lE
leJrns of t'lis,
that s
tn
Ie
C;ln
~le
<:c.
Clil1inhs~\'ortfl's
lin vi t:1 l.Jimn esd2le.
rp31-l7ES t;18t t leir dOOTil is :incvit:Jble, ::Jnc
rio rwt'ling to
~~ve
tilem.
Cl1a!Jter 23
Oirt)mesd;'lIE' 1S at tile :leiL;ht of his
al':' (-lud est('e11' ed in
t~le
,ll gl1est sensp.
in teo se by the s<ldnes:- 1 n
(lDDrOe1(~ling
de:1tn.
illS
c?r~er.
i'he esteen
he is TJr,lised by
is n clrle n ore
voice inc ic ,. t ing to tie peopl e 'l1S
;l:->wt'18rne ir,nicaJly coytrnsts tile glory of
uimplesdale's ')osit:ion 1,\'it'ltlle sll,ue of :lester's,
~.'S
tle lJuiJ;Js
trw?rd t 1e finell GC't;h'rin~, of C 12rncters on tile s('('rfold.
'
In spite of t lis gre",t :lGllOr, lJirnncsc3:lcl is deathly 'x:le, 2nd
bOtl 8tter-t)t to llel'llirr, hut 11e rpjects t')eir ()ffers
synlbolic~llv
re.1E:'cts V1e :If'ln of earttlly i;lS'~itutio!ls.
31
(,J~il
t!lUS
f'in:~11y,
confes'._'Lon '..vh-i
on his c '1 est
~'S
11e
C'1
wi 11 save
.1 n
"
\\':111~~:
>, Z1
i
'1
')8St
llS
t:1e
sC2.:101rj, Uinresdale recogn12E'S
,~itl1
soul.
1'11
r i t c! n
S I) U 1
W :1 0
c::m
~lowever,
f U J, hut t r i un: p 11 ~ 1 vic tory.
~ith
?
Ilester's sUT)'ort,
0L
1 Y c;!: ~~: f () r
tli~
Go (11
S
2ction,
'
lrr
function :s
ere y •
c,)ITT'('nt b'.' tie -:'nt1Or; H:'E story it::'clf is enc!cd.
.::, eve :r :),1 ;: C'
,)Ltn
t S
;ll'D')C'er1
'f "-, .. .Lortt're
l.
'
'.,
.J..
2. rei',
('"l)
r.
1 Ven:
ti.:lf'
U)
,letter
"
t1P
\?,;("!".
32
letter W:lS
l1r(,)',I,",')lt
.
'
tile
:"."l>()ut
result of self-
b,;, Cljllin,l','""l,':crt,'",
, -
w~s,
Rfter all,
tle~lIrl)l],C
cilnfess:on of the T,inister's
nur~ose
iis one
.te iLId
bec)J:re ::l,n "unllurn::tnized nort;ll,"
vDC his only
in life
recten,tive
S le bero n'es
sU:."gcsts
<~F'DDy m(:,rria~;e
,lnd c li1Clren for llcr •
orytirristic '18;t nf tile booknd in tlC erU'1.rq"
.:::it1e 1.S
tl1E
one
:.l.v1.nr the story
Fin;l.lly, i1(lV"t 1()rne focuses on :-i<-:'ster.
a
self-irrY)()se(~
nenitence.
$'le
bpcomes
lE'~~enrir>ry
for 'H:r wisdon
Even nov.' S'1(-' is not
1n soc:iety, ant! sile rdins illnf'r w1sdon
rile boor.; , nevprthf les,<.., ends wi t
iIl!<1ge~)f
1
H,::ster' s tOF'bstHle engraving:
frJill tle sc riet Jetter.
tile symbolic and d,-:rk
"...;n a fie Id, s (t bl e, tl1e
letter A, fY,ules,,6(vn (), blnc'~ b"c 'r g.rou.nd, ti1e sC~lrlet letter
l'he overwlle1r.ing b1ne t ' ;·tno sc,.rlE't colors arc
'resent c:t tilE o:d
of the bO"K, indic,"ting little hone of sc,lvdtl.on fruIT: S1n.
33
A).
The SC8rlet Letter 1.S
of
~Jn.
It
in rvcry n ;',
1.5
;'
es~'eI)ticdly
hem t S1.11
--md of W'lrct nossibilitif's Can ar1SC
~1.
tile cons('(ucnces
<" DC
stllriV ;:mrl :::>n exnlor2tion of tile sin
tiH~
:;--,wt:10:["\£ dJes not investig8te
a,~ultpry,
the origl!1Cll sin of
eve~ts
~
ell 1.S found
after sen.
causes of sin; one Je2rns of
but d;owt lOrne does not neal \\,it,1
le2ding un to that sin.
r~t;1fr ttthe Ili~,tory of
W"l.1
n~s~ion
it is not:::> story of
but
its secucl. 1t7
()ne of t,1e basis fron: Wilic,l L,,1.'ttlorne Clevelers 'lis conce;Jts of
Sln lS tl1e Cl1!Jrc l-forlT'.ulatcd list of t1e
tt~eVE:J.
filese s:lnsl"ere r:nnsieje1'E'0 cle;lCU y to tlle soul
hride,
~vr~ti1,
fTlVY,
(lcd included
l1lst, gluttony, 2varice, ant
slot f1.
t i1rE'P ",,'(,1'e considprec1 rl ;]1ic')11S in mature, 1/,:hile tilE'
we ~ "Des '0 es.
Pride
V:;1S
w"s eonsic1prerl to be
t
Sln in 1,1'lict1 :ta'l;thorne
(1
1e
sin of t le intellect
~"orst
\Va~
rr.ost
.:>in~.1t
Uc:',ily
l~st
T11e first
four were
the Trine
?nr':
anCi
of tile sins.
i:ltpreste(~.
liawthorne djscusses Ili,i, en verS1S Clc'knowledf;ed S.ln and
Dassionate versus intellectual sin in the book.
sins can be seE';:} 1.n tile r;;--,in
ledged Sln; 'lers
story •
1S
uestcr's
i~
tJ1e ael<:TlOW-
o,enly revt';:>led tf' ()11 ilUmanity tl110 cl!-::i1out the
1'ile sin is ful' y
•vhi 1e she is
C i lar8.cters.
Inese ty"es of
1)uni!s~1ed,
confes~,e~l
?nd is nunisllE:d accorcingly.
llester is not torn er ted by
;~uil
t
burden of the sC"lrlet letter is t:1US sortewh<1t rerieenlil1t;.
DimrE'srh1e, on t!'te otler hind, one
:le
C'Jllee;ll
<;
sef;S
an0. tile
1n
an eX?IT,:)le of ilidc.en S1n.
:lis sin, :1.nd g'li 1 t huilds u:) insi0E' of hiF' becallse ne
'liS rer-lined unknov.-n.
34
The sin of t")aSS:lon versus tl1e sin of intel1ert 1.5 21so
eX:1rrineci.lester 2nr'! Uirrr eSclClle C'oP'lTit
It was ;t~le
r1'or:ent.
Tiley
sin of
r:ic~
1r':E?irnes~
:-'nri
n,)s~ion--
51n of
(1
y.'8S
on tIle
nODe
~in
not invJlve others; tneir
s~ur
of
rlic! not nurt
It rrerE'ly violated otlers' rror2l beliefs,
W'l C
t
rr~
ay
0
r
n~;)
y not b p
rig;l t •
CtLt.llingswort'l'S sin,
sin--the
coIn,
ill'l}ersnn~l,
soul for
hum~n
Unn?r~onable
ner50n~1
e~otion
an~
Sin.
10\\ever, 1S
1f1-lS
of tnc intellect (ino of
011('
ty'")e of 5 in ray be def ined (' stile
nsyclolor;icl inv;1sion of (' llUf1':1n oersonality or
gain and
kno~ledge.
It is the
~ncl
feeling to theintel1ect,
s~bordination
of
wil1ingnes~
to
tIle
s,'rrifice one's fellov! m:-ln for one's ov-n f',elfish interests.
is ciestr'.lctivE' not only to tlw victim bllt to tilE' sinner
(1S
It
well.
une W;::;tC,lE'S Chil1ingswortll slowly ch(1nge frorr (' llUIr,lD ',erson to
~
sort of fiend, who lives for knowledge and Dower 8t the expense
of Oimmesd,le.
Inc con5ecuer:cE'S of these Slns ,re var10US.
at
the rr>:)st ea';i.ly identifi(1bJe resl;lts of sin is guilt, and
il?wt lorne ;';'1()1jo.'S t1 e r p. Z1 C e r t 11 e
1.n one fcrrr or
well,
r f' j
of CO_1rsc, onE'
E' C
f
4
or
~not
~f
f
E' C
t
S
uf
~ li
~
1t
i
f1
tiC
C 1-'
r "c t (' r
ler.
is not
~cce~te~
into society.
t e ri •
a v'.'itc,1-Cr2(1t!lre, a c liJCl of the devil.
lJirnn'E'sc1a1e is
isolated
went?Jly hr:-?use of
..
!J
..
,~
1i,ner , n '-',~U]
~-
1.1
":t r. I
r;;.
j,
(lfraio of cny close cont:lct \"itn ot-lers
He
'
l.Wl
krcns to i1inself.
I.e is unahJe to effcctivply comr;1111ic8te Wit)1 ot -ers;
e~rress
his self-h3tred
'~!lil'if1~;.'?wortll
is
cor~"l('tely
is "IJ:::rt of the
:111(1
1 S
11e call! ot
t'lUS h('-'corr'es even rore ny:,ocritic;->l.
is lJerh2Ds tile rnost isol:teo of the four, for lie
rlivorced from <'ny ilumCln
11l~rr?IJ
!":,ce;
TTent:l1~y
feeJin~:.
<'Dr'
l-'il ~T S :i c;-d 1 y,
sniritualJy, he is
11 e
?
i'.e is never ;:I1o1e to
M;UK
''-In iJoren sur:r
not feel • •
~ri7Ps
the
tb.€~::es
CIS
foUows:
"1'he
Tl1ese (Ore t;1€ COclseCllcnces of ttl;::t s'n w'lich c?n
JI?"lt~o:rn('
and
~~
~
~n
renresentrtiv(' of
of their entire
~n~
rieveloned,
~~l?racters
ctevelons each of ilis
h;">rl<:p;1"outv1 s,
e~~h
is an
idea.
Alt lough onp rioes not learn
nerson 1S
1';>("11
ex~rD]e
;'s ;-n incH.vidu;.:>l
of
~
ty~e
DSYC 110logicc'11y
of sin.
:J.estcr
Hester 1S tile strongest CIl(H8cter in the book.
to surv:cve the ['nngs
\v"
1iC':1 f1(l', en in Iler life \"itllOtlt "huckling
der love <'nel 'Xlssion for Vimn'esdClle becon:es 2nd rer:ains
under."
~he
In?ny
She is ?ble
W3YS
s'le 1S
?
Clil1in~s1';()rt'1'S
victim of circUPlstances:
s('lfl~:H1es::",
S'linwreC'~
'lot love; C:1il'ir,gsw ':)rtl's
re;>,~ll
no news or hiIll to
cau~ing
llf'r;
11('
r
never renents
you t il
;:!
nei
:ler to rrarry ;; tron she clio
ann c;-nt'tre,
v:~lich
8.110v.;e0.
?n(; Dimrresdale's weakness in (111owing
k:new t'lat }le C'oulc1 not Farry her.
She
1S
10Ilger
?hle to carry
l':lrclen of 11er nunis 'T!pnt even when s11e no
She 2lso llas thp
to.
iLlS
t:H.~
i1imself of 'lis l'urcen of guil t.
reclcles~
nes." to
2
Of 211
Llf
to help Dimncsc<"lc' to rid
c \cracters, iiester 2t1one
iler atti t'lde deve1or'ls froll'
learns fror: her e:,{:)erie: .. ces.
desoerate
stren;~l1
?
r,!ttlE'r
strol1 b , caIn acceDtance of her f::te.
':>le is 2b1E to llE'll) ot!1C'rs <"5 '",:e11
2S
:lcrsc1f lnciluse of ner
I:->t
S;le rebels ::>g;:rinst tle
wisdom.
Hester
:l.S
trOC"ern 1A'OlTJ"n 1n t
;:
establisilecl coOP.
S:1e '10C's not fCfl g'.tilt, 2nd, ;)It'lOU::h she
('cC'E'l)ts h.er r,l1nis'lrr.ent, 'l"r (lef1.?:lse i." seen in t;lE
s'J1/"ndor of
t~le
~cClrlet
it 8n0
j;1
the nam e
37
v\':1i,f-t
~'le
LlittE'r:in[~
bEstows on
.::Ifl€' E'ven del res to eons ide r
suicide wlietl was (as it stil1. is) sZ1cri1e~;ious ::1no
1S inciepenc1cnt,
r~ssiOtJ,"tE',
ile
r "c t j ons"
~n~
book,
tl1f~
('cknow~e(1ged
Bec;:nse of this
sin; Sle Cllly adnits
de1ib€'r~t€'
~;in,
;-n rl
511 e is
1-
)111y
ttlE'
but impetuous.
llester is isoLlted, bot1 ');1ysic31]y and
rrent?l1y, from t'le res 'i- of the cornl'tlnity.
ot~lers
(' Sln of tiH' Dassions •
He r sin lS l-novvn 8.nd D'JniShed tI1r(H;,110U t
it was not
.she
,:md 'Ieroir.
fhe sin \~lici hester coml its is (lc]ultE'ry,
.:::ille lS renrcsentativ(> of
sin.
?
ClS~,()C:i~tE'S
She lives aD,lrt fron
-'Jit 1l ot leI'S \,,:1en
necE'ss~.ry.
8 1 )SO]11tely
ev p:r ;' hIe toe om lJ 1 etc 1 y f;> ri e in t o t he so (' i e t y "ro u nft n E' r ;
SlE' stands out hoth Wlen S:1P is scorner! ;->n0 when S!lE' is resnpcted.
!iester
~n
1,S
ohject of scorn, ('uriosjty, and "WE'.
i~n 0
t,l ere 0 n s E. -
(:lenee of ler 51n is 1[lE loss of ner faith in hurr:::nity.
ti1e 51n
1iJI::'C 11
15 in everyonE',
;:)l1e
seE'S
'In(' S'le eZll1 no lonser beliE.'ve in
Inste(l;i, SHe le'.rns to cope \,'itl1 tlis evil.
In:~th
punislIlent,
tC)rrents
becomes ner s;11vation; sl1e noes not deny or resist ,ler
<Jlld
it ,1S t )is
DiJl1r.-;e:;'l~tlf'.
il.t
l'
lien S,ves1er fron; tJ1el.~i1 t ~ .. lici1
oDly Q;1e
~oint
('Of'S
she viol(':te tIle
'Irinci"lf' of Tr1.tll: "'i1len ~:lC :;grees to 1;efD Cinl'illr:S\\'ort lIS
i
r1
entity a secret fron DiDJTlesriJ1.e.
c~uses
:1
r~is
sin--nnri it is
3
S1n--
Dirrn>'?s2:1lp rucll safferj',1;:, but, 1.n t:lrn, ;1('11:;" 'lim to [:;")"C
i s fin;ll .s II C (' e ~. S f 111 c f for t
<' t c on f (' S s i
eltl •
Dil0PJesdaJe
1S
tJd,.s
~revents
1:'!e2 1'iesc;
j,.\'11C i 1
ca1lses
l1S
origin?l 0ownLdl,
nim fro~ reco' erinz frorr it.
38
3)r'
1\ ,1Cd
.in ti1is ("'taraeter, one seE:S
a
~syc'lOlor,ic:ll
to reconcile "nd
li~
tr.:t
S 11 0 W
St'1Cy of tile torr;cntcd consclerce.
~,urvive
[;re;;test Sln is not t
:li~
li~
t~llilt
(Ion,inate~
t!1e
'L,e, llOwevcr; it is
s tru""
Je
,
,(,
bO,:,k.
n~
(ivergence
1.
l.i 1'1 S
elf [: u. i 1 t Y•
It is
~ignific~nt
ot lerS.
r'lis cO~lfes:cion
enel,
,nIT
rejecl~
0.re:
ilin:,
"De
Cll1e j
true!
,no revel::ti:Jll of the truth
ooe~"
in t\1e
h;'lI\'t.lOrnc' s fir.::ll words in referencf' to
Be true!
.::)10\,
39
frel'ly to tile ",'orIc, if rlot
C:lill ingswortil
l'ilf: tr<' it v/lic 1 i';,\~'ttl\)rne :T!Ost errr>hasizes in Chil1 in;;sv,ortll
-'e
1S
!llF'(,rne(~
('
st'Jdyin~
n:l·C'
2.h\~\·s
COIT'
t~e
11
',\'e1' -se 11oo1ed, s:>enc1ing rJost ·)f
rer. 1'>,i'lPri s01 r'e':':1;-' t
lis f"turl.y,
111r!
itte~
~in
n-~r'-ying
by
love 11im ano t'l't
~1E'
;'1o,)£ from r:1:tnkinc. (lrlcl
W!l1.C~l
clevelo'l in t 1e l'ook.
:iestr:r '.!\i1€n
,\'()ul-: i not
IP;~he
\ilorlrJ
:1('
kn("\;
lie
tt1,'t she did not
a go, d l1usl1alcci.
de freely
tlis f;uilt e;lrly in tIle story.
Lis grc1test sin, llowevcr, is
the
tllf
he
11is ;--tteI'1"t to c'l<'nge tllis isol;:>tion
beginning of t'le sir..s
:l~lmits
lis tiIT'C '
v.ith l)ool("s, i,;:1 Twvcr-enc'in,r:; Sf:,lTC'l for knowledGE.
0UtS:irJC 'Jf
is
nr n,
Un'l"rdo;~(1lJle
~in
t~le
(sec f:Hcrres).
Sln \i,fl..lcll lJ(1Ft[lorne c?jJed
Cl1i11i;1~;s'·.10rt.l
coldly, 1r;;)Cr-
s,on:'lly, scieiJ.tific?11y toys ",:it'l uirnresc.;}le's (-notions, S<H11ty,
::1"0 'lis very
f'o111, for :lis ('wn 1znow1ed,';e, revenge,
iie ignores l)imrresd;-df' t s l1urr'lni ty
Din'n-esrl~'lc
in eft'2ct,
res'>E'ctec'1 ('s
u:,on 11i[11 as ",-\, r:ire
Ilirrsclf, t'lcn :'let out secret,
t1lcrefore, 'Ie lives? lie.
W'10
ner~ )1 1
(11
Inv,~rdly,
revenge.
O'lt 1c 1 rc'11y, he is
,1 1<:iddly, syrl':J?t letic, rjoc1-st'nt nhysicizn
over JJirrtrESc.<11e's he81th.
ma.n
lo~ks
C " ill inr;Sc-J()rt 1 ,d E'Cl ...,Jays 8.t bf1nl? God and Clooses to
C;:Sf'."
Junge
",}(1
Clnd "leasure.
'.\"10
W<ltClH"S
llo';JeVer, he is an evil, selfish
USE'S :lis gre:' tust t:dent--;'lis intel1igenc--to hurt ?nd
cestroy.
In so c1oing, he ironical)y rJ.estroys 'li1';se1f.
Le loses !lis
'l'..wanity--his fe' lings, e["otions, synpc-lthy--and becomes, in nis
~)V,'1l
words, "fiend.
r~f'
n,ore he torITents Din esc'.,de, the IPore
40
he
::lestroys i1iT;!~el f.
~le.1~
t:lU~
isol;:~tcci,
both from the COIr:' unity
PtlysiC(-llly, 11e :lS ,
SDiritw:l] lv, 'lE' is a ricron, unlblc to feel CIS
T 1lere is no s'llv"ltion for Chillingsworth.
('1
[eill.
;W["n beinL.
ile c,ci;nlOt revccd
ttlp tr,ltil :1t10'lt ilinsetf to t le corT'unity, 2net, indeed, he
stru:',!les des'Jprately to ")revcnt Dirrrresdale's confession.
life
becorrc~
dorr:in~·te:i
oD';ortuni ty fo r
by tile desire for revenge.
tllis is gone,
\~hen
,lis
the
11<1S no ot 11er reason to livE',
:1('
Jnd it is too 1;:'te for die to rcgd.1n ilis lost soul.
l'e 2 r I
file cl1?r2,ctl"'r of Pe,lrl .1S Drirr,'rily c1cveloDed as ;- syrrbol (1nc1
is
tre~tec
as S'..IC 11 .111 tIle sccti,on titlpct Syrrhols.
liowever, one
also rlL;sovers in "ler cll"ractcr some vE'ry hUP'8n traits.
[>elr1, (lfter all, is <' c:lild, &nrl slle is lTost noted for her
wild frr;ecom (Jnri inc1P'JenrieClce.
She.1s often 2SS0C:1:'t(>,; wit1 nat:lre,
;::'!le
and ";::,lle is not :,o)d
')1'
is never bOl1nd hy social J ;t1N,
b~'c1, because
T'lis is so wi t:1 (-lny crlild.
S:1f'
is not reshonsihle."lO
Also like ;:luy other Cllild,
~)c~\rl
is
v\Til] Lll, c;tnricio'ls, cFld full of (uestions \,:11 ich C8nnot alw2Ys be
Clnb'Wered.
Yet, one does not see PeClrl
~s
~1
tlUlTic:tl
child ,,vi th (1ny
cert;-inty llT:.til iler silf1den outburst 0:1' r:rief after UirnneE'-d21( 's
confe~.c:.ion.
In spite of
ot'lers, hy
t:1f~
ler loral neutrvlity, Pearl is isolated, as the
sin '\.'\',lich brought ilE'r into existence.
life o\1tside of :ll1lT!C'lnity
~nd
ot 11ers, '"w~ she Dl?ys alone.
wit)1 ot1cr "eo'1le until
of 11 e r
TI'~'
r r i ('l g e
C1
so sile rem?ins.
Sile lives 2.way fran;
Slle is vpry rarely shown in cont3ct
the eTle: of the story wl1en t:1e reader le;lr'ls
nd set r 1 in g d O".'l1.
41
f!1ere is
t;1ree
r;';~jor
?
Sc~rlet
great de::>.l of symbolism in The
l'lle
Lettf'r.
f:ynhols ;ore tlle Jetter A, tile scaftold, ;:;;nd
Pe,~rl.
f!1ere are a]"c:.o ot!1(,T nurrerous r' inor syrh;ls t lrou·ilout tlle book.
The Letter A
TIllS 1S the [;'05t co TIi01icated ;onr! forcE'ful synbol
('ne
ClS
S('Ps
tile lpttf'r A froIl;
V~ri(ltir)n.'"
')ossi])1 e ..
n';~ny
::'5
a:]i~1es
:)nG in
(?) t:1I:' golrj f'whroir1ererl
(4)
t'1(? gorgeous se?rlC't
en11~lerr
;o~1ultery
wliell
wl;cI11'e"rl t1)rows flo1Jl:ers
~~nsion;
ttH' overnowerinc mClgnit ic"tinn In tlH'
5
settinGs
gold e10thinr. whic11 ['eeHI
:1n:
to t'e Govprnor's
tIe (iovprnor'
?Ily
bool~.
~ress;
Hester wears on hpr
"'~~rs
r
tile
incl'lr1e the fO!lowir.g:
(1) the rf'rl clot'l lE'ttf'r staDcHne for
(3)
:l~
~n
J1
irror of 2rn'or ::t
mJnSl0n;
("') tie f'rl)lern W!lir'l
Pe~rl
necorates v:it 1 burrs l.n t,'1e
'
c er:: f' tar y ;
(n)
tile gre(lt
r
eteor J ii;~lt 1,,:llich
i~
seen
~n
s1\'y
tIle
W;1E:11
t1C
rrinistpr st::>nrls on t'1(, 5c(lftold for t[le first tir.:e;
(7)
t'le freen se::1-weed "dell l)e:lrl,
r)"il1
rlres-:::
(8)
the
rllf'~t'()nll)lc
(9)
t'le o?rl,::
'1::W"t lorne
tP[,\:
('n:r~ving
con.'St~ntJy l.reE'DS
on
t']f'
on
in
')];1)"
Dimr:esG~le's
~!E'stcr's
~ett:(
~lpr
C:H~:,t;
ton.hstcTW.
r l'E'fore toe re;"cler's e:,es;
hi.
42
nuts on
1. n e
f
~
r s t () n E', i t
A itsrJ +" st~lnds
if>
for ~e"('r~j
'
. 1.,'orns·.
,
-
j',-l'ul+prv
h.., ,
\~''Y -•. ,
'-L<he
'1)J"
.. 1..
_I::,
?
n-1
l..
rll l')S eVl'n Artll1l r.
(1)
frn t:1C cO;'f"unity, it i~
bri:lgs
2
just -'l1niS:1Dent of sin;
;>
bllrden of suffering 11')On !1pr:
( 3) for Din n~ e s -::1 ale,
it
1. ~
?
n :- i
Tl
f u 1 reT" in rl (' r
0
f
'1 1
sown
guilt;
(4)
for C:lil in,FSI-'JOrtil, it is
(5) for je~:rl,
(I):
it is ('
spur for revenge;
;:1
I;y~,terious
for tile re;v1 er, it becoJlles
f'lld0sity;
:111
of
1"
1cse t
it
bccomes Cl SI'f""01 of 3ny sin, tilE' sin foune in E:Jch 'Jerson.
It 2..lso bcco n'es
The
sc~ffolrl
J
servps ?s
?
focal
activitips in The Scarlet Letter.
is
tile
~blc
t~l(,
syrhol of
'Joi~t
~hen
to sec c i1JnL,es and c'evf'lo'-'Fents
Purit?~l
now1
f'rlgIEellt
8f sin.
for rruch of the irrnortant
it annelrs In the olot, one
.111
tIlE" 'Jcrsnnalities of
cOT'TIunity, as ilestcr is ')unislcri.
of the ITI;lr k et-nl::>ce, it is ,: f'o:JstLmt
sentences.
;)C
rel~incer
Ueini~]n
the cE'nter
of sin ane' its con-
T l le sClft olrl t lerefore beCOT'leS (' syrrL10l of runis"r ent
of sin.
43
It 21so, 110h f'Vf'r, serves (lS ;) syrr:h01 C)f neniterlCC (lnc! of
T
?ne 8c'n0,,!1E'(1rT{-:nt
of
()
-
tilE' scaffolcl becorresln ipstruPH"nt of s;llvrltion for
Pearl, as well
:lS
;esttr
;:111(1
Uirvrresd;llf'.
Pearl
Pearl fllncti'H1S t)rin,arily (lS " syrl)ol
syrrbolisrr is
(1) She
tllt'ook.
Her
rr~ny-fnceted:
.15
(2) She is
(:~)
.1n
-<::;1e livinr sC:lrlct Jetter;
(' sym 11 0l of tilE' union, sin, 2.nd Sil(lITe of :iestcr
Ht'T w31d
IT"r::tl
~nn
a:~ony,
contr(1,;ictory n::"!tnre
V:;:l~
1j\ii1ich
~:re:~test
.1S
syJ1bolir of nester's
durin!; 'ler imDriso:wellt;
(4) S'le? is ::) synhol of Hester's n3sc:i01l?te Etroi:ions <'nei Iler
Pe2rl is co nstantly ;,ssociated ",-it!l the
na tural imn'l' ses.
wild freerion: of n3ture (,)3rticularly in t1(, forest scene)
;:tn~i
,,,ito freedor
fr0n ' soc121 restrictions;
(5) '::>'1E' nlays an ('ctivC'
tile
saf;'C' tJF(', is
;1
role in ;-estrr's
nun~s~1l"]ent
~lnc1,
['ajar C(lUse of 'ler snlv::ltion.
at
Slle is
in e~sence, tlle Jiving conscience of llester, :mri she blocks
ljester's :1tt(;rnpt to eXC"r)e
!ler
nunisllnient in tile forest.
ier CO.1st2'-t
44
1.11 nublic nojnt tlE' W:-1y to trlltn for iJirmesn8.1e.
fu~ction
able to
(7) She is
sy~bol
p
o(,1:"son
truly as a
~n~
of nrorise
tilE: hook.
1n
~ile
~urr~n
It
1.S
being.
hone an ri is the one bright
1.S ;lble to escane S1.n <:nel to
live;:: ;13::>'y, frec life.
['I,
inor syn! bo 1 s are nurl)(:r 1 es s
Rev.
~·Jils.)n
i~
seen
tor~E't'ler,
~,11
;'~n,
serve various tunct ions.
esteer'ed FE:nbcr of t:le cornunity, 3no lle is c:
symholi7inr: the closeness of rel1f'in!!
P'lritan r-'11ture.
!-"istres c:
iibl l ins,
tilE' I;overnor's
l:,w 111
<J.Dri
si~tcr
2nd
z;
')rnfesse.-1 wi tcll, is svrl'bol ic of t Ie \,'orld of ;1nr pos.::;ibi1 it iE'S of
evi1.
S C J.
tt0
1;1
sec n e s •
PH' CO:1 ;u11ity of .Joston i~
gC11er;~l,
society f'nd code in
~~oy: •
to\rm
c
S
code and
Closely ilssociatec v.:i til t'le Puri t<1n cor: uni ty c're
o~
f
tll~_S
be<1cle, ",. . :10 leacis tiester from
flle "en,ct, ry is
0_
the Juritan
0f
and ;:motJler syr. bo1 of
its a')·)licLltion to sin is tn(
t:le nr i
~'epresentative
.
S 1
n
Ul <i
~~ 11 i
1t
d
syn j·o1 of deat]l
Tilese t·
0
.
1n,
It represents Evil
~nd
T
1<:
forc st
tr"'st to t'1C crrificL'l
n1tur~
1.
S"\'S,
"1''-''1r(,i:'ry
of
"it
t'!P
'1'1('
1
1.S
L:1\.~
:::1so syrrl'olic uf the
tF
tural v,'orlc
fo tJP 'Ilrit(ln cOfll'u.!ity.
'l'tl~
h ro uk
:"01'].
bf't1'e0ll
t'1E' r:'t1!.Ll
t'l? /;-r', ;l",tr.an ';orl'1
to
It:
uc 1
Fe:->rJ.
story.
46
v,'Or~'l
ijp",tf'r
\."l'!.C,'\
:E
;l~l(l
lJin:
rl
1<::
f',<:,,"'(~:c
C
')(,rt
beJoTlg.
B 1 ~: C 1. i ~
w~tur;::l
~'nrt
ror::l evil,
:~nr1
defi"lllCE' C'l'll freedol1:, but
uL
t1C
:Lett-· r),
allC i
i:~
;, s S f'l C' i ;' tee' "'- i
til
it is tll('refore Llscd to ,'escribf' t:1e
;>~lrt}C;il(rly
1t;it~l
sin
(;lS
it is
usee 1 'Jrirorily to c'iescribE' I,ester
tlE
;'Dc]
caJor
l'E
<'1:1.
Grey is 21s=, ," rixcd c')lor, for in it fe('t botll blcck ,;ud \hitc.
S OTI'C
t irre s ,iJirnrcs(i" 1 e .
~nri
C'rc
~nnlied
"lrost ex r1 usively to
story itself
T:1C
~rtrknf'S'
; it O;)Cl1S
\\"i
til
tde
closes. "'it'l t:1e dark "red
e s "e C i ;) 1 'y
j) i
~carl.
~)icturc
~W:i
.
15
overv,'lcln-ing
47
son bre
of t1E' darl, prisoll-door and
bl:1C ',-" of tne torrbstone
rrr.' e s :j c1 1 e •
G
en~Tr2ving.
.
U
By con-rr:1st, lir;ht 1S :;'S~OCi,1t('(J wit'1 ('Xf)OSure.
nC k no1·.1ec1gn-cnts of SUl tc]ke ')13CC, first, in
Pe~rl.
C12r8cter of
li~:j, t
~
1e
~s
t!l~
TIlE
rE',:l
brigllt rrorning
neilrly olwcys c1.escri::.ed in terrl!S of
•
flower 8nd weed
lm~geTy
rJso
~hounds.
l\;~ltural
flowers,
Unnatur;:jl floll\ers ,.lD(: unsightly
t 11e cerf:tery.
Irn(~ges
of weigllt and rigidity ?re 'lsed 111 connection with Fte
I'u r i t C1 11 S, t 11 e Dr loS;':!,
8nd
:1 :1:1
t ;1e
.s c .'1 f f 0 J C,
;, n:l,
t n ere for e, wit', sin
,:,~,niSlr~E'nt.
0t 1 1Er in~:lLes !l:-,ve to do Vv"it:1 t.le 'le:)rt and Viitll n ~rrors.
,eart irr2{:es <'re r·;·inly useG vj
til
It
conscio.lsnrs:- C'f sin
;;no
evil
:~11r1
48
DUr'P'esd(ll e ;,nd ;1re (''In''cctcc;
r e nrc Sf n t s t 11 e ex iJ U, e r ( ted
tle PlHi tan culture.
T~e
.sc2ff()1(~
structure of
sceIle~.
Scarlet Letter is bAsed UDen tne tnree
DIF
In el.cl1 of ttlese scenes o:;::;.e le,\rns of tlle
cl1~r,'cters.
'ieveloroJ'r:en-c of Hle four !Y',;jor
n" t) r ~- sen t
S'ln
0
t ' 1e c lilt r c '1, tIe s t ,; t e,
i.ester
f
the
311'-]
All of _tile four clrc
t)
res (' nee
0
f c v i 1;
j:-::
on the scaf10lc with the 11('1hy Pearl In
'leT
an s.
/\t t tis point,
slle is iefiant anrl iso1::te:' fp)n- those around ner.
unide 11 tif ied anri (ICts solely
turmoil.
~unis18ent
who makes
we~k
2
is tile 1.l[rOLlr~ed :luslJan r ,
'lester beinG
The
Pe<'rl
fS
lS
sin cllld lnner
lJir.lr"E:sciale is seateci ,!Jove tlf' scc:ftold \o\itl1 ot:lers
I.e lS
~1e
a syrr.bol of Lester
<1S
:1. C • ,
rnnislec~
secnn:i
llelpl('ss vIi tness to Hester r s
2
eflort to share it
\";10
~nd
1S
relieved
to Loston e:-('If'Ctinr to fino
('aT,'f'
for ;'(: ;It'·TY.
sCClffolcl SCE"le t
0
kps t)l;'ce
~.evcn
yerlr.s
l;~tf'r
8.t
rid n i;:;: -I t.
torn het1\'e n ren'orse .:n0 fe;lT, anri
climax.
tester ;1ncl I'parl
outcast of society.
stand
11:i
\~it:l
l' e ;H 1 i s till
s torr.pnt
nim.
;:: c 11 " r
;I;:1S
nester
(l
Ct
er
0
f
core to ;'
lias
out 1J 2rdly
s y n l) 01 i c s i
p l i-
fic;:lncc.
fit into :1Um0.n !"oociety.
Cilill ingsv.mrtil is placed close to tIle
.19
de 1S no
J.vpn>;rr.
to
hp~lr,
i1
Th E'
COlte
,18S
(1n(' it is n('stro',-in:; his!lUm;lnity.
1 rn
;:1
conff':osion
~'
t
like Dir~l"f's(hle's 'nnpr torrrpnt,
FtrC'cl,
'lis
h
wI tin:, 1
S ~ :~
ff
0
! -,
s c P 11 e t ". 1· e s
pI --I C p
G;.
t
n ()(' n ,
?
triUl"t)!l.
,11S
n.efe?ted
h~s
~
?!V'
;JorEd1},
:::Wl
"~iritu?l]y
df'stro?E'c..
nurno.e in life.
b Z' ~ 11
?nrl
true ope.
0
f
t i l f' S
~syc)01o:ic~l
esc E' n s e () c c 11 r s
ten~i0n.
1. n
The c
ilttrntion on t:1f' sc;orJ ct letter.
st"res
;It
tile letter ,s J:pstc'r
?
IT
on' e n t
12n:~es
1t,
0
f
e:- ell
e r- 0 tic n;' 1, s 1"' i r i t u z; 1 ,
C
L'Lletcr arr
In thp first scene, the
st,;l1C1 S
phove
t~lem,
cro~d
;1nf' the scene
ends ',\iittl Rev. ,liilson's serr,on reVOlving aroun(j thE'S yrrbo1 Clnd
rUTflor til;'t
:~t
p
In the
t:trew? "lurid gle;lPl" :lIong the prison \·,,:,115.
secone scene, of course, tiawt'10rne T)resents ti1E' 'Jicture of? red
A written in tile sky.
FinCl11y,
tilE'
r'inister's s:l"'Iosrd revcl:,tinn of
?
t'lird scenE ends \';ith thE'
sC8rlet ] etter op illS
T'11S consti'mt rcrrinrier of tile centc11 symbol
act0~,
uEity to
C
H'St.
t~le
story.
II('wt~1orne
::llso u'lifies !lis story l)y using (' srall number of
C'lar('cters (Be11ingI1cT, ,'Jilson,
~'istress
.'50
iiibhins), er>ch of
V'."lOm
Unity is 81so 8c'devcd
by lI:'"'wthorne t s '...lSf' of one ~n:;-' ?S tl1e sptting;
i. e., Doston 2nd
t!1e revion closely surro'lnding it.
Tile story t81.ces DL,ce
16 4 <j •
1~ ~.
fir s t
OVfr
<>
neriocl of seven YE..2r--1642 to
f 01] r c .1? !J t e r S c 0 ve ron c d ~l Y •
T!l e f if t
1,
six t 11 ,
?11c1 SEvent!1 CI1;l"ters cover? :wrioci of t tree yc?rs, cnc1 tile eigntl1
t'1rOll;:;1 twelftll cilaDtf'rS enel <,fter seven yeClrs [pve ');'sc-:·ec since
t,ester's
less t:vn
t)~H!isI1ment.
1.
TilE
l:'"'st eleven c lapters cover
p'ont11.
51
<1
S');Jce of
Sl'YLb
The SC2rlet Letter 1S
co~hinps
re~lity
usu~l]y
designated? rorn;nce, for it
?nrl im2gination:
T'1(' nrovince of the rOf'1nCc, • • • , 1.S the nos5ible,
the F.8rvclous, t':e n'1st, tile legendc:ry:
it involves
"Sh800W" ~nd!tmy~ tery" and "gloorry wrong", anc the
rievelonmeat, by ;: "sllbtile procrss" r;ltiler t'1:"11 ;1
rrere ~ict;:1(·tic st:telTent, of ;:l rroral, (' "l1i[;[l truth".
11
one finis n::rres, n1Clcf", aCId custorrs wl11C:l 8re !listorica
!iowever,
ttH~
seVE"nteentil century
\~';)s
facts.
fCir enough removed from ttle
nine teen t ,1 cen tu:.:y "nen liawt!lo rne wrote to 2110\<\' tlis imag ina t ion
In it, t1crefore, one sees:
full sway.
• • internl~y between ide&l and the re21, the
:111egor-ical ai10 t,le ,'ct:L1, ~)8~t ('mel Dresent, lignt
ann dark, tr'1tl1 ;tnd illusion, f: 1 ct ?nr1 symbol. 12
;i:::\\;'thorne
:Jl; l
ces :lis story witilin the context of , r-rc:Dl;:tic
fr::mework (it
~l,S
15 n';>rJe
r1r:H;,~tic,
11:,
:)f
fhese seen€:5
,\N:dr!l
serve
~He
;'$
been (livi,,}f'0 into five ;'cts) •
linked
st'"tic scenes
to~~etiler
1;('
l ich
SlOW
.cs~elltially,
2
C
it
lJracter alone
hy n;'rrC1tive, exnosjtory Cl12lJters
interl:ldes in tile dr,n:,tic action gnd g1.ve inforrra-
tion rnd background for rlevelopments in the story.
r:ucll ,rrbii-~Hity 1.5 flund in tile
lK)r)k,
rtC1d
H2wtllOrne deliberately
gives DossihJe c,lOices cOllccrnint, events to til.e reader.
fo r exanple,
ile r:,"ises (llestl.Ons ?bout tile n::ture of tile sc;:rlet letter
seen l,\lileniester re-enters t;le ~)rison, in the s1,y,
<1
2S
it
1.S
nd p:crticuLlr1y
By using 211.ui-
o f' t:le story
re?(lin~
,.,
<ltlu,?
t
of the story.
tl,1e
S:.PiC
t';n
-'..,'E,
Ie", VDS
t'le "';',y
o,'on for Ii tepll
"
VL~'
~!1tl t
iDle C llOic e
c
1. The storv t<ll<es ol;1ce 1n (;1) ,SZlleI11,
( c ) H() S t ;) n , ( d ) 3 n 11 rl k;)O wn t Otvn •
h
2. The
(11) P'1i12dpl,,),1irl,
::;tri~cture
of tllE' h0 r)K is built ;:)round (;;) ~ r:etC1!J110r,
the sc?frolc scenes, (c) t;1C intprviews, (d) none of
t!1e :) Dove.
(b)
b
3. Cr1il'inp,sworth's first sin 1S in (a) being 2 sCllol:::;r,
(b) r arrying dE'ster, (C) n~ix:inb poison for llester to
cirink, (d) revt'31ing :1is identity.
c
4. ,'ester \vas rlf'V{r ;'s1"pd to sU',' for
(c)
J11211,
(1
(;1)
?
~
(b)
br'by,
dying
bride, (e) t:1C [,ovcrnor.
;c
S. 1';1(> l\'orst sin is COI~l iltec'i by
(c) ,~'e:,rl, (d) Cllil1 i:i:s\,,'ort 1.
(c~)
Dir.tle~dz,le,
"ester, (1,)
COTI'IPllni ty syrnboli7C's (;:) Puri Llnisr;', (11) peo~-)~e 1n
g en p r :: 1, (c) t ' 1 C S :,,3 n e S S Hi 1 i f (', ( d) til e ",TO r 1 (j 0 f c v j 1 •
6. The
b
7.
'if'st",r e'"lrne:-' :If'r liv1rti; by (:--) Sl'icC",in£', fJoors,
(b)
nppci]e\·;or k , (c) c;lriT!~; tor thp sich',(d) "r(';lCL~ni; sern.::ms.
R.
1)("~r!
rr'" ~e
(1'»).
"~('ce
.,
}-~
If,tter
of
~l('r
;)n
f}"<~\'i1
oI'es~,
ree'
ill?r
(c)
riress fror! (:1) If-:r sc~rf,
~, "1(,('1' of tlH,C-:, (d)
Sf' Clwc'eO.
c
9.
lester is buriec1
,1:o1e,
,'Fl.
:J('{t
rile
r')1;ni-,11'e;;t
:'
I\, ,
u.c'.u;d
s (' :' r1 (' t
(c)
to \.2) pf:;rl,
(b) no
(C)
OtH"
uir'r es-
E'~\·)rtl.
C'lil;in
(0)
for :l(]ultcry ',[,,'S (-l) ('-t','tl, (ll) weari:lg
(C') s t n;l i, l , ; •
a \'.' 1 i ',,,:i n i;,
f I'u C - 1-' ;' 1 s e
F
1.
;0'1:
on
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53
in:~swort;l
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('1) C!l i l l irl[ SW0r t:1
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r' ;- de f
0
rr i t y
6. Ul2ck tlower of
: ester
~ocipty
?
"1.j11"t rloes t ,is ~c~rl('t If'tl C'r rc;;n?--;Hld wny
nos t tilOll WE:::l r it on til y bosorr l"
3.
"T'101!
s
l(llt
not go (llone."
Uitrl, esci_nle
"ester
i!.ss~l
5. "I felt no love, !lor feigned (my."
y
1.. l'ic 1{ one of tile t:lree '" ~in Cil;-ractf'rs ("ester, Cnil1ifl!c;swon: 1,
Jir:wesri,Lle) :'wi rli<;CL!S~, t~1e t 1e1,e of sin ~i d itE- COJlSe(drnccs as
it is scrn ill t1rlt Cil(1r~lC:t(r.
54
2.
'1oh'tle E'-c('fColct is u~ed ~s (' unifying c1evice 1n tnc story
~trurturf' by eXf'l~ini::lp: '10'.': thE' lives of Cllill inr,s\"J')rtil, DipfYlE'S~.;lle, dc!::tcr, c~lF~ l'e~rl ;;re C,lall('e i in (,<lCll of tilE t'1ree
s C<l f f old see '1 e s •
S110V,'
J.
--------_._---
,
..
,------
l;,onc,.ue D. Convi,y, Life of Natnauiel ;bwtllOrne (11,1s!<:elJ
do use Pu b 1 i s 11 E' r s, Ltd., ;\) e \Iv Yo r k, 19 6 8), p p • 14 -15 •
2~'-'lcolm:o·.,'ley, The Port2ble HawtlOrne (1'lIe Vikin~, Press,
New York, 1948) 1)11. 2~-24.
an(~
J.
P~!lll
0011'11d Sro 1,,1 ey , \at'18niel llrwt!lOrJ'e (Routledge 2nrJ. Keg;;n
Ltd., :Lond.on, 1971)
~'"
h
•. 1
~.J?t'l'1nJ.e
Pres.s,
1)0.
'
l~a1r]t'lornc,
Inc., Ne'v" Y')rk,
ix-x.
' 1le
' 1 SCrlrE'
'
1
t L e t ter ( ''i;1S11ngton
.
Scu,:re
F:j6":)--P:- 48.
4Jbir ~, p. 139.
5Ibir1~, D. 2 ,J '5 •
6 11 . ct
~.!.,
Inc.,
()iJ.
p.
276.
7Terence t,i~rtin, ,\JatI18niel Hawthorne (1\\2yne Publisllers,
York, 196'5) p. 108.
~ew
8} '::r1r \/~n i)on~n, "d~tV':pen Two Lvorlds," in l'he Scarlet Letter,
'ii, Norton E COHlD(!ny, Inc., Ne\!v York, 1962) p-;-:-293.
::.! Critical Study, (The
of ,j;'r';;c'rd university !'rcss, r,;es ,C 11 11S8tts, 1963)
10 riy ;dt Ii • . W(l(?oner, :1?v.'tl10rne:
oe1kn?n
11. 1:'52.
Pr('~'~
II"
... rO\i 1 PY,
00.
cit.
0.
72 •
56
BIJJLIOGR1\PllY
Hecker, John E. li("!wthorne's ilistoric::l1 Allegory.
~ev York, 1971, pr. 61-147.
Y.ennikat Press,
L-lr:1d1ey, SC1l11ey, Richard CrooIT' Jientty, E. ifu(3)n Long (edit.)
T'le i\1"'eric(1I1 Tradition in Literaturf'.
\·V.h. Norton & COIiipro y,
Inc., .\eh' Yorl<, 1 0 67. Tolurne 1, DD. 6-11. 1504-504, '595-777.
r;onw?y, ~·:onc'lr(' D.
Life of N?thaniel H?wu1orne. ilr1skel1 House
Publishers, 1 td~pW York, 1 q6R.
pry. 111-15.
Co,,,r1ey, ~la1co 1m. The Por tab Ie lbwfu or ne.
New York, 1945:- pr. 22-24.
J. iJonald.
Crowley,
Paul~
N;:Jt:lanie11iawthorne.
ltd., 1971, London.
i'he Vi king Press,
RO'ltled['e 2no Vegan
Elder, t-iar}::>rie J. ~~;~tI1:lnie1 H;:Jwthorne: Transcendenta
Ohio U:1iversi ty Press, 1969.
pp. 121-141.
Symlro1ist.
li(Hvtl1l.orne, j\jataanie1. Tile Scarlet Letter.
Inc., .\lew YorK, 1962.
pp. 189-373.
~'J.\V.
iic!\,!thorne, .'i8thanie1. Tlte SC;lrle t Letter.
Inc.,\;ew York, 196,).
:iasl1ing ton Squ2 re Press,
~; art ~
n,
r ere n c e •
New Yor1 r
,
.\) at [1 ani e 1 ; i (\ h t 110 r n e •
196'5.
nD. 108-127.
\'lag~oner,
fwayne
i'Jorton & Compro y,
Pub1i~1ers,
Inc.,
~lYZltt Ii.
lj"lv,·t'lOrne:
A Cribc01 Study.
filE' Uc1knap
Press of it?rv('rd Un1versl ty-Press, };lSS3C'lusetts, 1\163.
np. 176-1')0.
57