Since its publication in 1850, Hawthorne’s masterpiece romance The Scarlet Letter has
been hailed by average readers and literary critics alike as one of the finest pieces of
literature ever to have come out of the pen of an American writer.
Not only regarded as “Hawthorne’s most widely read and admired novel”3, The Scarlet
Letter has also given numerous generations of critics bountiful opportunity for in-depth
analysis of the novel’s plot, characters, and meaning. A fair amount of scholarly
attention has, for instance, been devoted to Hawthorne’s “imposing splendor of
portraiture”4. In the case of The Scarlet Letter, this has been evidenced by critics´
particular interest in Hawthorne’s portrayal of two of the novel’s central characters: the
Boston townswoman Hester Prynne and the pastor Arthur Dimmesdale.
Against the backdrop of mid-17th century Puritan society in the newly founded
American colonies, Hawthorne describes how these two characters´ lives are, each in its
very own way, dramatically changed by one moment of adulterous passion.
It is the aim of the present paper to deliver a careful analysis of Hester and Arthur at
the center of which shall be the difficult social and psychological circumstances the two
characters encounter in the wake of their adultery. It will equally be shown that Hester
and Arthur embrace different strategies in dealing with their situation. A plo t analysis
reveals a clear dilemma and duality of a confession versus concealment theme which
impacts greatly on the two characters and their behavior. Having been forced to confess
to adultery charges, Hester manages to reshape her life by confronting pre sent
demands while also hoping for future opportunities. By contrast, Arthur is tormented
and obsessed by his moment of moral weakness in the past, wavering between reve -
lation and dissimulation of his deed as he doubletalks his way through the novel’s plo t.
The first chapter of this study intends to establish a framework for the ensuing
character analysis. Its aim will be to portray Puritan society as shown in Hawthorne’s
work, so that Hester’s and Arthur’s situation in the novel’s plot will become clear.
An interpretation of the two characters will follow in chapter two. First, Hester’s
behavior and the role she plays in the novel shall be analyzed under the aforementioned
confession theme. [...]
3 Waggoner, p. 118.
4 Ripley, p. 26.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Setting the Stage: Puritan Society and its Mores as Portrayed in Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter
3. The Visible and the Invisible Letter ´A´ - Puritanism and the Dualism of Confession and Concealment in The Scarlet Letter
3.1 Hester Prynne and her Life in Confession, Ignominy, and, Yet, Secret Rebellion
3.2 Arthur Dimmesdale, his Dilemma, and his Motives for the Concealment of his Adultery
3.3 Arthur and Hester in the Forest and on the Scaffold: The Scarlet Letter’s Revelatory Culmination
Conclusion
Works Cited
Research Goals and Key Themes
The primary goal of this term paper is to provide a comparative analysis of the characters Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, specifically focusing on how they navigate the psychological and social ramifications of their adulterous act. The study examines the central dilemma of confession versus concealment, exploring how these two strategies shape the characters' identities and interactions within the repressive constraints of 17th-century Puritan society.
- The influence of rigid Puritan societal mores on individual identity.
- A detailed analysis of Hester Prynne’s journey through public confession and stigma.
- The psychological torments and motivation for concealment in Arthur Dimmesdale.
- The symbolic function of the scarlet "A" as both a public signifier and an internal mirror.
- The narrative culmination of revelation in the forest and scaffold scenes.
Excerpt from the Book
3.2 Arthur Dimmesdale, his Dilemma, and his Motives for the Concealment of his Adultery
In contrast to Hester, Arthur struggles greatly with the psychological repercussions of his adultery. The priest cannot find any peace of mind because he can neither come to terms with the emotional causes for his adultery, nor is he able to accept the potential consequences of a necessary confession of his deed. Both of these elements, which will be elaborated on in more detail shortly, prove too overpowering for him to ignore or effectively deal with. Left largely unresolved, Arthur’s quandary leads to both substantial physical and psychological suffering.
On the physical level, Arthur’s health, in plain sight to his parishioners, deteriorates more and more. During the seven-year time span that the novel’s plot covers, the parson turns into a “pale, weak, sinful, and sorrow-stricken man”. Indeed, the author-narrator informs the reader that “a certain morbidness” has taken possession of the priest. Nobody in the community – other than Hester and subsequently also Chillingworth – know what the true cause for his slow but steady decline in health might be. Just as much as the town prison can be seen as a symbol for society’s harshness in dealing with Hester, the Boston cemetery comes to symbolize Arthur and his impending decline, as it cannot be a coincidence that the priest’s window “looked toward the graveyard”.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter outlines the scope of the paper, identifying the core research focus on the contrast between Hester’s confession and Arthur’s concealment within the Puritan framework.
2. Setting the Stage: Puritan Society and its Mores as Portrayed in Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter: This section provides the historical and social background of the novel, detailing how the strict Puritan legal and moral codes enforce conformity and shape the initial environments of the protagonists.
3. The Visible and the Invisible Letter ´A´ - Puritanism and the Dualism of Confession and Concealment in The Scarlet Letter: This chapter introduces the theoretical focus on the duality of the protagonists' responses to their guilt, establishing the framework for their differing psychological trajectories.
3.1 Hester Prynne and her Life in Confession, Ignominy, and, Yet, Secret Rebellion: This section analyzes how Hester transforms her public shame into a path of independence and self-actualization by confronting her circumstances.
3.2 Arthur Dimmesdale, his Dilemma, and his Motives for the Concealment of his Adultery: This chapter investigates Arthur’s internal decline, caused by his cowardice and his inability to reconcile his religious role with his secret moral weakness.
3.3 Arthur and Hester in the Forest and on the Scaffold: The Scarlet Letter’s Revelatory Culmination: This section examines the final scenes of the novel, where the long-suppressed secrets are finally confronted through the revelatory events in the forest and the final scaffold speech.
Conclusion: The final section synthesizes the findings, confirming the dichotomy between the characters' strategies and reflecting on the moral legacy of Hawthorne’s work.
Works Cited: This section lists the primary and secondary academic sources used throughout the term paper.
Keywords
The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Puritanism, Adultery, Confession, Concealment, Hester Prynne, Arthur Dimmesdale, Moral Dilemma, Symbolism, Psychological Analysis, Social Ostracism, Hypocrisy, Guilt, Redemption.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this term paper?
The paper provides a critical analysis of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, specifically examining how the two main characters, Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale, cope with the aftermath of their adulterous relationship within a strict Puritan society.
What are the primary themes explored?
The central themes are the social and psychological impact of public versus private sin, the duality of confession and concealment, and the moral conflict between individual desire and communal law.
What is the central research goal?
The study aims to demonstrate that while Hester and Arthur both become victims of Puritan morality, their differing strategies—Hester’s acceptance of public penance versus Arthur’s secretive hypocrisy—result in vastly different personal outcomes.
Which methodology is employed in this study?
The paper utilizes a literary analysis approach, drawing upon scholarly interpretations of the novel's plot structure, character development, and historical context to build its argument.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body breaks down the Puritan social environment, contrasts Hester’s strength and resilience as an ostracized woman with Arthur’s physical and psychological deterioration due to guilt, and analyzes the climactic revelatory scenes in the forest and on the scaffold.
Which keywords define this academic work?
The core keywords include Puritanism, confession, concealment, hypocrisy, guilt, and the specific dynamics between the protagonists, Hester and Arthur.
How does the paper interpret the role of the scarlet "A"?
The paper argues that the "A" functions as a tool for public punishment and shame for Hester, but ironically becomes a symbol of her resilience and private affection for Arthur, while for Arthur, it remains an invisible, internal stigma of his hidden guilt.
Why does the author consider Arthur a "tragic hero"?
The paper explores the idea that Arthur is a tragic figure because he is caught in a debilitating duality between his high standing in the community and his private life, ultimately suffering from the weight of his own hypocrisy before finally seeking resolution.
- Quote paper
- Christian Jacobi (Author), 2001, The Visible and the Invisible Letter "A" - Puritanism and the Dualism of Confession and Concealment in Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/35094
