Critical Analysis of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter
One of the most well-known and notable literary classics still read in the modern times is Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter. Regarded as his greatest work, this novel revolves around the life of Hester Prynne who conceives a child under an adulterous relationship. The story was set in a strict Puritan setting during the 17th century which makes it even more difficult for the protagonist to recreate a new life of happiness and dignity. In the story, the author explores the important themes of guilt, sin, and society.
Sin is one of the most prominent themes in this book. The life of Hester and Dimmesdale mirrors the story of Adam and Eve who because of sin were removed from the Garden of Eden. Much like how Adam and Eve have to endure the toil of labor after being expelled from the garden, so do Hester and Dimmesdale who were also forced to suffer a life of challenges and sufferings. Hester views the Scarlet Letter as the representation as well as the reminder of her sin. The letter acts as her “passport into regions where other women dared not tread” (Hawthorne 22). In the same way, Dimmesdale looks at his sin as a sort of connection as his sin provides him with “sympathies so intimate with the sinful brotherhood of mankind, so that his chest vibrates in unison with theirs” (Hawthorne 23). This means that for both characters, their state of sinfulness serves a reminder of how they are similar to Adam and Eve and how they are expelled and condemned to live a life of shame.
Another prominent theme in this story is evil. In fact, throughout the book, the characters often discuss the identity of a so-called “black man” which is an embodiment of everything that is evil. As the narrative progresses, the “black man” becomes associated with the characters of Chillingworth, Mistress Hibbins, and Dimmesdale. This is because these characters at some point of the story, performed an action or behavior which connotes evil. Chillingworth for example, after marrying Hester committed evil in the arms of Dimmesdale. In the same way, the change of heart and the transformation of Chillingworth is something blamed upon Hester and Dimmesdale. It is in here that one can see that evil is in fact something that arises from concept of love and hate. As the narrator suggest, “a high degree of intimacy and heart knowledge; each renders one individual dependent… upon evil” (Hawthorn 34). This means that unlike what most people think, evil is something that did not root from the relationship of Hester and Dimmesdale. Rather, evil, in its darkest form came from the carefully planned revenge of Chillingworth (Colacurcio 88).
Society and identity are also important themes discussed by the author of this novel. In the narrative, people forced Hester to wear the scarlet letter A, which stands for adultery as a badge of humiliation. Furthermore, she was forced to stand on a platform for over three hours, exposing here sin for everyone to see. And as she approaches the platform, many women in the crowd scorned her and demanded to know the name of the father of the child. In this scene it is clear that the author wants to communicate the idea that an individual cannot separate his or her identity with the identity that the public has imposed on him/her. In the case of Hester, it would be rather difficult for her to remove her identity of being an adulterer especially when the public thinks of her that way (Schiff 56).
Based on the points provided, it can be concluded that the author employed the themes of evil, sin, and identity. These three themes are all embodied by the characters of the novel.
Works Cited
Colacurcio, M. New Essays on The Scarlet Letter. NY: CUP, 1985
Hawthorne, N. The Scarlet letter. NY: Simon and Schuster, 2004
Schiff, J. Rewriting the scarlet Letter. NY: UMP, 1992