The Scarlet Letter Puritanism Vs. Romanticism And Reflection

8 Pages 2043 Words

“The Scarlet Letter”


Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote “The Scarlet Letter” in 1850 in the highly religious area of New England. When it was written many people judged the novel solely on its story telling, whereas ignoring the loads of hidden themes that Hawthorne placed in the novel. “The Scarlet Letter” by Nathaniel Hawthorne has many different themes contained in the novel, but the themes of Puritanism vs. Romanticism and the theme of reflection are the most prevalent. The Scarlet Letter is chock full of symbolism. Hawthorne uses people and objects and makes them symbolic of events and thoughts. Throughout the course of the book, Hawthorne uses Hester, Pearl, and Arthur Dimmesdale to signify and contrast both the Puritanical and Romantic philosophies. Hester Prynne, as seen by Puritanism is an extreme sinner; she has gone against the Puritan way of life, committing adultery. For this harsh sin, she must wear a symbol of shame for the rest of her life. However, the Romantic philosophies of Hawthorne contrast the Puritanical beliefs. She is a beautiful, young woman who has sinned, but is forgiven in the eyes of most. Hawthorne portrays Hester as a someone who can do wrong with her daughter. Not only Hester, but also the physical scarlet letter, the badge of shame, is shown through the author's tone and word choice as a beautiful, gold and colorful piece attached with gold thread, thus giving the scarlet letter A a majestic tone when Hester wears it. Pearl, Hester's child, is viewed as a child of sin by the Puritans, and who should be treated ugly, evil, and shamed. Hawthorne however words to combat that ideal when he places Pearl above the rest of the children in intelligence, free spirit, beauty and kindness. The traits of intelligence and free spirit are a direct link the ideals of the Romantic writers of the time. Pearl could always be found in the forest, "And she was gentler here [the forest] than in the ...