ACADEMIC ENGLISH 11MISS DOMAN

The Scarlet Letter

OBJECTIVES

To obtain knowledge of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s life and background and how it affected his writing

To understand the historical and social context in which The Scarlet Letter was written

To identify key literary elements in the novel (setting, characters, mood, climax, symbols, themes)

To analyze and discuss events throughout The Scarlet Letter and their implications and meanings

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

About the Man 1804-1864 Salem, Massachusetts Descended from

prominent Puritan family Inherited guilt Solid accomplishment Great guilt

Ancestor: William Hathorne

Married Sophia Peabody Strength and nobility Reflected in Hester

Prynne

Nathaniel Hawthorne

First Great American “Pro author” First psychological novel Redemption, sin 4,000 copies of The

Scarlet Letter sold in the first 10 days

Works Novels Short Stories He believed that evil was

a dominant force in the world

fiction expressed a gloomy version of human affairs

“The Scarlet Letter is powerfully written but my writings do not, nor ever will, appeal to the broadest class of sympathies, and therefore will not obtain a very wide popularity.”

-Hawthorne, after finishing the novel

The ROMANTIC HAWTHORNE

• Literary Movement known as Romanticism• concern

themselves with the soul,

• stress emotions over reason,

• and show passions and inner struggles

• Hawthorne is haunted by what is obscure, dangerous, and the confines of good and evil, and social relations

• All Hawthorne’s work is one form or another of “handling sin”

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

SUBDIVISION OF ROMANTICISM: GOTHIC LITERATURE, the “dark romantics”(1800-1850)

-use of supernatural -motif of double (both good and evil in characters; sin and evil does exist) -depression, dark forests -emphasis on symbolism

The Scarlet Letter

Published 1850Set in 17th Century

Boston—about 1690Puritan code of lifeMain characters

Hester Prynne Pearl Prynne Arthur Dimmesdale Roger Chillingworth

Spans 7 year periodThe Scarlet Letter as

a SATIRE

The Scarlet Letter

Plot Love triangle: wife-lover-husband

Struggle: good versus evil Characters’ souls at stake

Suspense Will identities of lover and husband be revealed? How will identities be revealed?

Psychological movement: quest for revenge

THEOCRACY

word comes from Greektheo = Godcratos = rulea theocracy is a government where the civil laws are based (in whole or in part) on religious laws; civil leaders in theocracies are probably also important religious leaders

The Scarlet Letter

Structure Innovative form Instead of ongoing chronicle of events

Series of separate, fully-realized chapters Interspersed with expository chapters

Novel begins in media res Action already occurred Characters facing consequences

The Scarlet Letter

Point of View (POV) Omniscient Author reveals inner and outer characters Asides

Social criticism History Psychology

All characters in constant state of change

Theocracy Act of adultery not important Consequences of adultery more important

The “scarlet letter” of the novel’s title refers to a scarlet letter “A” that the novel’s main character is made to wear on her clothing

as punishment for her crime of adultery.

Hester Prynne

Novel’s heroineAdultererFirst strong female

character in American literature

Major Characters

Pearl

Hester’s daughter Illegitimate child Product of adultery

Precious to her mother

Intelligent, imaginative

Major Characters

Arthur DimmesdaleReverendLooked to as leader

of communityPopular and

admired

Major Characters

Roger Chillingworth

ScholarDoctorSketchy

Major Characters

Themes

Effects of Sin and Possibility of Redemption Psychological and social consequences of sin Characters’ processes of redemption

Applies to: Hester Dimmesdale Chillingworth

Secondary Effect: Insight into the Hearts of Others

Themes

Hypocrisy Conflict between

outer appearance and inner reality

Depicted in Hester’s relationship with community

Illustrated in portrayals of Dimmesdale and Chillingworth

Other Noticeable Themes Guilt Revenge Human frailty and

Sin Pride Love Vs. hate Fate vs. Free Will Alienation

Conflicts

Man versus Society

Man versus Man

Man versus Self

Symbols

The Scarlet Letter Central symbol of novel Meaning changes as characters change

The Scaffold Public exposure of private since Redemption through confession

Elements of Nature Good and evil Forest is changeable symbol for both

Symbols

Irony

Dramatic Irony Controls novel Readers know something about a character the other

characters do not If characters knew what readers know, plot would be ruined

Situational Irony Central to novel’s action Contrast between intention of an action and its result Expectations aroused by situation are reversed

Verbal Irony Say one thing and mean another Throughout novel

What happens when a private sin becomes a public crime?