The Scarlet Letter

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**The Scarlet Letter: A Romance** is an 1850 novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne. It is a historical fiction novel that was one of America's first mass-produced novels and earned the status of America's first psychological story. It was successful upon being published and considered a masterpiece in American literature.

Set in Puritan New England in the mid-16th century, the story focuses on a young woman accused of adultery and struggles to fit in society while dealing with guilt, sin and repentance.

## Plot Summary

In 19th-century Boston, Massachusetts, a nameless man and the novel's primary narrator works as a surveyor at the local customhouse. In the attic, he discovers a bunch of documents, with a manuscript imprinted with a large, red "A" on the front cover, that depicts the life of a woman named Hester Prynne that occurs long before the man's current time. After he loses his job at the customhouse, the narrator writes and retells the story from the manuscript.

200 years earlier, in Boston in the late 1630s, Hester Prynne was led from her prison cell with an infant in her arms during the Puritan settlement. She stands on the town scaffold when she is publicly humiliated and punished by the townsfolk for committing adultery, resulting in her child's birth. She was condemned to wear a bright letter "A" patch on her breast as a sign of her crime. While on the scaffold, she was repeatedly asked the name of her baby's father, but she refused. She spots an older man she recognizes in the crowd. He is her estranged husband, who she thought was lost at sea but had arrived in Boston and changed his name to Roger Chillingworth.

In her prison cell, Hester meets Chillingworth, who poses as a doctor and tells her that she must not reveal his identity to anyone and will find out who the father is. Hester moves into a small cottage outside of Boston with her child, a daughter named Pearl. She works as a seamstress and supports her community. Pearl has become fascinated with her mother's "A" symbol and is an unruly, wild child. The officials have planned to take Pearl away from Hester, but a minister named Arthur Dimmesdale manages to keep mother and daughter together.

Meanwhile, Chillingworth becomes the town's physician, and one of his patients, Dimmesdale, is experiencing heart problems. Chillingworth takes the minister in to look after him, but when he notices a red mark on the man's chest, he is convinced that Dimmesdale could be Hester’s lover and the father of Pearl. His guilt torments Dimmesdale so much that he stands on top of the town scaffold where Hester had stood a few years earlier. Hester and Pearl spot him there, and as they join him, a meteor appears in the sky that lights up a red "A" shape. Dimmesdale's health worsens, and Hester decides to help him after she discovers Chillingworth is torturing him as revenge.

One day, Hester encounters Dimmesdale in the forest and tells him of her husband's identity and revenge. She convinces him they should flee the country and move to Europe with Pearl. Dimmesdale was happy with this idea and gained more energy.

The couple plan to leave the day after Dimmesdale delivers a sermon in the public square. But Dimmesdale realizes he is dying, and Hester finds out that Chillingworth is among the passengers on the ship departing Boston. After the sermon, Dimmesdale climbs on the town scaffold, and Hester and Pearl join him. He confesses his sin to the public about his affair with Hester by revealing the letter "A" carved into his chest. He dies in Hester’s arms.

Chillingworth dies from his frustration, and Pearl receives a fortune. Both Hester and Pearl leave the country and travel overseas together. Years later, Hester returns to Boston and continues to wear the scarlet letter. After she dies, she is interred next to Dimmesdale, sharing a tombstone with the letter "A" engraved.

## Characters

Hester Prynne- The main protagonists of the novel. She is a Puritan woman who was punished for adultery and forced to wear an "A" patch to signify her crime. She was married to an older scholar and was sent to America without him. She had an affair with a minister and bore a child out of wedlock. She is a strong and passionate woman who strives to be part of her society despite being treated as an outcast.

Pearl- The illegitimate daughter of Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale. She is a mischievous and naughty young girl with no Christian faith and causes torment to those around her, especially her mother. She also rants about the Black Man being her actual father and being able to talk to animals. She symbolizes Hester's passion and sinfulness, but she is still her mother's pride and joy.

Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale- The local minister and Hester's lover. He is beloved and respected by his community, and he eventually falls in love with Hester and fathers her daughter. But because of his adultery crime, he becomes highly tormented by his physical and mental guilt, even developing a fatal heart condition. As he is slowly dying, he has a hard time trying to reveal his sin to the public.

Roger Chillingworth- Hester's husband. Roger is much older than his young wife and a brilliant English scholar. He sends her ahead to America, but when he tries to arrive there himself, he is captured by the Native Americans. He later changes his name to "Chillingworth" and becomes the local doctor. Upon finding out about Hester's affair, he is determined to take revenge on Dimmesdale for falling in love with his wife.

Governor Bellingham- Based on the historical figure of the same name, Bellingham is the governor of Massachusetts, a wealthy aristocrat who enjoys wealth and lifestyle. But he makes strict Puritan rules and punishes those who break them, such as his plan to take Pearl away from Hester.

Mistress Hibbins- Bellingham's sister with whom he lives. She's believed to be a witch and would sneak into the woods to talk and play with the Black Man. She is also based on a historical figure named Ann Hibbins, who was the Governor's sister in real life.

Reverend John Wilson- An elderly and kind pastor. He is Boston's clergyman, and he is like a grandfather figure to everyone. He also serves as Dimmesdale's mentor and convinces him to reveal the identity of Hester's lover. He is also based on a historical figure who was one of the first settlers arriving in America in 1630.

## Writing History/Reception

In the late 1840s, Nathaniel Hawthorne was married to his wife Sophia Peabody and a father of two children. After experiencing financial difficulties during his writing career, Hawthorne started working as a surveyor at the Custom House in Salem, Massachusetts. He was employed for three years between 1846 and 1849 until he lost his job due to political disagreements. Around the same time, Hawthorne’s mother died, and while he tried to cope during his most difficult times, he began to write The Scarlet Letter. He was also furious at Salem, saying, “I detest this town so much that I hate to go out in the streets or to have people see me.” He was descended from his early Puritan William Hathorne, who settled in Boston in 1636. He was a Massachusetts Bay delegate who had Quakers whipped and dragged through the streets naked, and his son John Hathorne was infamous for being a judge during the 1692 Witch Trials and had convicted hundreds of accused witches. Hathorne was so ashamed of his Puritan ancestry that he changed his name with a “w,” which may be why he criticized Puritan society in The Scarlet Letter.

Hawthorne initially planned to write a short story in a series of stories depicting life in New England. After his publisher encouraged him to write it into an entire novel, Hawthorne did just that, and The Scarlet Letter was published in 1850. The novel became an instant best-seller, with 2,500 copies sold over two weeks. It was a success; it was often regarded as the first American psychological novel to depict life in the early days of New England and is considered the most remarkable American novel. Hawthorne initially didn’t expect his work to be a huge success.

The novel was mainly met with critical acclaim, with novelist Henry James detailing the publication as “a literary event of the first order.” However, at the same time, The Scarlet Letter was controversial, as others criticized how religion and Puritanism were portrayed, as well as scenes of obscenity and immorality. It was even banned in several countries due to its scandalous content. The success of The Scarlet Letter earned Hawthorne fame and made him a well-known author, but he never received much money, as copies overseas were sold for less than a penny. Overall, Hawthorne made only $1,500 from publishing The Scarlet Letter, which would affect him for the last 14 years of his life.

## Themes

### Good vs Evil

In *The Scarlet Letter*, good versus evil is divided between several characters. Hester Prynne is considered virtuous and good; although she was condemned for a sinful crime, she managed to stay strong and defend herself with the power of God from the evil of the Black Man, also known as The Devil. On her side is Dimmesdale, who, like Hester, falls victim to the same crime, but his dutiful actions make him beloved by the townsfolk. The goodness Hester and Dimmesdale portray how they behave and the generosity they offer to society, and with them keeping their faithfulness, they refuse to surrender themselves to evil. The opposite side is evil, and Roger Chillingworth symbolizes the sadistic side of Hester and Dimmesdale. Once a devoted husband to Hester, Chillingworth’s sin becomes twisted from his desires for revenge against the man who indirectly allowed Hester to betray her husband with an affair, to the point when he represents the Black Man and his evil nearly causes his victim Dimmesdale to succumb to it. Pearl may be considered evil as she is mischievous and obsessed with the Black Man. She also symbolizes a virtuous tone as she supports her mother in her most difficult moments and, at other times, represents both sides of good and evil since she is considered an unholy demon to some or a magical creature.

### Sin and Guilt

Most characters struggle with sin and guilt, impacting their reputation with their religion and society. Hester was condemned to wear the scarlet letter as punishment for her sin, as adultery and conceiving a child out of wedlock were punishable crimes, and her sin became noticeable to everyone. Despite her sentence, Hester remains firm and does not succumb to the guilt meant to affect her. As long as she has Pearl by her side, Hester is reminded that her child, while a sin to her, is also a blessing to improve her strength. Dimmesdale, on the other hand, takes his guilt badly. His sin of having a romantic relationship with Hester that resulted in her becoming pregnant makes him think his sin is something that God or his fellow Puritans won’t forgive. Instead of keeping it exposed like Hester, he tortures and starves himself. When he does confess his guilt, he only shows part of it and never explains everything about what happened. Roger Chillingworth, however, is the worst sinner as he tortures Dimmesdale as his revenge for figuring out the father of Pearl. He even pretended to be a respected physician when his sin was worse than adultery. In the Puritan period, sin was punishable by death, and anyone could be a born sinner. As shown in the novel, guilt can slowly cause someone’s mind and body to waste away, and the only way to relieve it is by confessing and accepting the consequence; Dimmesdale managed to confess his sin just moments before his death.

### Puritan Criticism

Romanticism was a typical writing style many authors used in the late 18th and 19th centuries to emphasize the storyline and characters. Hawthorne used a different kind of Romanticism, nature, to describe the critique of Puritanism. The Puritans in The Scarlet Letter are seen as hypocritical, unforgiving and judgemental people who harshly criticize Hester and make her an outsider. They only become more accepting of Hester when she becomes more respected in her community. Aside from criticism, Hawthorne used this theme to depict how Puritans view the values of relationships, religion and morality; since they immigrated from England to America to seek spiritual freedom, the beliefs they brought with them are significant to the novel’s critique of their society. For example, they love and respect the local minister Dimmesdale and become worried when they notice him being sick. They also trusted Chillingworth as an essential member of their society as he was seen as a well-educated physician who could treat the minister and relied on him. When Dimmesdale reveals his sin, however, they are disbelieved of how exactly he had managed to leave a painful scar of his sin on his body. Overall, Hawthorne sees Puritanism as an unjust, corrupt community that unfairly treats sinners with shame and hardly takes their crimes and sins as seriously as they should be.

### Feminism

In the mid-17th century, where the story takes place, there wasn’t such a thing as feminism, and women had their rights to believe in. Hester Prynne is seen as a mysterious, ordinary woman who conceived an illegitimate child and was shunned in her community. She defiantly does not reveal her child’s father’s identity and grows stronger from her rebellion against those publicly shaming her. She accepts the ridicule from the locals and acts like a mother figure, such as feeding the poor, making clothes for those in need, etc. Her romantic passion for Dimmesdale shows that she depicts women’s sexuality as hazardous but carries on with it anyway. She chooses Dimmesdale over her husband Chillingworth and thinks he is the right man that God has provided for her. In the Puritan era, women were seen as a contrast to men, and their main purpose was to raise their children and serve their duty as a wife, as well as to wear plain clothes and not go to work. However, Hester is unlike the women in her time as she is confident and independent, just on her own with her daughter. She has her job as a seamstress and doesn’t worry about her husband after she hasn’t heard from him since moving to Boston. Her feminism shows how remarkable she is against the contrast of women during her time and how it impacts her and everyone else.

## Symbols

### The scarlet letter

Hester is forced to wear the embroidered letter on her chest as a sign of adultery. It may have symbolized shame to the Puritans, but to Hester, it is a powerful symbol of her identity and its meaning changes as time passes. For example, the letter stands for "Able" when Hester becomes a successful seamstress, and when Dimmesdale refers twice to her as an "angel," it represents Hester's kindness. By the novel's end, the letter symbolizes Hester's triumph over the forces meant to punish her.

### Pearl

Hester's illegitimate daughter is one of the central characters. While a living being, Pearl symbolizes the physical embodiment of sexual sin between her parents. She is not only a punishment for Hester's adultery but also a passionate blessing, as when Hester is on the verge of giving up, her daughter is there to support her and help her continue with life. Pearl is also the purest character in the novel, and while the townsfolk see her as a demon, the reader sees her as a nature-like sprite.

### The Meteor in the Sky

A meteor in the sky traces the letter “A” as Hester, Dimmesdale, and Pearl stand on the scaffold together. The meteor symbolizes to Dimmesdale that he should wear the mark of shame for his sin and his fear of punishment by the Puritans. However, the townsfolk see the “A” shape as “Angel,” as their deceased governor has ascended to heaven and represents the afterlife.

### The Black Man

The Puritans used this name for the Devil. He symbolizes evil and danger that anyone can fall victim to. He is believed to live in the forest outside of Boston, and when anyone lets their guard down, they could easily be tempted by him. Anyone who ventures out of the forest unharmed will be asked if they have seen the Black Man. Hester wonders if the Devil placed his mark on the scarlet letter, and Pearl believes he left his brand on Dimmesdale’s flesh. Aside from being the symbol of evil, the Black Man may also symbolize Chillingworth as he is known as the embodiment of evil, and his cruel actions make him comparable to the Devil.

## Foreshadowing

* Dimmesdale is a weak, guilty character whose actions and motivations include defending Hester and Pearl from the Governor. Foreshadows his health wasting away and confessing his sin before dying.
* Dimmesdale stands on the town scaffold, imagining himself wearing the scarlet letter. Foreshadows his untimely demise when he stands on that same scaffold and shows off his “A” scar to the townsfolk.
* A rose bush is spotted in full bloom near the prison door in an otherwise sombre setting. Foreshadows how good things are to come for Hester; since the roses are beautiful, it symbolizes how Pearl is a rose to her mother and would bring her good fortunes, such as a home.
* Chillingworth makes Hester promise to keep his identity as her husband a secret, and when she asks him if it would ruin his soul, he says, “*Not thy soul...No, not thine*!” Foreshadows his revenge by psychologically and mentally torturing Dimmesdale until he is racked with guilt and his soul destroyed from failing health and Chillingworth’s wrath.
* In the forest scene where Hester removes her scarlet letter and lets her hair down, Pearl refuses to go to her mother or Dimmesdale until she puts the letter back on. Foreshadows that no matter the choices Hester and Dimmesdale make, they will be the shadow of their sin and forever live unmisjudged by the Puritans.

## Adaptations

* A silent film adaptation was released in 1926. Directed by Victor Sjöström, it features Lillian Gish as Hester Prynne, Lars Hanson as Dimmesdale, Henry B. Walthall as Chillingworth, and Joyce Coad as Pearl. The film is often considered to be the best adaptation of the novel.
* A film adaptation was released in 1934. Directed by Robert G. Vignola, it features Colleen Moore as Hester Prynne, Hardie Albright as Dimmesdale, Henry B. Walthall as Chillingworth, and Cora Sue Collins as Pearl.
* A TV miniseries aired on WGBH in 1979. Directed by Rick Hansen, it features Meg Foster as Hester Prynne, John Heard as Dimmesdale, Kevin Conway as Chillingworth, and Elisa Frail as Pearl. The second part won an Emmy for Outstanding Video Tape Editing for a Limited Series or Special.
* A film adaptation was released in 1995. Directed by Roland Jaffe, it features Demi Moore as Hester Prynne, Gary Oldman as Dimmesdale, Robert Duvall as Chillingworth, and Tallulah and Scout Willis (Moore’s daughters) as Pearl; Tallulah as an infant and Scout as a toddler, respectively. The film was harshly criticized for differing against the source material and named the worst movie of 1995. It was also a box office flop and won various Golden Raspberry Awards.

## References

1. ↑ https://study.com/academy/lesson/reasons-why-the-scarlet-letter-was-banned.html