The Scarlet Letter The Romantic Period

SL published in 1850, 1 st symbolic novel (American) SL published in 1850, 1 st symbolic novel (American) 20 years of planning – most unified 20 years of planning – most unified Other writers of the time – Emerson, Thoreau, Melville, Poe Other writers of the time – Emerson, Thoreau, Melville, Poe

Scarlet Letter Set in remote past (Puritan Era) 200 yrs. Before Hawthorne and deals with inner psychology of individual characters Set in remote past (Puritan Era) 200 yrs. Before Hawthorne and deals with inner psychology of individual characters i.e. a romance about the past i.e. a romance about the past

Romances = truths of the human heart (not just romantic love) = SL not necessarily a historical novel about Puritans = some facts and imagination (about human nature) = exaggerates relationship between humans and nature

Scarlet Letter Uses vocab and style familiar to 1850, but speech of 1600 Puritans Uses vocab and style familiar to 1850, but speech of 1600 Puritans Setting – early 17 th C., approx. 1642, Boston, MA, a Puritan village Setting – early 17 th C., approx. 1642, Boston, MA, a Puritan village Story begins in “medias res” Story begins in “medias res” Heavily symbolic – inner meanings through outward appearance Heavily symbolic – inner meanings through outward appearance

Themes Alienation Alienation Religious hypocrisy Religious hypocrisy Breaking society’s rules Breaking society’s rules Creating one’s own world Creating one’s own world Hate turns into love Hate turns into love Illusion vs. reality Illusion vs. reality Sin of flesh vs. sin of will/intellect Sin of flesh vs. sin of will/intellect

Read on diff. levels Psychological (indiv.) – internal effects of sin Psychological (indiv.) – internal effects of sin Sociological (society) Sociological (society) Historical (period and culture) Historical (period and culture) Moral - many themes Moral - many themes