The Scarlet The Scarlet LetterLetter

By Nathaniel HawthorneBy Nathaniel Hawthorne

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Rebecca JonesRebecca Jones

SettingSetting

The Scarlet Letter is set in the seventeenth The Scarlet Letter is set in the seventeenth century, puritanical, New England colony of century, puritanical, New England colony of Massachusetts. The complete action is set in Massachusetts. The complete action is set in the town of Boston with the scenes shifting the town of Boston with the scenes shifting within it. The crucial scaffold scenes are set within it. The crucial scaffold scenes are set in the market place, while the decisive in the market place, while the decisive meeting of Hester and Dimmesdale is set in meeting of Hester and Dimmesdale is set in the forest. The novel, however, opens with a the forest. The novel, however, opens with a prison setting, foreshadowing the future prison setting, foreshadowing the future seclusion, gloominess and condemnation of seclusion, gloominess and condemnation of the protagonists. the protagonists.

Major CharactersMajor Characters

Hester PrynneHester Prynne

The protagonist of the novel who is an English The protagonist of the novel who is an English woman and the wife of Roger Chillingworth. She is woman and the wife of Roger Chillingworth. She is tried and condemned for her sin of adultery with tried and condemned for her sin of adultery with Dimmesdale and charged to wear the scarlet letter, Dimmesdale and charged to wear the scarlet letter, "A", an indication of adultery, on the bosom of her "A", an indication of adultery, on the bosom of her gown forever. Even though she has a daughter out gown forever. Even though she has a daughter out of wedlock, she refuses to reveal who the father is. of wedlock, she refuses to reveal who the father is. As a young woman, her youthful beauty, luxuriant As a young woman, her youthful beauty, luxuriant hair, and excellent features are diminished by her hair, and excellent features are diminished by her self-effacing puritanical way of dressing. As an self-effacing puritanical way of dressing. As an older lady, she returns to Boston where she is older lady, she returns to Boston where she is finally accepted for her kindness and service. finally accepted for her kindness and service.

Arthur DimmesdaleArthur Dimmesdale

The young, handsome, and unmarried The young, handsome, and unmarried pastor of Hester's church. Apart from pastor of Hester's church. Apart from committing adultery with Hester, he is committing adultery with Hester, he is guilty of hiding his sin. His intense suffering guilty of hiding his sin. His intense suffering and remorse, however, are reflected in his and remorse, however, are reflected in his rundown physical appearance. He emerges rundown physical appearance. He emerges as the tragic figure of the novel around as the tragic figure of the novel around whom revolves the plot's suspense and on whom revolves the plot's suspense and on whom the reader's attention is centered. whom the reader's attention is centered. Thus, he is also considered a protagonist, Thus, he is also considered a protagonist, like Hester. like Hester.

Roger ChillingworthRoger Chillingworth

A scholarly physician who has sent his wife A scholarly physician who has sent his wife ahead of him to America. He fails to join ahead of him to America. He fails to join her quickly, for he is captured by Indians her quickly, for he is captured by Indians from whom he gathers a knowledge of from whom he gathers a knowledge of herbal medicine. He is an old, evil, vicious, herbal medicine. He is an old, evil, vicious, ugly, and deformed man. His diabolical ugly, and deformed man. His diabolical vengeance on Dimmesdale, while vengeance on Dimmesdale, while pretending to treat him, makes him the pretending to treat him, makes him the personification of evil. personification of evil.

PearlPearl

The beautiful daughter of Hester and The beautiful daughter of Hester and Dimmesdale. She is the living symbol of the Dimmesdale. She is the living symbol of the scarlet letter and has peculiar traits that scarlet letter and has peculiar traits that make her sometimes appear as a demon. make her sometimes appear as a demon. Her love for nature and freedom, her Her love for nature and freedom, her vivacious spirit, her alienation, her vivacious spirit, her alienation, her rebelliousness, her inquisitiveness, and her rebelliousness, her inquisitiveness, and her innocent but symbolic comments reveal her innocent but symbolic comments reveal her distinct personality. She is, however, a distinct personality. She is, however, a product of the difficult situation into which product of the difficult situation into which she is born. she is born.

SymbolismSymbolism

The Scarlet Letter is The Scarlet Letter is filled with symbolism. filled with symbolism. Symbolism is when Symbolism is when one thing is used to one thing is used to represent something represent something else. else.

Example: A Skull and Example: A Skull and Crossbones is a Crossbones is a symbol of poisonous symbol of poisonous substances or substances or something something dangerous.dangerous.

Darkness vs. LightDarkness vs. Light

Sunshine seldom shines on Hester, Sunshine seldom shines on Hester, but often on Pearl. Sunshine but often on Pearl. Sunshine represents goodness while the represents goodness while the darkness represents evil and hidden darkness represents evil and hidden sins. The forest is a dark and sins. The forest is a dark and forbiding place that the Puritans felt forbiding place that the Puritans felt was full of evil. This is the place was full of evil. This is the place where Hester and Arthur meet years where Hester and Arthur meet years after Pearl is born,and it is only there after Pearl is born,and it is only there that they can feel free enough to that they can feel free enough to express their long repressed feelings express their long repressed feelings for one another, for it is here that the for one another, for it is here that the rules of society cannot penetraterules of society cannot penetrate

The Sunlight Does Not Shine on The Sunlight Does Not Shine on HesterHester

““Mother,” said little Pearl, “the sunshine Mother,” said little Pearl, “the sunshine does not love you. It runs away and hides does not love you. It runs away and hides itself, because it is afraid of something on itself, because it is afraid of something on your bosom. . . . It will not flee from me, your bosom. . . . It will not flee from me, for I wear nothing on my bosom yet!” for I wear nothing on my bosom yet!” “Nor ever will, my child, I hope,” said “Nor ever will, my child, I hope,” said Hester. Hester. “And why not, mother?” asked Pearl, “And why not, mother?” asked Pearl, stopping short. . . . “Will it not come of its stopping short. . . . “Will it not come of its own accord, when I am a woman grown?”own accord, when I am a woman grown?”

Dimmesdale Hides in the Dimmesdale Hides in the LightLight

It is only in the dark of night that It is only in the dark of night that Arthur Dimmesdale can allow Arthur Dimmesdale can allow himself to come out and "reveal" himself to come out and "reveal" his sin as he does in the dark of his sin as he does in the dark of night on the scaffold where night on the scaffold where Hester’s sin was revealed in the Hester’s sin was revealed in the light of day. light of day.

PearlPearl

Pearls are formed in oysters when a Pearls are formed in oysters when a grain of sand slips inside and irritates grain of sand slips inside and irritates the oyster. The oyster covers the the oyster. The oyster covers the irritant and it becomes a thing of rare irritant and it becomes a thing of rare beauty. Just like a real pearl , Pearl beauty. Just like a real pearl , Pearl in The Scarlet Letter is born of her in The Scarlet Letter is born of her mother's shame and suffering , but mother's shame and suffering , but has become a precious, rare, and has become a precious, rare, and beautiful child.beautiful child.

The Letter “A”The Letter “A”

The "A" represents adultery in the beginning The "A" represents adultery in the beginning of the book. It is Hester's punishment for of the book. It is Hester's punishment for committing sin. She wears it with stoic committing sin. She wears it with stoic endurance and embellishes it with gold endurance and embellishes it with gold threads until it becomes a thing of beauty. threads until it becomes a thing of beauty. Later in the novel, the town has forgotten Later in the novel, the town has forgotten Hester's original sin. Now the "A" is thought Hester's original sin. Now the "A" is thought to represent "able" or "angel" . When the to represent "able" or "angel" . When the meteor makes a phenomenal "A" in the night meteor makes a phenomenal "A" in the night sky, the town is in awe of its wonder. They sky, the town is in awe of its wonder. They think it must be "Angel" .think it must be "Angel" .

We may also associate it with “Alone” or We may also associate it with “Alone” or “Alienation”“Alienation”

The Rosebush by the Prison The Rosebush by the Prison DoorDoor

The prison is a place of despair The prison is a place of despair and doom, but the rose growing and doom, but the rose growing by the door represents the by the door represents the beauty and forgiveness of beauty and forgiveness of nature.nature.

The ScaffoldThe Scaffold

The scaffold is a place of The scaffold is a place of punishment. It is a place where punishment. It is a place where Hester is sentenced to stand for Hester is sentenced to stand for hours with little Pearl in her arms. hours with little Pearl in her arms. It is this same scaffold that Arthur It is this same scaffold that Arthur Dimmesdale sneaks out to in the Dimmesdale sneaks out to in the dark of night to punish himself as dark of night to punish himself as he should have been punished he should have been punished years earlier with Hester and Pearl.years earlier with Hester and Pearl.

ThemesThemes

Themes are universal ideas that an Themes are universal ideas that an author wants to express through author wants to express through his/her writings.his/her writings.

A theme is not the “topic”, but rather A theme is not the “topic”, but rather an idea about the topic that an an idea about the topic that an author wants to put forth. author wants to put forth.

Example of ThemeExample of Theme

The topic of a love story is, of course, The topic of a love story is, of course, love. The theme, however, may be love. The theme, however, may be that real love goes beyond outer that real love goes beyond outer beauty and focuses on the person beauty and focuses on the person within. within.

Themes in Themes in The Scarlet LetterThe Scarlet Letter(You may think of more)(You may think of more)

Forgiveness and RevengeForgiveness and RevengeGuilt and InnocenceGuilt and InnocenceTruth and LiesTruth and LiesHypocrisyHypocrisy

Forgiveness and RevengeForgiveness and Revenge

CHillingsworth seeks his revenge CHillingsworth seeks his revenge for Hester's adultery, but it for Hester's adultery, but it poisons his soul and destroys poisons his soul and destroys any happiness he might have any happiness he might have found. His only vindication found. His only vindication comes when he leaves his comes when he leaves his inheritance to little Pearl.inheritance to little Pearl.

Guilt and InnocenceGuilt and Innocence

Hester accepts her guilt and her Hester accepts her guilt and her punishment without complaint. punishment without complaint. Arthur Dimmesdale hides his guilt, Arthur Dimmesdale hides his guilt, and it destroys him from within. and it destroys him from within. He cannot bear what he has done, He cannot bear what he has done, but has not the courage to face his but has not the courage to face his sins. Pearl is the innocent product sins. Pearl is the innocent product of her parent's guilt and sin, but of her parent's guilt and sin, but she is innocent and beautiful. She she is innocent and beautiful. She grows up to live a life of luxury.grows up to live a life of luxury.

Truth and LiesTruth and Lies Arthur Dimmesdale cannot face his sin. He does not Arthur Dimmesdale cannot face his sin. He does not

have the courage to face his punishment. He secretly have the courage to face his punishment. He secretly carves the “A” into his chest in a vain attempt to carves the “A” into his chest in a vain attempt to punish himself. The real punishment is that which his punish himself. The real punishment is that which his own guilt and lies do to his soul. They destroy him own guilt and lies do to his soul. They destroy him from within. from within.

Hester accepts her punishment. She does not hide Hester accepts her punishment. She does not hide from it, and she is , at the end, vindicated because from it, and she is , at the end, vindicated because no one remembers her sin. no one remembers her sin.

Roger Chillingsworth hides his true identity. In so Roger Chillingsworth hides his true identity. In so doing, he becomes filled with bitterness, hatred, and doing, he becomes filled with bitterness, hatred, and evil. It is only when he leaves an inheritance to evil. It is only when he leaves an inheritance to little Pearl that the reader feels any sympathy little Pearl that the reader feels any sympathy toward him.toward him.

Be True Be True

Because both Chillingworth and Because both Chillingworth and Dimmesdale live a lie, they suffer Dimmesdale live a lie, they suffer

more than Hester, whose sin is more than Hester, whose sin is

known. known.

Hypocrisy Hypocrisy

The townspeople shun Hester and the The townspeople shun Hester and the children are forbidden to play with little children are forbidden to play with little Pearl. Yet they seek Hester's skills as a Pearl. Yet they seek Hester's skills as a seamstress, and they secretly envy the seamstress, and they secretly envy the beauty of the embellished "A" that adorns beauty of the embellished "A" that adorns her clothing....adornment that they, as her clothing....adornment that they, as Puritans of plain and simple lifestyle are Puritans of plain and simple lifestyle are forbidden to wear. forbidden to wear.

Arthur Dimmesdale enjoys the prestige of Arthur Dimmesdale enjoys the prestige of

being a well-respected minister, a man of being a well-respected minister, a man of God. Yet, he is the father of Hester's child, God. Yet, he is the father of Hester's child, the sinful adulterer the townspeople want the sinful adulterer the townspeople want Hester to name.Hester to name.

PridePride

It is Hester’s pride that helps her It is Hester’s pride that helps her survive . survive .

It is Arthur Dimmesdale’s pride It is Arthur Dimmesdale’s pride that leads to his destruction. that leads to his destruction.

It is Roger Chillingworth’s pride It is Roger Chillingworth’s pride that leads him to be a bitter, evil that leads him to be a bitter, evil person obsessed with person obsessed with vindictiveness.vindictiveness.

IronyIrony

Irony of situation : When we expect Irony of situation : When we expect one thing to happen, but the one thing to happen, but the opposite happens instead.opposite happens instead.

Verbal Irony: When someone says Verbal Irony: When someone says one thing, but actually means the one thing, but actually means the opposite.opposite.

Dramatic Irony: When the reader Dramatic Irony: When the reader knows something that the characters knows something that the characters in a story do not know. in a story do not know.

Dramatic Irony in Dramatic Irony in The Scarlet The Scarlet LetterLetter

The reader knows that Arthur The reader knows that Arthur Dimmesdale is Pearl’s father. The Dimmesdale is Pearl’s father. The townspeople do not know this.townspeople do not know this.

The reader knows that Roger The reader knows that Roger Chillingworth is Hester’s husband. Chillingworth is Hester’s husband. The townspeople do not know this. The townspeople do not know this.

Situational Irony in Situational Irony in The Scarlet The Scarlet LetterLetter

The symbol of Hester’s sin ( the The symbol of Hester’s sin ( the “A”) that could have destroyed “A”) that could have destroyed Hester has made her stronger Hester has made her stronger and envied by those who and envied by those who shunned her. shunned her.

Irony (cont.)Irony (cont.)

The "A" that Hester is forced to The "A" that Hester is forced to wear, and which she hates in the wear, and which she hates in the beginning, becomes a valued beginning, becomes a valued part of her identity. She even part of her identity. She even refuses to remove it when she no refuses to remove it when she no longer is required to wear it. longer is required to wear it. She panics when the town She panics when the town considers allowing her to remove considers allowing her to remove it.it.

Irony (cont.)Irony (cont.)

The sin that Arthur Dimmesdale The sin that Arthur Dimmesdale hides because he is afraid it will hides because he is afraid it will destroy his reputation as the destroy his reputation as the revered minister ends up revered minister ends up destroying his very life.destroying his very life.

Irony (cont.)Irony (cont.)

Pearl, who is shunned along with Pearl, who is shunned along with her mother, grows up to have all her mother, grows up to have all the luxuries that those who the luxuries that those who shunned her will never have.shunned her will never have.

The EndThe End