The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne

“I believe that The Scarlet Letter, like all great novels, enriches our sense of human experience and complicates and humanizes our approach to it.” from Solitude, Love, and Anguish: The Tragic Design of the Scarlet Letter by Seymour L. Gross

Historical Context Boston Colony founded 1630 John Winthrop (leader) Puritans wanted to “purify” the Church of England of all traces of Catholicism in liturgy, theology, and church organization Recognized the Bible as the sole source of religious authority Maintained a theocracy Believed in predestination or Doctrine of the Elect Inflicted public punishments to deter others from straying from righteousness (hanging, whipping, humiliation, etc,)

Nathaniel Hawthorne Hawthorne once said: “I do not want to be a doctor and live by man’s diseases, nor a minister to live by their sins, nor a lawyer and live by their quarrels. So, I don’t see that there is anything left for me but to be an author.”

About the Author Born July 4, 1804 in Salem, Mass. Reclusive at times Served as a magazine editor Worked in the Salem Custom House Lived at Brook Farm Wrote Twice-Told Tales, The House of Seven Gables, The Scarlet Letter, etc. Married Sophia Peabody and fathered Una (who became the model for Pearl) Served as the United States Consul to Liverpool Died in 1864 Buried in Concord, Massachusetts Great-great-great- great grandfather, John Hathorne, was judge at Salem witch trials

Plot/Setting The novel is set in the mid 1600s in Boston, Massachusetts. The plot encompasses a seven year period. The plot involves the love triangle of wife-lover-husband. The major theme of the novel is developed in the context of good vs. evil.

Point of View Third-Person Omniscient …Hawthorne reveals the inner and outer workings of the characters and provides social criticism, history, and psychology.

Characters Hester Prynne - wearer of the scarlet letter Pearl - child of Hester; living symbol of Hester’s sin Roger Chillingworth - learned scholar; doctor Arthur Dimmesdale - admired young minister Governor Bellingham - governor and magistrate of Massachusetts Bay Colony Rev. John Wilson - senior minister of colony Mistress Hibbins - Gov. Bellingham’s sister

Nathaniel Hawthorne ( ) The analysis of the characters A. Hester Prynne: This book is not a praise of Hester Prynne sinning, but a hymn on the moral growth of the woman when sinned against. Hester’s life eventually acquires a real significance when she reestablishes a meaningful relationship with her fellowmen. Symbolic of her moral development is the gradual, imperceptible change which the scarlet letter undergoes in meaning. A – “Adultery” “Able”, “Angel” (“Adamic” the original sin or “America”) B. Arthur Dimmesdale banishes himself from the society. Deeply concerned with himself, he lives a stranger among his admirers. He undergoes the tragic expericence of physical and spiritual disintergration. C. Roger Chillingworth, the real villain of the story, embodies pure intellect, who commits “the unpardonable sin” (the violation of heart)

Major Symbol The scarlet letter itself is the central symbol. It changes meaning for the characters in the novel as Hester’s character changes. The A becomes a pathway to redemption for some characters as well. Watch the many ways Hawthorne uses the scarlet A as a symbol…

ADDITIONAL SYMBOLS Prison Door the prison door Pearl The woods ____________ ColorsMirrors/reflections Moon/sunnight/day Rosebushscaffolding/steps Waterwindows

Vocabulary Edifice Venerable Town beadle Iniquity Ignominious Pillory Preternatural Remonstrance Imperceptible Eminent Peremptory Efficacy Leech Feign Talisman Inscrutable

Vocabulary (cont.) Nonentity Transgressor Magistrate Retribution Orthodox Ethereal Sexton Pestilence Forebode Estrange Necromancer Scourge Insidious Repudiate Sagacious Gesticulation

The Custom House Hawthorne claims to have gotten the idea for this novel from the papers of Jonathan Pue. Among the papers, Hawthorne allegedly found an embroidered scarlet A and information on Hester Prynne.

The Custom House Describes the interior/exterior of the Custom House Describes Hawthorne’s feelings about his native town of Salem Makes critical comments about the Whig party/ reveals Hawthorne’s involvement as a Democrat Describes his early attempts to write Hester’s story.

The Genesis of The Scarlet Letter After being fired from the custom house, wrote The Scarlet Letter in six weeks. His wife Sofia wrote a letter to a friend: “Mr. Hawthorne is writing feverishly!” The novel is an instant success amidst the political scandal surrounding Hawthorne.

The Plot of the The Scarlet Letter The plot of The Scarlet Letter surrounds the protagonist Hester Prynne and the controversy over who is the father of her illegitimate child.

Themes in The Scarlet Letter Individualism: The conflict between the individual and society Naturalism: The conflict between the natural realm vs. society. Repentance: The conflict between sin and guilt. Fictional Story in a Historical Place: Though the story takes place in Puritan Boston, many parts of the story are more Romantic than Puritan Symbolism: Symbols change meaning over the course of the novel. Effects of guilt & sin Isolation/alienation from self & society Intolerance & unforgiving attitudes Obsession for revenge Suffering, punishment & redemption

Essential Questions to Consider Do the sins of one’s elders affect their children? Can one have individual freedom without conforming to the laws of a group?