Scarlet Letter Thesis

The Scarlet Letter is a well known novel written by Nathaniel Hawthorne. The novel is composed and written in Salem and Concord, as well as Boston, Massachusetts in the late 1840's. The narrator of the novel is in an omniscent state, meaning he knows more about the characters than the characters know about themselves. Although the narrartor is omniscent, he also makes sure to include his ideas and opinions on situations, making him also greatly subjective. Being subjective, as well as omniscent, historical fiction along with a story displaying constant symbolism is evident.

Writing an excellent book, short story,or poem is an ability very few people posses : Nathaniel Hawthorne is someone who had this talent. Hawthorne's writing is mostly centered around romantic fiction, he has written a plethora of things but he is mostly remembered for his short stories and novels. Before divulging into his work, a reader should know where his writing comes from, his inspirations, originality and what some would call pure genius. The author, Nathaniel Hawthorne, is an individual whose work has been and should continue to be analyzed for years to come due to his unique twist on romantic fiction. Many of his works have casted a silhouette over America through his intricate stories and writing style that revealed the themes of psychology and human nature during the 19th century. Hawthorne’s ominous style makes his works into oddities compared to the other romantic fiction novels in his time. Many of his works, such as The Scarlet Letter, exemplifies the epitome of Hawthorne’s distinct outlook on the moralistic attitudes of

A common theme throughout literature is religion and how the author feels about his or her faith. Nathaniel Hawthorne uses rhetorical devices to draw comparisons between characters and events in The Scarlet Letter and Biblical figures and accounts. A few of the devices found in this novel that connect it to the Bible are symbolism, paradox, allusions, and characterization. It is important to first look at the characters and how they are described through characterization.

The very scarlet letter from which the novel’s name is derived from is a symbol of sinning; the scarlet letter represents how Puritan society views sinning as unforgivable and something for public speculation. Hester is punished by wearing hers out for the world to see. The letter is “so fantastically embroidered” that one townswoman argues that its intricacy and design defeat the entire purpose of wearing it. The scarlet letter serves as an

Also, Hawthorne juxtaposes motifs to reveal Hester’s point-of-view and understanding. In The Scarlet Letter, Hester forcefully wears the embroidered letter “A” with golden thread representing sin and adultery. Then, her daughter asks, “What does the letter mean, mother?” Her mother responds, “for the scarlet letter, I wear it for the sake of its gold-thread” (163). In this quote, Hester is hiding the real logic of why she is wearing the scarlet letter, because she understands Pearl is still a child, she would not be able to understand the hypocrisy of the society. Furthermore, the community forced her to wear it as a source of a punishment. However, this juxtaposition of wearing the item for the sake of its beauty, is a different idea contrasting the genuine reason of why she is wearing the scarlet letter. Additionally, another symbolism that Hawthorne juxtaposes is the meaning of the allegorical object in the novel. This object is the scarlet letter, which its meaning changed from the beginning to the end of the book. At first, the author represents the idea of the wickedness of the letter it has on Hester, “[that] transfigured [Hester] . . . [and it] illuminated upon her bosom” (51). Not only, the scarlet letter has a peculiar “effect of a spell, taking her out of the ordinary relations with humanity and enclosing her in a sphere by herself” (51). Thus, the author interprets the meaning of the scarlet letter

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne was written amidst the 1800’s. Hawthorne was a famous American author during that time frame. He is a relative to a judge from the Salem Witch Trials, which was his Great-Great Grandfather John Hathorne. Hathorne was the only judge who did not express atonement for his crimes, which led people to dislike all the Hathorne’s. This sparked Nathaniel Hawthorne's interest in the Puritan times, which resulted in the Scarlet Letter. Hawthorne delineates Puritan standards religiously and culturally in an outstanding way. He was also an Anti-Transcendentalist which means that he believed that all humans were evil. In his novel, the Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne uses the symbols of the scarlet letter, Reverend Dimmesdale, and burrs to add onto the overall theme of guilt.

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne was written in 1849. This novel won him much fame and a good reputation as a writer. In writing The Scarlet Letter, Hawethorne was creating a form of fiction he called the psychological romance. A psychological romance is a story that contains all of the conventional trappings of a typical romance, but deeply portrays humans in conflict with themselves. The Scarlet Letter won Hawthorne great critical acclaim, and even today the book remains on the best seller list. The Scarlet Letter is so popular maybe because generations of readers can interpret it and see subtle meanings that somewhat reflect their own lives. Each of us, has

Born in Salem, Massachusetts, Nathaniel attended Bowdoin College and graduates in 1825. After getting a job at Custom House and then losing it, he starts to write a novel about adultery. In 1850, The Scarlet Letter is published and because of its adultery immediately was a best-seller. Hawthorne portrays Transcendentalism through characters by using Self Reliance and depicts ideas from Nature by Ralph Waldo Emerson. Through symbolism and tone, Hawthorne conveys elements of Transcendentalism philosophy by promoting individuality while restricting puritan ideals.

One's sense of self can be disrupted by the judgemental and hypocritical people in their community, the only way to not be hurt by others is to rise above. The book, The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne shows Hawthorne's critique on the hypocritical Puritan society, which leads to unfair judgment from the townspeople. The intelligent and creative Nathaniel Hawthorne, was born on July 4th, 1804, in Salem, Massachusetts. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s family came from a long line of Puritans that had lived in Salem, Massachusetts for generations. One of Hawthorne’s ancestors served as a judge during the Salem Witch trials and personally sent many people to their execution. This caused Hawthorne

Love, hate, loyalty, compassion, hope and anger are just a few commonly found themes throughout literature. Themes are topics, or ideas analyzed in a written piece. Every story has multiple themes many are effortless to find others are challenging. Nathaniel Hawthorne uses themes throughout all of his work to keep the attention of the reader, and teach them a lesson.

"Nathaniel Hawthorne has made a beautiful, admirable, extraordinary approach in this novel" said Henry James regarding The Scarlet Letter. It has the beauty and harmony of all original and complete conceptions and its weaker spots are not of its essence, but mere light flaws and inequalities of surface. The novel has the inexhaustible charm and mystery of great works of art. It has a high style of polish as well as a charming freshness. Hawthorne has cultivated with great industry his natural sense of language, his turn for saying things lightly in touchy mood, picturesquely yet simply, and for infusing a gently colloquial tone into matter of the most unfamiliar import. The Scarlet Letter deals with different aspects, which are portrayed

In The Scarlet letter, Nathaniel hawthorne uses his novel as social commentary by depicting the puritan society as a group of hypocritical people who believe in conformity, which ultimately, turns them into a mindless horde. Nathaniel Hawthorne had deep bonds with his Puritan ancestors and created a story that highlighted both their weaknesses and their strengths. His knowledge of their beliefs and his admiration for their strengths were balanced by his concerns for their rigid and cruel rules.The Scarlet Letter shows his attitude toward these Puritans of Boston in his portrayal of characters, his plot, and the themes of his story. It is through symbolism and imagery that Hawthorne tells his tale of Hester Prynne's sin and her punishment.

     Nathaniel Hawthorne?s novel The Scarlet Letter was a story meant to have people look deeper into the way we treat each other. Hawthorne?s goal was to open peoples eyes to the evil that lurks within the most righteous of people and to open some peoples eyes to their own hypocrisy. Hester

The Scarlet Letter was written in the historical setting of 1600s Puritan society. Anti-Transcendentalist author, Nathaniel Hawthorne writes about the failed Utopian society that Puritans believed was created. Hawthorne did not share the same beliefs of Puritans. He interpreted the meaning of this book, by using a woman and her crime of adultery to reveal the hypocrisy of life in the Puritan society. In The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne used the symbolic meaning of the Wild Rosebush, Hester’s Cabin, The Forest and Sunlight to contribute to the overall theme of imperfection.

Nathaniel Hawthorne was an author during the 1800s. Hawthorne was obsessed with the history of the 1600s and the puritan societies that were short lived. In The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne writes about a small puritan village in New England, Massachusetts, set in the 1600s. In his novel, The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne uses the symbolism of a Wild Rosebush, Hester’s Cabin, and Sunlight & Forrest to contribute to the overall theme of Imperfection.