"The Scarlet Letter" by Nathanial Hawthorne was his first novel published under his own name. Also it is considered to be his best and/or most famous piece of work. It was written in the 19th century and until today still knows how to capture the readers attention.
But why does this book still appeal to many readers and is now being published in its 66th edition, although one might think that it's topics might be a little outdated by now and modern readers would lack the possibility to relate? To answer this question we will have to take a closer look Hawthorne, his book and the themes therein.
One might say that the letter did not have the effect on her as it was intended and as the novel progresses the letter 'A' seems of alter his meaning to certain people Hester interacts with. That is why I want to have a closer look at this famous scarlet letter, his different and how this is able to change throughout the novel. Especially the context of a puritan society has to be taken into account, or as Richard H. Millington noted:
“Culture is a structure of meaning that is not ‘natural’ or automatic but locally variable, historically changing and thus both inescapable and humanly revisable – as the changing meaning of Hester’s letter within the Puritan community makes clear.“
It might be that people living in our world today could not be able to relate to the problematic for Hester Prynne. Day in, day out there are people committing adultery and give birth to illegitimate children. But there is no real consequences for the adulterer or women living alone with child.
We have to consider the context of the story to be able to understand the conflicts and sheer catastrophic events which build the start for Hawthorne's novel. Hester Prynne's story is a story of conflict with her society, the puritan society. Therefore we will have to take a brief look at the Puritans, then we will progress with the relation between them and Hawthorne impaled in his novel and lastly we will explore the meaning of the letter itself
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- The Author
- What is The Scarlet Letter about?
- What we want to explore
- Puritans
- Hawthorne and the Puritans
- The letter 'A'
- Through the eyes of Hester
- Pearl
- Hidden punishment for Arthur Dimmesdale
- Chillingworth's scarlet revenge
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This term paper aims to analyze Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter," exploring its enduring appeal and significance in the context of 19th-century literature. By examining the characters, themes, and historical backdrop, the paper seeks to understand why this novel continues to resonate with readers even today.
- The impact of Puritan society on individual lives and morality
- The nature of sin, guilt, and redemption
- The complexities of love, passion, and societal constraints
- The role of symbols and symbolism in conveying meaning
- The evolving significance of the scarlet letter "A" throughout the narrative
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This section introduces "The Scarlet Letter" as Hawthorne's most famous work and explores its enduring popularity.
- The Author: This chapter provides biographical information about Nathaniel Hawthorne, highlighting his personal experiences and influences that shaped his writing.
- What is The Scarlet Letter about?: This chapter offers an overview of the novel's plot, introducing key characters, their relationships, and the historical setting of 17th-century Puritan Boston.
- What we want to explore: This chapter outlines the specific areas of focus for the term paper, particularly the evolution of the scarlet letter "A" and its meaning within the context of Puritan society.
- Puritans: This chapter delves into the beliefs and practices of Puritan society, emphasizing their strict moral code and the consequences of deviating from it.
- Hawthorne and the Puritans: This chapter examines Hawthorne's personal connection to Puritan history and how his experiences influenced his portrayal of Puritan life in his writing.
- The letter 'A': This chapter explores the symbolism of the scarlet letter "A" and its various interpretations throughout the novel, considering how it reflects Hester's sin and her journey of self-discovery.
- Through the eyes of Hester: This chapter explores Hester's perspective on her situation, examining her internal struggles and her relationships with her daughter, Pearl, and the other characters.
- Pearl: This chapter focuses on Pearl, Hester's daughter, and her role in the narrative, exploring her unique personality and how she represents the consequences of Hester's sin.
- Hidden punishment for Arthur Dimmesdale: This chapter discusses the internal torment of Arthur Dimmesdale, the town priest who is secretly the father of Pearl, and how his guilt and shame manifest themselves.
- Chillingworth's scarlet revenge: This chapter delves into the motivations and actions of Roger Chillingworth, Hester's estranged husband, who seeks revenge against Dimmesdale.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Key terms and concepts explored in this paper include Puritan society, sin and redemption, adultery, guilt and shame, symbolism, the scarlet letter "A," love and societal constraints, and the impact of historical context on literary interpretation.
- Quote paper
- Niklas Bastian (Author), 2009, Decoding Nathaniel Hawthorne's "Scarlet Letter", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/338462
