Megan Kuhle
November 18th, 2005
English 3 p.3
Scarlett Letter Essay
For many years there has been great controversy over what makes literature desirable to be read. One thing that is agreed upon is that it is the detailed and complex characters that develop a good story. Elaborate, developed characters and different varieties that contrast with one another bring out great literature in any plot. Nathaniel Hawthorne exhibits such a variety of colorful characterization in his novel, The Scarlet Letter. Using both a complex protagonist (Hester Prynne) and antagonist (the Puritan community in Massachusetts), Hawthorne has created not only a psychological but also a relatable story in The Scarlet Letter.
The book begins with bringing Hester Prynne’s character into the eyes of the readers. She bears the letter “A” upon her bosom and a child in her arms which she uses to hide her mark. This letter “A” stands for adultery, or the crime of engaging in sexual activity with someone other than one’s spouse. While being shunned and spited by the Puritan community, Hester continues to hold her head high and walk sturdily, showing herself to be strong. She is tried in front of the clergy who declare her to a sentence of having to bear the letter “A” on her chest as long as she is living in Massachusetts. Hester decides to continue to live in the outskirts of the colony and work as a seamstress of different things. This surprises many of the habitants, who are astounded by her strong sense of self-esteem. The letter “A”, at first marks Hester as an adulteress. The meaning of this letter, however, begins to change as time passes, into a rather beneficial meaning. Hester and Pearl, her daughter, have been living in the community, and Hester’s sewing is a success among people from all different backgrounds and needs. Because of Hester’s strong sense of pride and willingness to work hard and succeed, the symbol on her chest becomes positively to be known as standing for Able, which could not be more accurate. Hester’s ability to come from such a humiliating experience and to be able to contribute so much to a once hateful society is one of the things that make her such an interesting and even admirable character.
Throughout the story the father of Pearl is not directly revealed to anyone in the story, but rather, is revealed to the reader subtly. The knowledge of this man to the community will of course change his life forever as it did Hester’s. It is revealed to the reader that it is Arthur Dimmesdale, a reverend at the church. Ironically, he was one of the clergymen deciding in the trial of Hester Prynne. Knowing that if he confessed to being the father of Pearl his life would take a turbulent downfall, Dimmesdale remained silent and guilt stricken throughout all the years Hester suffered public shame. His guilt gradually begins to eat away at him, causing him to become physically and mentally weakened. He does, however, form a more compassionate side to him that allows him to relate to others that he would have before shunned and sided against. His death at the end of the book is arguable as to whether it was just punishment or a symbolic act on his part. Either way, he learns that living a lie is no better than not living at all.
Through intricately developed characters and a complex plot, Nathaniel Hawthorne has created timeless classic literature in The Scarlett Letter. Whether it is Hester Prynne with her portrayal of determination and courage, or Arthur Dimmesdale with his cowardice and desertion of reality, Hawthorne writing includes relatable characters, which is a truly desired quality that leaves readers wanting more.