Scarlet Letter Essay, Research Paper
Analysis of Character and Conflict: Change?
?With nothing now to lose in the sight of mankind, and with no hope, and
seemingly no wish, of gaining anything, it could only be a genuine regard for
virtue that had brought back the poor wanderer to its paths.? (153)
With his precise diction Nathaniel Hawthorne displays an interesting conflict
based on a disagreement between the protagonist, Hester Prynne, and the strict
Puritan society around her in his novel The Scarlet Letter. This disagreement is
brought to the readers attention as Hester displays pride in a symbol, the
letter A, which society has branded her with as a mark of shame. Hester?s
isolation from the society results from her not accepting the fact that she has
sinned. It is not until Hester places the mark of shame upon her own body and
soul and accepts her sin that her conflict can be resolved. Through shame,
despair, and solitude, Hester gains the inner strength needed to overcome the
austere severity of a judgmental Puritan society.
?On the breast of her gown, in fine red cloth surrounded with an elaborate
embroidery and fantastic flourishes of gold thread, appeared the letter ?A.??
(60) This ?A? represented the adultery Hester once committed, as did her
child named Pearl. From the very beginning, Hawthorne indicates to his readers
that Hester feels no guilt in being an adulteress. The ravishing embroidered
fashion in which the ?A? is presented to the reader shows the haughty and
defiant attitude Hester possesses. Not only does Hester embellish the letter but
she also dresses up her daughter in red cloth with gold thread. ?It was the
scarlet letter in another form; the scarlet letter endowed with life!? (103)
By doing this Hester is shaping an analogy between the mark of what should be
her guilt and her object of greatest affection. Hester possesses a very
resistant and dignified attitude. This attitude is shown from the beginning as
she holds her head high, despite the looks of scorn. ?Stretching forth the
official staff in his left hand, he laid his right upon the shoulder of a young
woman, whom he thus drew forward; until, on the threshold of the prison door,
she repelled him, by an action marked with natural dignity and force of
character, and stepped into the open air, as if by her own free will.?( )
The general society on the other hand, being Puritan, believed that Hester
was an appalling woman and should hang for her sin. ??This woman has brought
shame upon us all, and ought to die!??(59) People just passing by would
judge her as if in a court room as they observe the letter upon her chest.
??the children of the Puritans looked up from their play- or what passed for
play with those sombre little urchins- and spoke gravely to one another: ?Behold
verily, there is the woman of the scarlet letter, and, of a truth, moreover,
there is the likeness of the scarlet letter running along by her side! Come,
therefore and let us fling mud at them!? (103) Townspeople did not view Hester
as a member of their community. Rather, they viewed her as an outcast. ?Every
gesture, every word, and even the silence of those with whom she came in
contact, implied, and often expressed, that she was banished, and as much alone
as if she inhabited another sphere, or communicated with the common nature by
other organs and senses then the rest of human kind.?(87) Her strong feeling
of pride and love is conflicted by society?s unforgiving, strict nature.
Hester is not a good Puritan woman. Accordingly, she becomes isolated from the
good Puritan society. Her house was located on the outskirts of town, bordering
the forest. Hawthorne used the forest to symbolize freedom, love and wildness,
th
?With nothing now to lose in the sight of mankind, and with no hope, and
seemingly no wish, of gaining anything, it could only be a genuine regard for
virtue that had brought back the poor wanderer to its paths.? (153) Throughout
the novel Hester feels guilty for not being ashamed of the letter on her chest.
This guilt acts on her by causing Hester to dress meekly, and hide her hair
under a hat. The sun rarely shines over her hair. ??her rich and luxuriant
hair had either been cut off, or was so completely hidden by a cap, that not a
shining lock of it ever once gushed into the sunshine.? (158) As the remorse
of the ignominy that she does not feel builds up inside her, she loses more and
more qualities of her feminine side. Eventually, after nearly seven long years,
her natural, ?genuine regard for virtue? leads to Hester helping out more
frequently with the community and accomplishing good deeds. ?Individuals in
private life, meanwhile, had quite forgiven Hester Prynne for her frailty; nay,
more, they had begun to look upon the scarlet letter as a token, not of that one
sin, for which she had borne so long and dreary a penance, but her many good
deeds since.? (157) Many people then began to see Hester Prynne as an
individual rather than a letter, but the defiant young woman still was involved
in a very complex conflict with society. Hawthorne strategically uses Hester?s
strong will to help her confront her conflict. She fools herself into accepting
her sin with the help of her child. While in the woods, free with the one she
loves; Hester becomes overwhelmed with joy and unclasps the letter from her
chest. By ridding herself of the sin she is overcome with a great feeling of
relief and her youth returns. ?Her sex, her youth, and the whole richness of
her beauty, came back from what men call the irrevocable past, and clustered
themselves, with her maiden hope and happiness before unknown, within the magic
circle of this hour.? (192) Although she could stay in this moment of joy for
as long as she pleased, she still possessed the ?genuine regard for virtue?.
Hester also possessed Pearl who would not go near Hester without the scarlet
letter. The love Hester showed towards the happiness of Pearl, the personified
letter, was much stronger than the love for self-happiness. The joy could remain
but there would be no inner peace until the sin has been accepted and forgiven.
Hester, on account of all the latter, picks the letter up and marks herself with
her sin. ?She had flung it into infinite space!- and here again was the
scarlet misery, glittering on the old spot!? (200) Although the beauty and
happiness is lost again, the first step to acceptance and forgiveness, and
eventually an equal position in society has been made.
Hawthorne displays a vast amount of changes in Hester once she confronts her
conflict. Although she still is meek, she retains more inner peace. Enough inner
peace as to be able to help others overcome their own sorrows. ??as Hester
Prynne had no selfish ends, nor lived in any measure for her own profit and
enjoyment, people brought all their sorrows and perplexities and besought her
counsel, as one who had herself gone through a mighty trouble.? (245) She
becomes a more active and respected individual in society. Most of all Hester
gained strength. A life long mark of shame is a great obstacle to overcome and
in doing so, much can be learned about the power of the mind and the strength of
an honest woman.
?The scarlet letter was her passport into regions where other women dared
not tread. Shame, Despair, Solitude! These had been her teachers- stern and wild
ones- and they had made her strong?? (190)