1804—1864 Born in Salem, MA Born “Hathorne”

but changed his name to distance himself from his relatives and ancestors

William Hathorne 1620s judge who

prosecuted and terrorized Quakers

John Hathorne 1690s judge who

sentenced “witches” to death in Salem during the famous witch trials

Very shy man Graduated from

Bowdoin College in 1825

Spent years collecting stories and historical information related to Puritanism

Worked as an inspector in the Boston Customs House

Claims to have found evidence and papers concerning Hester Prynne and an actual scarlet letter

Touched the letter to his breast and felt “burning embers…as if the letter were not of red cloth, but red hot iron.

No factual basis for the “documents” and “letter” but this was a typical introduction for romances at the time

Romantic Deals with the strange and mysterious Uses symbolic imagination Turns to the past for subject matter

Focuses on the problem of evil and the nature of sin Examines guilt Uses the effect of on sin on four main

characters Hester, Pearl, Dimmesdale and Chillingsworth

What is sin? Is Hester’s sin a crime against civil law? Is Hester’s sin a crime against nature’s law?

Wild rosebush growing beside the prison door Does nature sympathize with those whom

society condemned? Unity of Place

Three scaffold scenes Four main characters are present Change is demonstrated in each character

Very formal language—often difficult for modern readers to decode

Using imagery to create mood Plants, light, darkness, shadow, etc

Narration mixed with dramatic scenes

Historical references to give his story credence

Wanted to restore the church to its “pure” state

Did not actually seek religious freedom, just wanted a place to worship as they chose

Very intolerant of other religious beliefs—persecuted and banished individuals whose beliefs did not match theirs

Role of ministers and magistrates (law officials) to enforce the laws of God

Church very linked to state Believed they were ordained by God to

establish a community under His laws All members of the community judged

the faith and works of every other member

Insisted on a lifestyle of self-discipline and hard work following the will of God

Completely intolerant of sin Any sin committed in the community

would incur God’s wrath Looked for sins so they could be

publically addressed and the community could express their scorn

Lived very simple, hardworking lives—idleness was an invitation to sin “Idle hands are the devil’s playthings.

Dressed in brown, gray or black –”somber colors”

Avoided worldly pleasures Transferred children so they weren’t

spoiled by natural parents

Calvinists Believed humans were too sinful to earn

salvation by performing good works or avoiding sin

People could only go to heaven through God’s grace

Pre-destination—those who were saved had already been chosen

One knew whether one was a member of “God’s elect” by being able to avoid sin

Dimmesdale and Hester are concerned that they may be damned—not because of their sin itself—but because they sinned it indicated that they were already damned

The Scarlet Letter explores whether Hester and Dimmesdale are actually damned or can be redeemed

Set in Puritan Salem

The story of Hester Prynne who gives birth after committing adultery

Refuses to name the father

Hester is required to wear a scarlet letter “A” on her breast as a mark of her shame

Struggles to build a new life of repentance and dignity while raising her child and being shunned by her community

Hester Prynne Pearl Roger Chillingsworth Reverend Dimsdale Governor Bellingham Mistress Hibbins Reverend John Wilson Narrator

Sin, knowledge and the human condition The nature of evil Identity and Society

The Scarlet Letter Pearl The meteor The prison The scaffold Nature Sunlight Color Rosebush

Motif: an idea or theme that is carried and repeated throughout an entire literary work

Civilization v Wilderness Night v Day Naming