THE SCARLET LETTER
Introduction
THE SCARLET LETTER
A highly symbolic
story of guilt, sin,
remorse, and
revenge
Published in 1850
Considered first
great American
novel.
NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE
Born 1804 in Salem, Mass.
Bowdoin College in 1825
Lived reclusively; reading and writing
Worked at Custom Houses in Boston
and Salem; briefly in commune at
Brook Farm
Married Sophie Amelia Peabody
Settled at Old Manse in Concord;
moved to Lenox and befriended
Herman Melville (Moby Dick)
NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE
Concerned with ethical
problems of sin, punishment,
and atonement
Although he admired his
ancestors’ love of learning
(good), he felt a bigger sense
of guilt for roles of ancestors
in persecution of Quakers;
Salem witch trials (evil).
Probed motivations of human
behavior
NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE
Believed man was born
“perfect” but affected by
natural passion and love of
freedom.
Therefore, all people have
capacity to sin.
The worst sin was to meddle
with someone else’s soul/mind:
That is a person’s private
identity.
NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE
Also concerned with guilt,
anxiety that results from sins
against humanity, especially
pride.
Deviated from Puritan ideas
about predestination; people
can choose the consequences
of their sins.
People can learn and grow
from their sins.
NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE
Considered his works “romances” – not
strictly realistic
In this context, a romantic work is not just a
“love” story (although that could be applied to
The Scarlet Letter in some ways).
Rather, romanticism is concerned with
internal truths
A romantic novel uses symbolism and allegory
to get to the “truth of the human heart”
Hawthorne’s most famous works:
“Rappacini’s Daughter”
“Young Goodman Brown”
The House of Seven Gables
The Scarlet Letter
THE SCARLET LETTER
Setting
Boston/Massachusetts
Bay Colony
Summer of 1642, 12
years after arrival of
first Puritan settlers
Story begins and ends
in the marketplace
THE SCARLET LETTER
The Custom House
Nameless narrator
Shares traits with author
Takes post as officer at
Salem Custom House
(customs are taxes paid on
foreign imports;
customhouse is building
where taxes are paid)
THE SCARLET LETTER
Narrator tries to amuse himself at
customhouse because few ships
come into Salem anymore
Discovers documents in unoccupied
second story of building
Manuscript is bundled in scarlet cloth
embroidered with an “A”
Holds cloth to his chest but drops it
because it seems to burn him
THE SCARLET LETTER
Manuscript is by Jonathon Pue, a
customs surveyor from 100 years
earlier
Narrator mentions uneasiness
about making a career in writing
(his Puritan ancestors would find
it frivolous)
But he decides to write a fictional
account of Hester Prynne’s
experiences, staying faithful to the
outline and spirit of the real story
THE SCARLET LETTER
He is uninspired to
write while working at
customhouse.
Loses his politically
appointed job and
writes at home.
THE SCARLET LETTER
Introduction purpose
• Sets the atmosphere and
connects present to the past
• Through the narrator,
Hawthorne establishes his
disdain for stern morality
and rigidity of Puritans
• Gives the story an air of
historic truth: names real
people, places, and events
THE SCARLET LETTER
Characters (author does not take
sides; readers make their own
conclusions)
Hester Prynne: young, beautiful
adulteress who believes she has
committed a social crime, not a sin
against God. The crime results
from love.
The first great female
character/protagonist in an
American novel
THE SCARLET LETTER
Roger Chillingworth
Hester’s husband who is
destroyed by a sin he did
not commit.
But he does commit his
own: He is consumed by
his need for vengeance.
THE SCARLET LETTER
Arthur Dimmesdale
Hester’s minister who
tries to bring her to
confession of her
lover’s name; very
complex character
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Pearl
Hester’s daughter
The result and
embodiment of the
sin.
THE SCARLET LETTER
Governor Bellingham
Actual historic figure; symbol of civic
authority
John Wilson
Based on English-born minister who arrived
in Boston in 1630.
Symbol of religious authority and Puritan
Theocracy
Mistress Hibbins
Historical figure and sister of Gov.
Bellingham; executed for witchcraft in 1656
Has insight into sins of other characters;
symbolizes supernatural knowledge and evil
power.
THE SCARLET LETTER
Although Hawthorne and the narrator
have a lot in common, do not equate
them.
Narrator does parallel Hester Prynne
in some ways:
Feels alienated from people he spends his
days with
Youth and vitality separate him from other
career officers
He seeks out a few who will understand him
He notes that someday he will be reduced to
the name on a custom stamp (like Hester is
reduced to a letter)
THE SCARLET LETTER
Because he identifies with
Hester, he makes her story
universal
He finds writing therapeutic
He also finds writing to be a
practical way to understand
American history and culture
Hester’s story comes to us
filtered: first through Jonathon
Pue and then through the
narrator.