Topic: Concept of ‘Sin’ in ‘The Scarlet

Letter’

Prepared By: Gohil Namrata R.Paper No.: 10/ American Literature

Presented Date: 2-10-2014Year: 2014-2015

Roll No.: 18M.A./Part:2

Sem.:3

Topic: Concept of ‘Sin’ in ‘The Scarlet Letter’

Historical Background

1650-1570: Early colonial period-puritan writing, no distinctive American literature.

1750-1800: Later colonial period-Age of Reason/Enlightment (Neo-classicism, Rationalism).

1800-1850: American Renaissance/Romanticism-Slave narratives, inner feelings, the burden of a puritan past, the rejection of Neo-classicism.

In ’The Bible’ Sin concerns knowledge

linked in the “JUDEO-CHRISTION”

‘Sin’ in Eden Garden of Eve

In Paradise Lost: By Milton

‘Sin’ of Hester in Society

Quotations “This Woman has brought “Shame” upon us all, and ought to die. Is there not low for it? Truly there is , both in the Scripture and the Statue-book. Then let the magistrates, who have made it of no effect, thank themselves if their own wives and daughters go astray!” “Come along, madam Hester, and show your Scarlet letter in the market place!”

“ pray you , good sir, Said he, who is this woman? –and where fore is she here set up to public Shame?”

-Society

-Roger Chilingworth

You must needs be a stranger in this region, friend,” answered the townsman, looking curiously at the questioner and his savage companion: “else you would surely have heard of mistress Hester prynne , and her evil doings. She hath raised a great scandal, I promise you, in godly master Dimmesdale’s church.”

A Man: Society

Punishment of Forest

Comparison: Eve(Paradise Lost) & Hester

Individuality.

Patriarchy/Feminism.

Free Will

Sin results in expulsion a Suffering.

Boldness

No Ideology

Burden of ‘Sin’: Dimmesdale Frustration

Conflict with ‘SUPER-EGO’.

Escapism

Tragedy

Lost patriarchal power

‘Shame’: “ The deepest shame is not shame in the eyes of others but weakness in own yes.” -Helen Merrell Lynd

Hester & Pearl

Pearl illegimate child of Hester & Dimmesdale.

Human spirit of Hester

Immersionism

Self-Relience.

Ideal Ego

Thank You

gohilnamrata1992@gmail.com

Email Id:

Submitted To: S.B. Gardi, Department of English, M.K. Bhavnagar University, Bhavnagar(Gujarat-India).