The Scarlet Letter

1. The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne Written in 1849-1850

2. Historical Background • Due to the brutal reality of existence in the New World, Puritans believed that life was filled with endless toil and heartbreak. Indian attacks, virulent diseases, and harsh weather served to harden their hearts still further. Ironically although they had set sail seeking freedom from religious persecution, they came to be as rigid, humorless, and judgmental as their persecutors in England.

3. Historical Background cont. • It was their self-righteousness, intolerance and narrow-minded bigotry that interested Hawthorne, himself a descendant of stern Puritans. Hawthorne explored the Puritan ideas of self-discipline, obsession with introspection, sin, and guilt – to learn about the inner recesses of the human heart. The world was a setting for the great drama of humans in relation to God and Satan, heaven and hell with the fate of each person’s soul at stake.

4. Historical Background cont. • The harshness of the religion suited the harshness of daily life, which was reflected in the severity of the law. Many transgressions, including adultery, murder, witchcraft, kidnapping, and heresy, were capital crimes punishable by death. Many were unwilling to bring the death penalty because of their belief in the sanctity of life. As a result, many were forced to wear a letter like Hester, such as M for murder or B for blasphemy.

5. Key Characters-Hester Prynne • Committed adultery with Rev. Arthur Dimmesdale, resulting in the birth of their daughter Pearl • Must wear the scarlet letter as a symbol of her crime • Believes what she and Dimmesdale did had a “consecration of its own” • Strong, brave, and independent with an element of “wildness” in her nature

6. Hester Prynne cont. • Supports herself and her daughter by doing elegant needlework • By the end of the novel she is much loved for her charity work and good deeds • Retains her self-respect to survive with dignity and grace

7. Key Character – Pearl • Is willful and stubborn • Is described as “an imp of evil, an emblem and product of sin.” • Seems more an “airy spirit” than a human child • After showing remorse for the bird she injured, she is at home in nature, able to charm birds and beasts alike. • Is beautiful and graceful

8. Key Character – Roger Chillingworth • Is Hester’s husband, a learned physician who spent all of his time studying • Takes the name “Chillingworth” to keep his true identity a secret • Is misshapen and older than Hester; initially he is kind and gentle • Married Hester when she was quite young in order to warm his cold nature

9. Chillingworth cont. • Does not blame Hester for her sin, but he is determined to find and punish her lover • Subtly tortures Dimmesdale to seek revenge • Commits the worst sin by violating, “in cold blood, the sanctity of the human heart.” • Gradually destroys himself in his lust for revenge

10. Key Character – Arthur Dimmesdale • Was Hester’s secret lover • Lacks the courage to admit his guilt publicly and purge his soul • Believes what he and Hester did was indeed wicked, and so suffers from increasing self-hatred, mental anguish and despair • Leaves Hester to support herself and their child

11. Dimmesdale cont. • Changes from a handsome young clergyman, becoming pale and emaciated from long fasts and vigils • Often puts his hand over his heart • Appears to be concerned with doing good, but is too deeply self-immersed to connect with others • Becomes increasingly popular as he deteriorates physically • Admits his sin at the end of the novel

12. Plot Outline • Custom House – speaker claims to have found the manuscript and a faded letter A • Ch. 1 – Setting is established; description of the prison and surrounding plot is given • Ch. 2 – Hester, released from prison, stands on scaffold wearing scarlet A • Ch. 3 – Hester recognizes a man in the crowd; Dimmesdale asks her to reveal her lover

13. Ch. 4 – The man is her husband; he calls himself Roger Chillingworth. Hester promises to keep his identity a secret. • Ch. 5 – Hester, released from prison, supports herself and her daughter by doing needlework. • Ch. 6 – Hester’s daughter, Pearl, shows her mischievous side. • Ch. 7 – Hearing town’s plan to take Pearl away, Hester visits Gov. Bellingham’s mansion.

14. Ch. 8 – Dimmesdale intercedes on Hester’s behalf, and she is allowed to keep Pearl. • Ch. 9 – Chillingworth moves in with Dimmesdale as his medical advisor. • Ch. 10 – Chillingworth, ripping aside Dimmesdale’s vestment, is exalted with what he sees. • Ch. 11 – Chillingworth subtly tortures Dimmesdale.

15. Ch. 12 – Dimmesdale goes to the scaffold, meets Pearl and Hester; Chillingworth discovers them there in the mysterious light. Seven years have passed. • Ch. 13 – Hester, now much loved by the community for her charity, looks drab. • Ch. 14 – Hester confronts Chillingworth and notices how evil looking he has become. • Ch. 15 – Hester’s inner feelings of hatred toward Chillingworth are revealed. Hester lies to Pearl about the A.

16. Ch. 16 – Hester and Dimmesdale meet in the woods. • Ch. 17 – Hester tells Dimmesdale that Chillingworth is her husband; Dimmesdale and Hester plan to leave Boston together. • Ch. 18 – In her joy, Hester throws off the A. • Ch. 19 – Pearl bursts into tears and refuses to cross the brook until Hester puts the A back on. • Ch. 20 – Returning home, Dimmesdale is tempted to sin.

17. Ch. 21 – The town gathers for the Election Day holiday. • Ch. 22 – The Election Day procession passes by. • Ch. 23 – Dimmesdale reveals the secret on his chest to the town and dies. • Ch. 24 – The revelation of the A is discussed; Chillingworth dies; Pearl’s fate is revealed; the story’s moral is given, and Hester’s grave is described.

18. Setting • Puritan Boston • 1642-1649 • Historical feeling because of allusions to real people and places • A “romance” since Hawthorne selects details to help establish mood and tone for his themes rather than for historical accuracy

19. Point of View • “The Custom House” essay is told from first-person point of view; uses “I” • The rest of the novel is told from the omniscient (all-knowing) point of view. • Hawthorne occasionally interrupts the novel to address the reader directly (generally looked upon as a writing flaw)

20. Literary Elements • Romance rather than a realistic novel Examples – eerie red gleam in Chillingworth’s eyes, unexplained symbol on Dimmesdale’s chest, mystery of Pearl’s impish behavior These are all examples of the kind of fantastic elements found in romances.

21. Literary Elements cont. • Symbolism – a person, place, or thing whose significance goes beyond its literal meaning. Sometimes obvious, but sometimes it is so complex that its meaning, or what it represents, can be interpreted in a variety of ways. TSL is considered the first symbolic book written in America.

22. Literary Elements cont. • Metaphors – an implied comparison between two seemingly unlike things is made • Similes – the words “like” or “as” are used to compare two things directly • Personification – giving human qualities to inanimate objects • Foreshadowing – hinting at what is to come

23. Literary Elements cont. • Irony – exists when there is a contrast between an expectation and what actually happens, or between what is said and what is meant (such as Dimmesdale’s inner torment and his outward popularity) • Dramatic irony is when the reader knows something the character(s) do not • Allusion – references to people, places, other books, etc • Atmosphere – the prevailing mood established through tone and setting

24. Themes: The Effect of Sin • Hester commits a sin of passion rather than intellect. • She is not tortured by guilt. She believed her husband was dead and that the love she shared with Dimmesdale had a holiness all its own. • Hester grows strong as a result of accepting her punishment. • Dimmesdale grows weaker since he is unable to justify his sin, even for love.

25. Themes: The Effect of Sin cont. • Dimmesdale conceals his sin, increasingly tormenting his conscience. • Chillingworth commits the worst sin, violating the sanctity of the human heart. • Chillingworth places the intellect over the heart.

26. Themes: Personal and Public Truth • Hester freely acknowledges her sin. • She elaborately embroiders her symbol of shame and guilt; dresses Pearl in scarlet as a second such symbol, and wears the A long after she could have discarded it. • Dimmesdale conceals his sin for seven long years. • He suffers increasing torments of conscience.

27. Themes: Personal and Public Truth cont. • He finally admits his guilt immediately after his Election Day sermon in Ch. 23. • Chillingworth pretends to be Dimmesdale’s friend while probing his heart. • He becomes increasingly demonic by not being truthful to himself or others.

28. Themes: Wisdom through Suffering • Hester becomes increasingly loved and respected. She is sought after for comfort and counsel. • Dimmesdale comes to realize the importance of publicly confessing sin. He learns that he cannot live with a lie. • Chillingworth does not grow wise through his suffering. He never realizes that his torture of the minister is immoral and evil.