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oston_public_library/
What’s in a name?
Nathaniel Hawthorne was born on July 4th, 1804,
in Salem, Massachusetts.
Hawthorne was the son of Elizabeth Clarke Manning and Nathaniel
Hathorne. Hathorne was a Captain in the U. S. Navy. He died when
his son was four years old. He left behind Elizabeth, Nathaniel, and
two sisters.
Hawthorne’s ancestors were some of the first Puritans to settle in the
New England area. His great grandfather was one of the judges in the
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Salem Witch trails.
photos/nostri-imago
Though Hawthorne added the W to his name, it is unclear why. It could have been
to go back to the ancient spelling. Many believe, however, it was because of the
guilt he felt over his family’s involvement in the Salem witch trials. 1
1 www.hawthorneinsalem.org/ScholarsForum/MMD1114.html
The Salem Witch Trials of 1692
Between June and September of 1692, 19 people, both men and women, were taken
to the gallows for witchcraft. One man was pressed to death
between heavy stones because he would not confess to the crime. He was over
80 years old. Dozens of others were accused and kept in prison without trial
until the hysteria ended. All the tragedy began with the mysterious illness of one child.
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Setting
17th Century
1642-1649
Massachusetts Bay Colony
(Later Boston)
Puritan – “Pure” A strict legalistic religion.
Puritans believe that good works are
important because of predestination;
the belief that everyone is ‘pre-determined’
to go to heaven or hell. They, however, don’t
know which category they fall in, thus the
need for good works. They also believe
evil has to be punished, and every evil
work is of the devil.
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The Scarlet Letter - Characters
Hester Prynne –Protagonist
Hester struggles to live a new life of repentance
and dignity after her affair. She transforms her life, even though she lives in
isolation.
Pearl – Hester and Dimmesdale’s daughter
Arthur Dimmesdale – Reverend who commits adultery with Hester. Although Hester
must live in isolation and wear an “A” publically, Dimmesdale torments himself secretly.
He is in more captivity by keeping the dark secret. The guilt ultimately kills him.
Roger Chillingworth - Antagonist
He is Hester’s husband, but changes his name and makes her vow not to reveal his
true identity. He lives to find Pearl’s father, and increasingly sinks into evil, tormenting
Dimmesdale to his death.
Governor Bellingham – Considers taking Pearl from Hester, but Dimmesdale sways his
opinion. Ironically, his sister, the widow Hibbins, is a witch.
Reverend Mr. John Wilson – Strict preacher that emphasizes punishment of sin,
Hell and damnation; the opposite of Dimmesdale’s message. He can be swayed by
Dimmesdale’s opinion.
Freytag’s Pyramid Scarlet Letter Summary
Introduction: Custom House – Finding the letter –Moonlight – unreliable narrator
Written to act like a true event, but in the moonlight, we know it isn’t actually true.
Scarlet Letter – Setting 17th century Massachusetts Bay Colony (later Boston).
Puritan settlement = law and religion are always connected.
Freytag’s Pyramid Scarlet Letter Summary
Conflict- Daylight – Hester is on the scaffold, guilty of adultery, even though
her husband was assumed to be lost at sea. She now has a child. She will not confess
who the baby’s father is, even though he (Reverend Dimmesdale) is questioning her.
She sees her husband in the crowd and he demands to know who the father is, vowing
revenge. Hester is forced to wear the red “A” for adultery.
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Freytag’s Pyramid Scarlet Letter Summary
Complication – Dimmesdale’s health has taken a knock. Chillingworth – the fake
name Hester’s husband took on, is a doctor. He moves in with Dimmesdale and begins
to suspect the reverend is the father of Hester’s daughter, Pearl. One night, while
Dimmesdale is sleeping, Chillingworth looks under his shirt and sees what we assume to
be an A. (Night-Darkness- Chillingworth is evil)
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Freytag’s Pyramid Scarlet Letter Summary
Rising Action – Moonlight/ Secretive
Dimmesdale goes to the scaffold at night and sees Hester and Pearl. He asks them
join him. He admits his guilt, but still can’t do so publically. They see a meteor in the
shape of an ‘A’ and Pearl sees a shadowy figure (Chillingworth). Dimmesdale looks
bad. His health has been deteriorating for years because he is held captive by
his secret guilt.
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Freytag’s Pyramid Scarlet Letter Summary
Climax – Hester and Dimmesdale plan to run away together, but the plans
fall apart. Dimmesdale knows he is dying. Hester finds out Chillingworth
has booked a ticket with her and Dimmesdale on the boat. After the best sermon of
his life, Dimmesdale makes his way to the scaffold. With Hester present, he publically
announces his sin, shows his A, and dies in her arms.
Freytag’s Pyramid Scarlet Letter Summary
Denouement – Chillingworth dies, but is appeased by the confession, so he
leaves his money to Pearl. This allows Hester and Pearl to escape back to the
old world for a time. When Hester returns, she once again wears her ‘A’
voluntarily, but the meaning has changed to ‘able’ in the minds of the villagers.
She is buried near Dimmesdale. "On a field, sable, the letter A gules.“ is the inscription
on the tombstone.
Symbols/Archetypes – The Scarlet Letter – Static symbols
Light/ Dark and the color Grey – Good and evil – Truth and deceit
Pearl/Hester’s Daughter – Sin, passion, the letter ‘A’ embodied.
Forest- Freedom, witchcraft
Dimmesdale – Dimness, weakness
Chillingworth- Cold, evil
Prynne – Rhymes with sin
Rose and Prison Door – Prison door = Punishment/Rose - Represents grace
Symbols/Archetypes – The Scarlet Letter –
Dynamic symbols
Scaffold – Punishment, then ultimately redemption
The Letter A and color Red – Adultery, then Able/Angel
Hester – Scarlet woman turned solace and counsel for other women.
Themes/ Motifs
Sin, the knowledge of good vs. evil, and the human condition
The nature of evil. Who or what is evil?
Identity verses society. Hester embraces her punishment, embroidering
the A herself. Dimmesdale, however, can’t confess to it publically.
Daytime /Light – Truth and social acceptability
verses
Moonlight/Darkness-Secretive/deceptive
Civilization – Where the ‘righteous’ live
verses
Wilderness – Hester lives in the forest with Pearl. Forest represents freedom,
but also darkness, witchcraft, etc.