Hester Prynne Isolation Quotes

In the beginning of the Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne introduces the main character Hester Prynne, a young, beautiful member of a Puritan society being punished for her sin of love, not lust. The opening chapters introduce the reader to gossips who deem her original punishment, death, too harsh and contrary to Puritan beliefs that unborn babies should be given a chance at life. Instead, Hester and her child are to be alienated and shunned. In addition she is to wear the letter ‘A’ (which stands for ‘adultery’) on her chest which will forever display her as a symbol of shame for her sin. Though a very resilient figure who soon overcomes this pain, Hester’s isolation takes a negative toll on her life. In a scene where Hester, the governor,

Pearl keeps me here in life! Pearl punishes me too! See ye not, she is the scarlet letter, Only capable of being loved, and so endowed with a million- fold the power of retribution for my sin? Ye shall not take her! I will die first!’” (103). Hester believes that with social isolation there is no point to this life she lives in anymore. She has nothing to live for, if it not be her baby, who was a result of her sin, and she begs that they allow her to keep the only thing in the world, in life, that she has left. She believes that her child is the only thing that gives her strength to live through her punishment rightfully, and without her there would be no point in her living in the world. Avoiding the tragedy of losing Hester, who is still thought to be a very vital member of society, the governor and priest both decide to allow her to keep Pearl. This worldview, that life has no meaning without the product of her sin, is one Hawthorne gives to Hester to suggest that isolation would result in a new demented outlook on life. He wants to show the bitter reality in which life convinces someone to be meaningless, if we choose to isolate others from those around

Hawthorne proves through Dimmesdale that no matter where one stands in society, a life of lies and isolation from the truth would surely lead to suffering. In the book, Dimmesdale is referred to in society as “... a young clergyman who had come from one of the great English Universities,” (48) a highly respected figure in the community that Hester lives in who manifests magnificent qualities, but who, however, lacks the most essential quality: happiness. Consequently, on the outside Dimmesdale is shown to be a highly respected and content man. Meanwhile, on the inside, the nature of his sin haunts him as he chooses to isolate the truth he holds. In a scene where Dimmesdale and Hester meet in the forest for the first time in seven years, Dimmesdale confides in her. He tells Hester about the past seven years being an emotional journey in which he feels, “‘None! None other than despair… what else could I look for being what I am, and leading such a life...’” (123). Hawthorne simply tells the reader to never isolate themselves like Dimmesdale. This will lead to a life held by the strong clutches of death or a journey of beauty nearing an end. In Dimmesdale’s case, when he began to live a life of lies, his soul slowly begins to die. He lives his life in the clutches of death not free to be himself. Hawthorne’s rallying cry, “Be true! Be true! Be true!