The Scarlet LetterThe Scarlet Letter

Nathaniel HawthorneNathaniel Hawthorne

Nathaniel HawthorneNathaniel Hawthorne

1804-18641804-1864 Born in Salem, MassachusettsBorn in Salem, Massachusetts His ancestors were wealthy, His ancestors were wealthy,

influential people. One, William influential people. One, William Hathorne, became a judge who Hathorne, became a judge who persecuted Quakers; another persecuted Quakers; another sentenced many Salem women to sentenced many Salem women to death for witchcraftdeath for witchcraft

Nathaniel HawthorneNathaniel Hawthorne

Hawthorne was obsessed with the sins Hawthorne was obsessed with the sins of these ancestors who reflected the of these ancestors who reflected the religious intolerance of the Puritan religious intolerance of the Puritan societysociety

The death of his father created a lonely The death of his father created a lonely childhood childhood

Graduated from Bowden College in Graduated from Bowden College in Maine, and spent twelve years in Maine, and spent twelve years in seclusion struggling to become a writerseclusion struggling to become a writer

Nathaniel HawthorneNathaniel Hawthorne

1837- published 1837- published Twice Told TalesTwice Told Tales and and earned national fame. His stories won the earned national fame. His stories won the admiration of Edgar Allan Poe, who admiration of Edgar Allan Poe, who considered Hawthorne a genius.considered Hawthorne a genius.

Another contemporary of Hawthorne, Another contemporary of Hawthorne, Herman Melville, became his close friend. Herman Melville, became his close friend. They both reacted to the Transcendental They both reacted to the Transcendental philosophers of the nineteenth century. philosophers of the nineteenth century. Critics refer to this reaction as “Anti-Critics refer to this reaction as “Anti-Transcendentalism.”Transcendentalism.”

Nathaniel HawthorneNathaniel Hawthorne

During his life, Hawthorne was friendly with During his life, Hawthorne was friendly with Transcendentalists Ralph Waldo Emerson Transcendentalists Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau; however and Henry David Thoreau; however Hawthorne struggled with what he Hawthorne struggled with what he considered the overly optimistic ideas of the considered the overly optimistic ideas of the Transcendentalists. Evidence of this Transcendentalists. Evidence of this struggle between a belief in the struggle between a belief in the perfectability of humanity by following one’s perfectability of humanity by following one’s own individual conscience, and the own individual conscience, and the essentially evil nature of humankind is seen essentially evil nature of humankind is seen in the ambiguity of in the ambiguity of The Scarlet LetterThe Scarlet Letter

The Scarlet LetterThe Scarlet Letter

Style, Setting and ThemesStyle, Setting and Themes

In spite of Hawthorne’s opposition In spite of Hawthorne’s opposition to Transcendentalism, he is typical to Transcendentalism, he is typical of the nineteenth century of the nineteenth century romantics. Like them, his stories:romantics. Like them, his stories:

a.a. Deal with the strange and Deal with the strange and mysteriousmysterious

b.b. Involve symbolic imaginationInvolve symbolic imagination

c.c. Turn to the past for subject matterTurn to the past for subject matter

Hawthorne focuses his attention on the Hawthorne focuses his attention on the problem of evil and the nature of sin. He problem of evil and the nature of sin. He analyzes the inner world of the human mind analyzes the inner world of the human mind and heart. His stories begin with a simple and heart. His stories begin with a simple idea, like guilt. The idea is developed with idea, like guilt. The idea is developed with symbolism and complex personal symbolism and complex personal relationships. In relationships. In The Scarlet LetterThe Scarlet Letter, he , he analyzes the effect of one sin on the four analyzes the effect of one sin on the four main characters who are closely intertwined main characters who are closely intertwined because of that sin (Hester, Pearl, because of that sin (Hester, Pearl, Dimmesdale, Chillingworth)Dimmesdale, Chillingworth)

He examines the question “What is sin?” He examines the question “What is sin?” Pay attention to how he is careful to Pay attention to how he is careful to

portray Hester’s sin as a crime against portray Hester’s sin as a crime against civil law, but not necessarily against civil law, but not necessarily against natural lawnatural law

Beginning with the wild rosebush, he Beginning with the wild rosebush, he suggests Nature might actually suggests Nature might actually sympathize with those whom society sympathize with those whom society has condemnedhas condemned

Has a unity of place- All action occurs Has a unity of place- All action occurs in the center of Boston and the in the center of Boston and the outskirts of this village- there are outskirts of this village- there are three scaffold scenes where the four three scaffold scenes where the four main characters are present, and the main characters are present, and the changes in each are shownchanges in each are shown

Uses formal language with precise Uses formal language with precise word choice; although the sentences word choice; although the sentences are long and complex, they are are long and complex, they are logical and clearlogical and clear

Hawthorne uses images frequently to Hawthorne uses images frequently to create the mood and emphasize his create the mood and emphasize his ideas. Things to notice: the use of ideas. Things to notice: the use of plant life to differentiate between plant life to differentiate between those with whom Nature sympathizes those with whom Nature sympathizes and those with whom she does not; and those with whom she does not; the use of darkness and shadows, the use of darkness and shadows, light, the play of sunlight, choice of light, the play of sunlight, choice of names etc.names etc.

Concluding thoughtsConcluding thoughts The narrator tells most of the story in the The narrator tells most of the story in the

form of a summary. Between passages of form of a summary. Between passages of explanation are dramatic scenes. At times explanation are dramatic scenes. At times he interrupts the narration to provide he interrupts the narration to provide necessary exposition. On other occasions necessary exposition. On other occasions he offers a choice of interpretations. The he offers a choice of interpretations. The reader can decide what is literally true and reader can decide what is literally true and what is a device to create the supernatural what is a device to create the supernatural or symbolic effect. This ambiguity makes or symbolic effect. This ambiguity makes the book rich to read and discuss, but also the book rich to read and discuss, but also presents problems to readers who feel they presents problems to readers who feel they need to understand definitivelyneed to understand definitively