How does Hawthorne use characterization to convey the
hypocrisy and flaws of Puritan society in "The Scarlet Letter"?
In "The Scarlet Letter," Nathaniel Hawthorne uses characterization to depict
the hypocrisy and flaws of Puritan society. Through his characters, Hawthorne
exposes the tension between outward moral purity and the inward corruptions
of the society. Many of the characters in the novel appear to be upstanding
and morally righteous on the surface, but their true hypocritical personalities
are exposed over time.
For instance, the novel's protagonist, Hester Prynne, is condemned as an
adulteress, forced to wear the scarlet letter for the duration of her life. Her
punishment is intended to be a display of the community's stringent moral
code but only serves to highlight the hypocrisy and cruelty of the people. The
society turns against Hester even though they had just gathered to witness
her stand in public humiliation, they had engaged in "the most sinful
amusement" of gossiping about Hester's punishment, and the silence and the
absence of the fathers of her child show their inconsistency to the principles
they claim to uphold.
Similarly, the character of Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale appeared to be the
epitome of a sanctified Puritan, the embodiment of the "elect," or a true
believer, but had, in fact, committed adultery. He hypocritically preaches about
sinning while being a sinner himself, tormented by the guilt of his actions,
leading to his self-sacrifice through public confession.
Hawthorne's strategic use of characterization, therefore, serves the purpose of
exposing the hypocrisies and shortcomings of the Puritan society,
demonstrating the futility of trying to suppress the reality of human nature.
References:
Hawthorne, N. (1850). The Scarlet Letter. Ticknor, Reed, and Fields.