Analysis Of Nathaniel Hawthorne 's ' The Scarlet Rye ' Essay

The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne shows multiple connections between characters and nature. As the story progresses nature becomes more prevalent in the characters and continues to establish certain characteristics for each character. This established connection provides a view into the depths of human nature that each character portrays.

One of the various ways Chillingworth serves as the devil’s advocate is by being the antithesis of Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, the palpable Jesus figure of the narrative. Chillingworth keenly sets out to devastate Dimmesdale, as Hawthorne informs us when referring to Chillingworth's unearthing of Dimmesdale's secret, “All that guilty sorrow, hidden from the world, whose great heart would have pitied and forgiven, to be revealed to him, the

We find out how much Roger and Hester have in common. They are both holding a deep secret, they are unhappy and they both have a very desirable skill and both live on the outskirts of this Puritan society.

During the 17th century, a Puritan commonwealth presided over Boston and was known for its strict adherence to religious, moral and social codes. In The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne utilizes rhetorical strategies in order to denounce the Puritan system of beliefs and bring to light the hypocrisy of the Puritan community as he tells the agonizing story of a young woman who was condemned by society.

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne presents the reader with the harsh, life changing conflicts of three Puritan characters during the 17th century. Hester Prynne, Arthur Dimmesdale, and Robert Chillingworth must endure their different, yet surprisingly similar struggles as the novel progresses. Despite their similarities, Hawthorne shows these individuals deal with their conflicts differently, and in the end, only one prevails. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s intricately critical diction helps determine his didactic tone; during the course of The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne reveals that happiness can be harnessed through one’s perseverance.

In the nineteenth century novel, The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne utilizes different origins of allusions and archetypes to emphasize how individuals in order to encourage individuals to forgive sins and work towards redemption.

Conflict can take on many forms in one’s life, such as conflict with self, with society, with religion and with others. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, develops the theme of conflict through the moral sin of Hester Prynne. Conflict is observed through Hester’s difficulties with the townspeople, challenges with the Puritan way of life, struggles with herself and tensions with Roger Chillingworth. Committing sin in the Puritan society leads to a great deal of conflicts.

Chillingworth is first introduced to us as a mysterious man who happens to be intelligent and good with medicine. Although nothing seems too out of the ordinary Chillingworth fits into the description of rugged individualism because at the time Puritans preferred to be narrow minded about certain subject including medicine and with Chillingworth working as a doctor he had to have a vast knowledge on different subjects. "It grew to be a widely diffused opinion that the Rev Arthur Dimmesdale, like many other personages of special sanctity, in all ages of the Christian world, was haunted either by Satan himself or Satan's emissary, in the guise of old Roger Chillingworth" (Hawthorne pg 127), this suggests that their is an uneasy feeling the community had against Chillingworth making him a target of rugged individualism but because of his assistance and help to the Reverend they didn't dwell on the subject for too long. Through the outside we can see rugged individualism being shown through his education, where the community doesn't want to think to highly of him simply because he is educated, but what the community doesn't experience is what Chillingworth is like on the inside. Once again we see rugged individualism with Chillingworth's

Dimmesdale as a religious and innocent man caught in a bad situation. When describing Chillingworth’s ill treatment of Dimmesdale, Hawthorne says Chillingworth “dug into the poor clergyman’s heart like a miner searching for gold…” (125). In the same manner, Hawthorne employs this sympathetic tone when he describes Dimmesdale as having “high aspirations for the welfare of his race, warm love of souls, pure sentiments…” (126). By choosing words such as “pure,” “warm,” and “poor,” Hawthorne portrays Dimmesdale as an innocent man of god. As a result of the taunting of Chillingworth and the guilt of sin, Dimmesdale is portrayed by Hawthorne as virtuous and religious

Once upon a time, there was a dear little girl called Scarlet who was loved by everyone who looked at her, but most of all by her mother, and there was nothing that she would not have given to the child. On Scarlet’s sixth birthday, her mother suddenly fell ill and soon passed away. Scarlet’s father, being unable to resign and accept the reality, quit his job as a hired herdsman and started hunting in order to distract himself from his grief. He could hardly bear to catch a glimpse of Scarlet’s sight, for she resembled her mother too much. Thus, he neglected his daughter and spent most of his time hunting out in the woods. For this reason, his mother, Scarlet’s grandmother, decided to come and live with them. Grandmother’s permanent stay was

(130) Chillingworth’s joy upon seeing whatever lies on Dimmesdale’s chest is compared to Satan’s joy when a soul enters hell, leading one to assume that Hawthorne believes Chillingworth’s motives for inspecting Dimmesdale to be of a similar wickedness to the actions of the Devil. This connection between Satan and Chillingworth is cemented in the last sentence of the chapter where Hawthorne comments that “what distinguished

Often in society people are criticized, punished and despised for their individual choices and flaws. In the novel, The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, the author uses Hester Prynne to symbolize that those who challenge social conformities can benefit society as a whole. Though she has been banished for committing adultery, she sees that the community needs her. Through her generous accomplishments the community realizes she is a person who, regardless of her sin, can affect the community in a positive way.

Prynne is described as “tall, with a figure of perfect elegance” (Hawthorne 50). The scarlet letter is stowed upon Hester’s bosom and takes on many meanings. After starting her new life, Hester is tormented by children who learn the meaning of the scarlet letter. Townspeople move across the street when Hester walks by. Preachers, women, and men use Hester as examples while on the subject of iniquity.

The Scarlet Letter was set in Puritan Boston during the 17th century, so when asked what form of literature the book is, the most obvious answer would be Puritan Literature. However, this could not be further from the truth. Instead, the Scarlet Letter is apart of Romantic Literature. Romantic Literature embraces individuality, supernatural elements, rejection of rationalism and social convention, and the beauty of nature. The Scarlet Letter cements itself as a Romantic form of literature by showing characters pursing individuality, its supernatural elements, and its exploration of taboo ideas.

As American-British novelist Mark Lawrence once said, “We’re built of contradictions, all of us. It’s those opposing forces that give us strength, like an arch, each block pressing the next”. The aforementioned contradictions are what lead to conflicts, and in turn growth and acceptance. Nathaniel Hawthorne, in his revolutionary classic The Scarlet Letter, delves into the conflicts that the brave, yet infamous Hester Prynne has to overcome. As Hawthorne unfolds the unfortunate tragedy of Hester and her mysterious lover, the battles Hester has to face are multiple external and internal stimuli that bring about the growth of Hester as a character. The onerous obstacles that Hester must face through her life wear her out mentally, but only then can she truly grow and accept who she is.