The Theme Of Loneliness In Nathaniel Hawthorne's 'The Scarlet Letter'

Self destruction and deprivation. A problem most may not think they have to deal with on a day to day basis. Especially since most people do not tear themselves apart piece by piece through guilt and denial, to the point at where they perish. Which is why in that regard, Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale is not most people. In the novel, A Scarlet letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, one of main character, Reverend Dimmesdale, has committed one of the most horrific sins a man during his time in Puritan society could commit. Dimmesdale has slept with Hester Prynne, another main character, not only out of wedlock, but also while Hester was still married to another man named Roger Chillingsworth. This sin of adultery immediately brought down the wrath of society onto hester in the form of a scarlet ‘A’ for adultery that she must wear on her bosom for the rest of her life. But in dimmesdale’s case, he is let go without anyone other than Hester in town knowing of his sin. Not only does Chillingsworth make it his life’s mission to seek his revenge on the Reverend, but Dimmesdale also lives a life gull og Hypocrisy with his guilt and shame slowly eating away at himself from the inside. Through the use of Reverend Dimmesdale, and his sins, Hawthorne derives the truth that living a life of hypocrisy and self denial is much worse than just being honest to yourself and others. He conveys that once you are set into denial and hypocrisy, it's becomes impossible to go back, which therefore makes it

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.

Hester’s daughter would always ask her questions. Pearl continually asks Hester about the existence of the scarlet letter. One example of this is in the chapter “Hester and Pearl”. As Hester looked at her daughter, listening attentively, Pearl said to her, “What does the letter mean, mother? -and why dost thou wear it? -and why does the minister keep his hand over his heart? (124). This series of questions demonstrates how curious little Pearl is to figure out what her her mother’s mark represents. She has been told by her mother to leave the subject alone multiple times, yet she still is curious on what it means and if it has any relevance to the fact that Reverend Dimmesdale puts his hand over his heart. Later on in the novel, the mother and daughter were talking about the scarlet letter when Pearl asked, “Will not it come of its own accord, when I am a woman grown?” (126). This question troubled her mother, and, in response, Hester told the child to run off into the woods. Pearl’s interrogative remark shows how no matter what the topic, she chooses to question it. Pearl sees that her mother is the only one in this town that wears a bright red letter on her bosom, and she wonders if, later on in her life, she will receive one just for being born into that situation. Pearl’s curiosity shows how she is pure and Hester does not want to taint her

The author, Nathaniel Hawthorne, is the nephew of John Hathorne. During the Salem Witch Trials, the only judge that did not apologize for the remorseless and cruel acts that were put upon many men and women was in fact John Hathorne. Nathaniel changed his last name from Hathorne to Hawthorne in an attempt to disassociate himself from his uncle. John Hathorne is the reason why Nathaniel Hawthorne is obsessed with the puritan times. Hawthorne lived in the 1800s, but the setting of the novel is based before the Salem Witch Trials were held in the 1600s. In his novel, The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne uses the symbolism of the scarlet letter, Dimmesdale, and burrs to contribute to the overall theme of guilt.

Throughout, “The Scarlet Letter,” Hawthorne is able to enhance the plot by intricately incorporating symbols which represent a deeper meaning. One of which, is the infamous, and ambiguous, scarlet letter that lays upon the bosom of Hester Prynne. In the beginning of the book, the audience is immediately introduced to the scarlet letter as a symbol of shame and adultery. The narrator describes the Puritan society as very judgemental and harsh. Comments like, “This woman has brought shame upon us all, and ought to die,” creates this negative and unwelcoming atmosphere which surrounds Hester for a majority of the book. From then on, the Puritans constantly refer to the

She touches the scarlet letter, but little does she know that she is the reason for the punishment. They are social outcasts, so they don’t leave their house much. Pearl plays alone and has best friends that are imaginary. She distrusts her own imaginary friends for the same reason that she distrusts all the Puritans in the colony. People treat Hester and Pearl differently than everyone else is treated. She only loves Hester, because Hester spends time with her and is a good mother. She plays with her and teaches her Bible stories. Pearl knows the whole catechism at the age of three, but refuses to say it to anyone. She is smarter than everyone thinks she is. Chillingworth speaks to Pearl about the scarlet letter. He asked her if she knew the reason why her mother must wear the scarlet letter all the time. She replies, “Yes, that is the same reason why the preacher holds his hand over his heart.” Pearl asks her mom all the time the reason why she wears the scarlet letter and why the preacher holds his hand over his heart. She knows that they both do, but she doesn’t know why. Hester tells her that she wears it because of the pretty gold thread, but she doesn’t know the minister’s reason. Later in the story, Dimmesdale, Hester, and Pearl meet in the forest, and Hester rips the scarlet letter off. Pearl gets mad then, because she knows that her mother is supposed to wear it. Dimmesdale kisses Pearl, but she washes the kiss off with

“She screamed and shouted, too, with a terrific volume of sound which, doubtless, caused the hearts of the fugitives to quake within them. The victory accomplished, Pearl returned quietly to her mother, and looked up, smiling, into her face.”(96). Pearl yells at the kids who are throwing mud at her mother because she is a child and doesn’t know any better. “At first, as already told, she had flirted fancifully with her own image in a pool of water, beckoning the phantom forth, and—as it declined to venture—seeking a passage for herself into the sphere of impalpable earth and unattainable sky.(168). Now that she is older, she has noticed how her mother acts around other people and plays by herself. She has fun even though she is her only friend. Pearl begins to care about other things than just herself. “Perceiving a flock of beach birds that fed and fluttered along the shore, the naughty child picked up her apron full of pebbles, and creeping from rock to rock after these small seafowl, displayed remarkable dexterity in pelting them.”(168). When she sees that she has hurt the poor creature she stops throwing the pebbles. Her emotions build due to her being alone for so long. Pearl wants a friend, but Hester knows that if Pearl has friends they will tell her the true meaning of the scarlet

I do not want to bother you, for I know that you are always very busy. I am although, very concerned with the situation dealing with Mrs.Hester Prynne, and her young daughter Pearl. A child needs to grow up learning to communicate with others, and making many friends. A life of isolation is not suitable for a child. If Hester was to become ill or injured who would take care of Pearl? Lastly, how do we know if Pearl is being brought up right? Obviously Mrs.Prynne does not have the same morals as we do.

READ: pg. 165 “ ‘ Mother, ’ said little Pearl… ” *Ask why the passage is of importance to the chapter. The chilly gloom of the forest almost perfectly reflects Hester's state of mind and the mood. Why do you think this is so?

In a community, people understand and know each other. In most cases, individuals grow up together and share the same ideals and customs. When a new person shows up, people tend to flock and try to form a persona of the person. Many people expect him or her to fit into the community very fast and follow their laws and customs without complaint. Unfortunately, not everyone can act as a perfect person, and mistakes or problems can occur, which leads to the isolation and alienation of the person from the rest of the community. Through the use of a historical lens in the 1850 novel, The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne explores how the isolation of people and alienation of the communities who enact the isolation occurs from the strict belief structure of the Puritan communities; therefore, people need to forgive the mistakes and wrongs of others if they show remorse for their actions.

Though Hester appears as a passive, unmoved individual, Pearls reflects her mother’s true feelings through her wild, lawless behavior. Considered an outcast of the society like her mother, Pearl has outbursts of emotion towards the townspeople. When other children would gather around her, “Pearl would grow positively terrible in her puny wrath, snatching up stones to fling at them, with shrill, incoherent exclamations” (64). During the New England Holiday festival, Pearl is a mirror of Hester’s hidden emotions by her unmistakable excitement and restlessness. “Pearl, who was the gem of her mother’s unquiet bosom, betrayed, by the very dance of her spirits, the emotions which none could detect in the marble passiveness of Hester’s brow” (156). Though Hester outwardly hides the feelings of her inner self, Pearl reflects what no one can see in her mother’s

When Pearl is throwing flowers at Hester’s chest, trying to hit her “A,” Hester is reminded of her distressing past. Even though Pearl is a reminder of her past sin, Hester is unable to think of a life without her, even when her fellow townspeople are trying to take Pearl away from her. For Pearl separating from her mother would be strenuous, for Hester is the only thing she has ever known. To Pearl, Hester is more than her mother, she is her role model and icon. With such a powerful female figure, Pearl is set on claiming a strong male mentor to be her fatherly

Throughout history people have been shaped by the society in which they live. Those who accept the imposed rules and regulations tend to embody and reflect many of the characteristics of the society that guides them. However, those who do not conform and refuse the norms of society are often isolated from the contrasting group. Authors such as Nathaniel Hawthorne have explored this concept through literature. In his novel, The Scarlet Letter, the protagonist Hester Prynne is presented as a figure alienated from society as a direct result of an adulterous affair revealing the harsh, unsavory truth of Puritan culture and providing a means of criticism for Hawthorne.

A deformed child, college rebel, and struggling author; quiet in nature yet rebellious in action. For one man to embody all of these things is more than intriguing.

Hester Prynne is isolated from her puritan society after committing adultery. As punishment for her crime, Hester is judged by her community and wears a scarlet ‘A’. The scarlet ‘A’ is used as an isolation tool and to imply adulterous actions. “So that both men and women, who had been familiarly acquainted with Hester Prynne, were now impressed as if they beheld her for the first time, -- was that Scarlet Letter, so fantastically embroidered and illuminated upon her bosom. It had the effect of a spell, taking her out of the ordinary relations with humanity, and inclosing her in a sphere by herself” (Hawthorne 51). Even though members of the society who previously interacted with Hester have a certain image of her, that image is completely expunged