Jorden Castanon
5/4/11
English 1B
Professor Stacy Knapp
Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel The Scarlet Letter may have been published over 160 years ago but certain themes still stay true today. In a Reader response criticism such as this paper, the views of good and evil will be evaluated as well as the theme of identity & society. The novel focus around the protagonist Hester Prynne and Minister Arthur Dimmesdale who establish a relationship, kept in secret and not seen by their external factors, the Puritan’s society. Both characters stray from strict Puritan beliefs by committing adultery and having a love child, Pearl. Hester is immediately thrown in jail when the puritan society learns of this as well as for not confessing the name of the man whom helped her commit this sin. Her refusal then makes the town put her through public humiliation by wearing the letter A, for her adultery.
Good and evil is a dilemma in which mankind uses their own individual moral compass to establish between whether their actions can be justified or not. As a reader, I never found the actions of Arthur or Hester to be evil. In their society Hester was seen as a harlot that deserved to publicly humiliated for such a great sin. Over several years did the town finally see Hester in a different light rather than being ungodly. Hester’s view in society had changed, “ It was perceived, too, that while Hester never put forward even the humblest title to share in the world’s privileges…she was quick to acknowledge her sisterhood with the race of man, whenever benefits were to be conferred. None so ready as she to give of her little substance to every demand of poverty; even though the bitter-hearted pauper threw back a gibe in requital of the food brought regularly to his door, or garments wrought for him by the fingers that could have embroidered a monarch’s robe”(252.) These actions are of someone who generally cares about their society yet the society from whom she tries to help still disrespects her because of her past action that was seen as evil. Her actions are of someone without a past history of sin would be seen probably as saintly.
If any character should be marked as an evil figure in puritan society, it should have been Hester’s husband, Chillingworth. He comes into town only to seek revenge against the man who disgraced him and Hester’s character among Puritan society. Chillingworth’s character is seen as “ an aspect of mystery, which was easily heightened to the miraculous... that heaven had wrought an absolute miracle, by transporting an eminent Doctor of physic, from a German university, bodily through the air, and setting him down at the door of Mr. Dimmesdale’s study”(188.) The Hippocratic oath is one of the most widely known medical texts. It requires physicians to swear to practice medicine ethically to best professional ethical standards. Yet as a doctor Chillingsworth knows the fragile state of Dimmesdale who is on the verge of death, and still decides to torture him and Hester. Only till the end of the novel does he actually
The ideas of good and evil are very subjective amongst the puritan society in The Scarlet Letter. Yet from such partial analysis of Hester’s and Pearl’s character’s seen by the townspeople, they portrayed as outcasts. Social values are important to maintain a high standing in society. There will always be social values in which society must live by but they shouldn’t establish a person’s character. Hester and Pearl continuously have to endure people tormenting them because of the symbol Hester must burden. This is why I tend to admire Hester the most out of all the characters. She’s constantly has to fight for herself and Pearl’s well being. “She is not physically imprisoned, and leaving the Massachusetts Bay Colony would allow her to remove the scarlet letter and resume a normal life.” Instead she decides to acknowledge the town’s lack of compassion by embroidering the letter into something quite stunning and accepting the sin she has committed rather than being what the town wants her feel which is shame. Hester’s character realizes “that individuality and strength are gained by quiet self-assertion and by a reconfiguration, not a rejection, of one’s assigned identity.”
Yet Dimmesdale never quite got this concept until he died. This makes Dimmesdale my least favorite character because instead of physically and emotionally punishing himself he could have done what Hester had the strength to do which was live her life by her own standards. Admittingly Dimmesdalse’s stature in society did help Hester when the idea came up of Pearl being taken away. His words might have not been taken into account if the townspeople knew of his sins but he should have just ran off with his family before hand when he had the chance. Hester’s character takes the burden of carrying a symbol of disgrace publicly. I understand that Dimmesdale’s character cannot openly take this burden on, so in a sense of self-condemnation he takes it upon himself to physically and mentally punish himself. “…While standing on the scaffold, in this vain show of expiation, Mr. Dimmesdale was overcome with a great horror, as if the universe were gazing at a scarlet token on his naked breast, right over his heart. On that spot, in very truth, there was, and there had long been, the gnawing and poisonous tooth of bodily pain”(233). Dimmesdale dilemma is trying to fight the torment of not telling the truth. Since he can’t bring himself to do so his is soon withering and dimming away in body and spirit.
I mostly relate to the character Pearl, throughout the book her character is misconstrued as a demon, widely unexpected. Growing up when my grandmother found my sisters and I difficult to deal with, she would repeatedly shout out that we were “demons” as well. “”Mistress Hibbins says my father is the prince of the air!” Cried Pearl, with her naughty smile. “If thou callest me that ill name, I shall tell him of thee; and he will chase thy ship with a tempest!”” (388). Sailors come into town telling the “witch baby”, Pearl, to give a certain message to her mother but when Pearl receives it is with a negative connation from the sailors forcing her to be in a constant state of emotional reaction so that she won’t feel ashamed. I view Pearl as a universal character that many people can relate to because even though she is degraded by her social stature which people in her life view as a handicap she preservers. Pearl resembles her mother in the way she’s always viewed as having an evil aspect. The irony is that it also happens amongst the sailors who aren’t apart of the town and are scandalous characters themselves. “Thence, with native audacity, but still with a reserve as characteristic, she flew into the midst of a group of mariners, the swarthy-checked wild men of the ocean, as the Indians were of the land; and they gazed wonderingly and admiringly at pearl, as if a flake of the sea-fire, that flashes beneath the prow in the night-time”(388.) Pearl’s character is best described by these sailors as having the soul of the fire that sailors see in the deep water at night. Her spirit can be noticeably seen and only appreciated amongst other individuals who don’t conform well to society.
Hawthorne's novel looks at the question, what is necessary for redemption of sin? Is Hester's initial crime a sin? Hester marries Chillingworth without quite understanding the commitment she made. With Chillingworth goes abroad with his wear -abouts unknown, like anyone might, she fell in love. For this kind of sin, does the punishment really fit the crime? Because of this sin committed Hester goes through battles to keep Pearl and her dignity. Hester’s actions are later seen as redeeming in the eyes of society but after years of ridicule. Hawthorne's novel therefore should encourage the reader to be wary of judging others and showing empathy for one another.
