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Accurate Individualism In The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne

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One of the themes in "The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, is what Karl Marx would call "rugged individualism." This concept is when someone sticks out in the masses, and has little to no regards of the customs of the society in which that person thrives in. Their traits can either benefit them, cause them detriment, or both simultaneously. Two of the main characters especially exemplify rugged individualism: Hester Prynne and the man who identifies himself as Roger Chillingworth. It can be inferred that Hester did not always agree with Puritan law and culture in the time leading up to her conviction. This leads readers to believe that, other than the fact that her husband never showed in the New World, she committed adultery because it was simply against moral law and Puritan rule. As said in chapter …show more content…

Her haughty smile is a clear example of Hester exemplifying rugged individualism in the utopia that is the Puritan village. She does not attempt to blend in with the townspeople because "on the breast of her gown, in fine red cloth, surrounded with an elaborate embroidery and fantastic flourishes of gold thread, appeared the letter A." Hawthorne 53) She made her symbol fancy and beautiful as a stand against the Puritan code, the judging citizens, and especially the authorities of the town. However, despite the admiration the average person would have for this sense of independence and eccentricity shown by a woman in the age of Puritan rule, this type of thinking puts the heroine in peril. A true Puritan in the

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Although she is described as physically attractive, her inner beauty reflects her attractiveness from the outside, allowing her to bear the burden of the scarlet letter with dignity and grace. In contrast to the Puritan society’s expectations, Hester’s charmer reveals her pure and innocent heart. Hawthorne’s use of physiognomy in Hester’s character highlights the irony of the situation, as her beauty contradicts society’s perception of her as a sinner. Overall, Hester’s beauty reflects her true character and defies the societal expectations imposed on

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The hypocrisy of 1600s Puritan society was often disguised behind a facade of moral righteousness. Puritans claimed to use public shaming as a way to better the morals of society and lead people to repent; however, it was highly hypocritical as the Puritans found pure entertainment in the downfall of others and completely neglected sinners rather than educating them. Puritan society thrived off of gossip and rumors, which goes against many biblical morals. Nathaniel Hawthorne, a 19th century transcendentalist, tells the story of how 1600s colonial Puritan society reacts to a woman who commits the sin of adultery in the 1850 The Scarlet Letter. In an excerpt from Chapter 13, the transcendentalist ideals of Nathaniel Hawthorne are reflected through

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Hester's divine beauty outshines others corrupt beliefs of her. While Hester walks stumbles out the prison doors and onto the dreaded scaffold, Hawthorne describes Hester as "the young woman [who] was tall, with a figure of perfect elegance, on a large scale" (40). Hester Prynne is being publicly shamed for the act of adultery she committed along with the minister who condemns her. She is forced to stand on the scaffold and beat the sorrow of he sins with the scarlet letter "A" on her bosom to represent her shameful acts. This mark of embarrassment serves a purpose to make her appear unrighteous, but the author chooses to focus on her beauty, which outshines this emblem.

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She illustrates this in her beautification of the scarlet letter (Hawthorne 44). Hester’s creation of the opulent letter is unnecessary, disconnecting her from the Puritan belief of simplicity. Furthermore, Hester expresses her indulgence in her creation of gratuitous baby clothing. These creations are so lavish that they would “raise a public tumult” (Hawthorne 203) in the Puritan community, since they value modesty. The abhorrence of extravagance is displayed in Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.

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In the Scarlet Letter Hester Prynne was a character of high integrity. She lived by her own values and merits no matter what the consequence, and refused to give in to the abundance of temptations that were presented to her. The scarlet letter also provided lessons that Hester needed to learn in order to continue her development as a person. Men living by Dimmesdale’s standard, hiding the fact they have sinned and having to be pushed to the edge to confess, feel integrity takes a back seat to getting what you yearn for. For them, their moral code is only a guide, seldom

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By wearing the “A,” Hester was publicly humiliated, however, her development in character causes a change in the meaning of the Scarlet Letter, which leads her to taking pride in the letter as it grows a part of her. After Hester’s sin the Puritan community places a false

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The exploration of societal pressures. Life can be separated into two equal parts totally independent from one another. The inner self, being the innermost thoughts and feelings of the individual, and the outer self, how the individual decides to conduct itself around the others in society. Often times one of these parts takes control of the other, suppressing its partner. The suppression is often not of equal frequency because of the obligation humans feel to be liked and to fit in causes the outermost self to be given the most thought and worry.

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What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger: Embracing Vulnerability in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne The Scarlet Letter is a novel that utilizes diverse characters in which author Nathaniel Hawthorne employs to portray thematic elements. One topic that is present through all of the distinct characters is the idea of vulnerability. Through the many distinct complexities of each character, Hawthorne is able to highlight the different levels of vulnerability each character possesses.

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In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel, The Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne is seen as an outcast in the Puritan dominated society. She is punished for her sin of adultery, however, she is not the greatest sinner. Roger Chillingworth is a manipulative man who commits even more atrocious crimes. He forces Hester to marry him and does not treat her very well. He is later consumed by revenge and hides his identity in order to punish Dimmesdale.

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Even though the Puritans may have designated the letter as a representation of sin, Hester’s renewed sense of pride does not want society to define the A for her. Rather Hester wants to define it herself and by doing so she develops responsibility and power over her own actions. Because Hester has the power to change who she is, she also has the power to change what the Scarlet Letter represents. By letting the letter be “embroidered with gold thread” readers are able to see how for Hester sin is not something to be fearful of; furthermore, it allows one to see how Hester has developed into an independent individual who accepts who she is and the situation she is presented with. Hester’s lover unfortunately

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Literary Devices in The Scarlet Letter Literary devices are often used to capture a reader’s attention in a text. Nathaniel Hawthorne used many different types of literary devices in his book The Scarlet Letter. He uses symbolism to give hidden meaning to elements in the story, conflict to make the story interesting, and allusion to make references to historical events (ex. biblical references). While reading The Scarlet Letter, the literary devices did not jump out at me, but now as I reflect upon them they help me understand the book well. Literary devices can make a passage have a whole different meaning.

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In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Scarlet Letter” he applies symbolism to develop the theme of identity and society. Starting as a symbol of shame, the scarlet letter becomes a symbol of powerful identity to Hester, and the letter goes from meaning “adulterer” to meaning “able.” When the people of Hester’s community first find out what she did they were upset and “with which society frowned heavily upon her sin”(77). The severeness of Hester’s crime causes her to be heavily judged by society, and not in a good way. Even though Hester commits a crime so horrible when around people she “contrives so perfectly” to show off and “ represent the scarlet letter”(93).

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The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne has a very interesting plot that hooks you right away. The protagonist of the story is Hester Prynne, the mother of Pearl. She has to wear the scarlet letter A on her body as punishment for her affair with Arthur Dimmesdale, the town minister. Hester’s main conflict is that she has to live with a badge of shame while she does not feel at all shameful. She has to struggle against a population of people who act like they are holier than her in every way and use her as a scapegoat for their own damage.

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1142 Words | 5 Pages

When Hester finally takes off the scarlet letter “A” and her cape in the wilderness, it not only represents the beauty she held despite the emotional punishment she underwent, but it also represents her removing the Puritan and patriarch society holding her back. Hester’s feminist conscious is intricately portrayed throughout the

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Amanda Vicente The Scarlet Letter Reading Response AP English Language Period J 16 August 2016 Journal Entry 1: Chapters 1-2 In The Scarlet Letter, the author sets a mood from the beginning of the book. The setting is old and beat up in front of an aged wooden prison with judgmental Puritans ready to tear a women apart. The Puritans are hypocrites and the author portrays that in the story.

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