The Scarlet Letter

1
The Scarlet Letter

• Alice, Nancy, Sally, Sylvia

American Lit. I Cecilia H. C. Liu 13th Dec. 2004
2
Outline

• Discussion Questions
• Background Information
• Romance, Reality, Ethics
• Symbolism in The Scarlet Letter
• Ironies from the Aspect of Religion in The
  Scarlet Letter
• Works Cited

3
Puritanism in New England

• Definitions
• Beliefs
• Covenant between God and his elect
• Church Membership

4
Events in Salem

• Samuel Parris
• Elizabeth, Betty, Abigail Willams, Tituba
• Ann Putnam, Mercy Lewis
• Tituba, Sarah Good, Sarah Osborne

5
Causes for the Outbreak of Witchcraft Hysteria in
Salem

• Strong belief that Satan is acting in the world.
  
• A belief that Satan recruits witches and wizards
  to work for him.
• A belief that a person afflicted by witchcraft
  exhibits certain symptoms.
• A time  of troubles, making it seem likely that
  Satan was active.

6
Causes for the Outbreak of Witchcraft Hysteria in
Salem 2

• Stimulation of imaginations by Tituba.
• Teenage boredom.
• Magistrates and judges receptive to accusations
  of witchcraft.
• Confessing "witches" adding credibility to
  earlier charges.

7
How the Hysteria Ended

• Doubts began to grow when the respected citizens
  are convicted and executed.
• Accusations of witchcraft include both the
  powerful and well-connected.
• The educated elites of Boston pressured Gov.
  Phips to exclude spectral evidences.
• Gov. Phips disbandment of the Court of Oyer and
  Terminer.

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Romance, Reality and Ethics
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Morality

• Hester was morally wrong in her act, but was
  morally right in the acceptance of her wrong.
• Dimmesdale was morally wrong in his act, but in
  keeping this enormous secret from the community,
  the town of Salem, was better off, for the good
  of the community.
• In the beginning Roger Chillingworth seems not
  to be in the wrong, but in the end he became the
  most immoral one of all.

10
Romance

• Psychological Romance
• Human alienation and its effects on the soul.
• Doubt and self-torture.
• Rebellion and defiance in the face of repressive
  laws

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Romance 2

• Gothic Romance Gothic Elements
• A manuscript and a scarlet letter
• Besides magic, often Gothic stories have castles
• A crime, often illicit love.
• Nature darkness, shadows and moonlight

12
Reality vs. Perception

• Throughout the novel, the scaffold and forest
  show up in the book and represent many different
  things. Their primary function, however, is to
  provide a driving wedge between those who
  recognize reality, like Hester and Dimmesdale,
  and those who only see what they want to see. In
  contrast, Pearl is the only one among them all
  that stays innocent and does not know what was
  going on.

13
Symbolism in The Scarlet Letter

• symbol-In literature, a symbol is most often a
  concrete object used to represent an idea more
  abstract and broader in scope and meaning---
  often a moral, religious, or philosophical
  concept or value.
• allegory(??,??)-An allegory in literature is a
  story where characters, objects, and events have
  a hidden meaning and are used to present some
  universal lesson.
• Hawthorne has a perfect atmosphere for the
  symbols in The Scarlet Letter because the
  Puritans saw the world through allegory.

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Symbolism in The Scarlet Letter

• Hawthorne uses his characters as symbols,
  disclosing the grim underside of Puritanism that
  hides under the public piety.
• Some of Hawthornes symbols change their meaning,
  depending on the context, and some are static.
• e.g. static symbols Reverend Mr. Wilson
  (church), Governor Bellingham (the State)
• changed symbols the characters, the
  scarlet A

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Symbols The Characters

• 1. Hester---
• the public sinner who changes and learns from her
  own sorrow to understand the humanity of others
• seen as a fallen woman, a culprit who deserves
  the ignominy of her immoral choice
• over the seven years of punishment, her inner
  struggle
• victim of Puritan branding---gt a decisive woman
  in tune with human nature
• her sensitivity with societys victim turns her
  symbolic meaning
• a person whose life was originally twisted
  repressed ---gt a strong sensitive woman with
  respect for the humanity of others

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Symbols The Characters 2

• 2. Dimmesdale---
• a secret sinner who fights the good fight in his
  soul and eventually wins.
• Inside him, a storm rages between holiness
  self-torture, unable to reveal his sin
• A symbol of hypocrisy and self-centered
  intellectualism
• Sin and its acknowledgement to humanize
  Dimmesdale

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Symbols The Characters 3

• 3. Pearl---
• the scarlet letter in the flesh, a reminder of
  Hesters sin, a sin redeemed
• Dimmesdale the freedom of a broken law
• Hester the living hieroglyphic of their sin
• the community the result of the devils work
• not only a sin but a vital spirit and passion
  that endangered that sin, a blessing to Hester

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Symbols The Characters 4

• 4. Chillingworth---
• A symbol of devil and intellect without human
  compassion
• compared to a snake, an allusion to the Garden
  of Eden
• fiendish, evil, intent on revenge
• awakens the distrust of the Puritan community
  and recognition of Pearl
• loses his reason to live after Dimmesdales
  confession

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Symbols The Scarlet AA sign of adultery,
penitence(??)

• In the 2nd scaffold scene, the scarlet A in the
  sky
• The community
• The dying Governor Winthrop has become an angel
• Dimmesdale a sign of his own secret sin. For
  instance, the letter A on Hesters bosom
  represents as a mark of just punishment and a
  symbol to deter others from sin ---gt represents
  Able or Angel

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SymbolsLight and Color

• Darkness in the forest/jailguilt, Chillingworth,
  punishment
• Night timea symbol of concealment
• Noon time of confession
• Sunlight/daylight a symbol of exposure
• Red the letter, the scarlet woman,
  Chillingworths eyes, streak of the meteor
• Black gray the Puritans, gloom, death, sin,
  the path of righteousness through the forest of
  sin
• (Chap. 5,11,12)

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Symbols The Settings

• The Puritan village sin, punishment,
  self-examination
• The collective community the rigid Puritan point
  view with absolute obedience to the law
• The forest
• a. Natural world, opposed to the artificial,
  Puritan community
• b. A moral wilderness for Hester
• c. World of darkness and evil
• d. A symbol of mans temptation

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Ironies in The Scarlet Letter

• ---From the Aspect of Religion

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The Top 10 Ironical Elements in SC

• People treat ministers as if they are saints or
  God, but the actual fact is that those ministers
  are also human, just as sinful as they are.
• People (including Chillingworth, Wilson and the
  townsman) consider that Hester Prynne is a
  sinner, as they continuously criticize her for
  her sin of adultery, when those people are as
  well sinful as herself.

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The Top 10 Ironical Elements in SC 2

• They claim themselves Puritans, especially
  Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale, but could not really
  believe the power of Gods forgiveness, with
  their minds full of doubts and questions.
• Throughout the novel, Hester Prynne, or Mr.
  Dimmesdale, neither of them has asked God for
  forgiveness, but only showed fright and anxiety
  in their hearts, and do not choose to pray and
  ask for it

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The Top 10 Ironical Elements in SC 3

• Mr. Dimmesdale, when he announced and proclaimed
  his sins, acted as if he had the right to sin, in
  front of all his peoples.
• The meeting of the witch-lady with the minister,
  suggest that the minister does not have the
  ability to ask God to send him away from
  temptations.
• Ministers do not put their trust in God when they
  realize their sins, but ask common people to help
  them.

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The Top 10 Ironical Elements in SC 4

• The irony of the freedom from one sin at one
  time, does not mean that sins would leave him
  forever.
• The disappearance of sins is by forgetting and
  not asking for forgiveness
• The disorder of the power of God and religious
  leaders, particularly when people asked the
  ministers to forgive their sins rather than God.

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Examples 1

• Ch3 B1369/ 48-49 The Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale bent
  his head, . . . cup that is now presented to
  thy lips!
• Ch11 B1410/98-99 It is inconceivable, . . .
  am utterly a pollution and a lie!
• Ch 2 B1360/ 38 People say, . . . so walk
  the streets as brave as ever!
• Ch2 B1362/ 40 Make way, . . . and show your
  scarlet letter in the market-place!
• Ch3 B1366/ 45 It behooves him well, . . . to
  wear a mark of shame upon her bosom,

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Examples 2

• Ch 14 B1426 / 118 I must reveal the secret, .
  . . There is no path to guide us out of this
  dismal maze!
• Ch 17 B1436/ 130-31 You wrong yourself in this,
  . . . all emptiness!all death!
• Ch11 B1411/ 99-100 His inward trouble drove . .
  . under the lock and key.
• Ch 12 B1412-13 /102 And thus, while standing on
  the scaffold, . . . and were bandying it to
  and fro.

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Examples 3

• Ch 23 B1468 / 170-71 Madman, hold! . . .
  that there was a feeble smile upon his lips.
• Ch 23 B1469-70 /172 With a convulsive motion .
  . . out of which the life seemed to have
  departed.
• Ch 17 B1439/ 134 The judgment . . . what to
  do.
• Ch 20 B1451-52/ 150 So, reverend Sir, you have
  made a visit into the forest, . . . we shall
  have other talk together!

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Examples 4

• Ch 24 B1473-74 / 177-78 She assured them, too,
  . . . by the truest test of a life successful
  to such an end!
• Ch 18 B1441/ 137-38 So, speaking, . . .
  sinkings of the heart, and unaccountable
  misfortune.
• Ch 17 B1437/ 132 I might have known . . .
  Thou shalt forgive!

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More Information

• To see more information, click here to see the
  complete list of the irony examples illustrated
  in The Scarlet Letter.

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Biblical Passages

• Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the
  time my mother conceived me. (Psalm 515)
• God, have mercy on me, a sinner. (Luke 1813)
• As for you, you were dead in your transgressions
  and sins, in which you used to live when you
  followed the ways of this world and of the ruler
  of the kingdom of the air.

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Biblical Passages 2

• If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just
  and will forgive us our sin and purify us from
  all unrighteousness. (1 John 19)
• For it is with your heart that you believe and
  are justified, and it is with your mouth that you
  confess and are saved. (Romans 1010)

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Biblical Passages 3

• And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us
  from the evil. (Matthew 613)
• No temptation has seized you except what is
  common to men. And God is faithful he will not
  let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But
  when you are tempted, he will also provide a way
  out so you can stand up under it. (1 Corinthians
  1013)

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Works Cited

• Cliffnotes The Fastest Way to Learn.
  http//www.cliffsnotes.com/WileyCDA/LitNote/id-167
  .html
• Classic Note on The Scarlet Letter.
  http//www.gradesaver.com/ClassicNotes/Titles/thes
  carletletter/
• Introduction to Hester and Pearl in The Scarlet
  Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne Hawthorne in
  Salem. http//www.hawthorneinsalem.org/Literature/
  HawthorneWomen/ScarletLetter/Introduction.html

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Works Cited 2

• To Be My Own Human Child Parenting and Romance
  Hawthorne and the Culture of the Family Panel
  ALA, May 2003. Hawthorne in Salem.
  http//www.hawthorneinsalem.org/ScholarsForum/
• MMD2037.html
• Themes, Motifs and Symbols SparkNotes.
  http//www.sparknotes.com/lit/scarlet/themes.html
• The Morality Issue
• http//www.123student.com/english/1916.shtml
• Symbolism. http//www.123student.com/english/191
  3.shtml
• The Holy Bible. NIV version. Zondervan Bible
  Publishers. Grand Rapids Michigan, 1988.
• Linder, Douglass. An Account of Events in Salem.
  http//www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/s
  alem/SAL_ACCT.HTM

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Discussion Questions Repression vs. Freedom
Appearance vs. Reality Hierarchies of Evil

• How is SL a novel about betrayal? Who betrays
  who?
• Consider Dimmesdale and Chillingsworth. Are
  "good" intentions justification for presenting a
  false face to the world?
• Consider the character of Chillingsworth. His
  words have the crystal ring of truth, yet the man
  is evil and insidious. Are we to trust his
  judgements, even though we distrust the man? Put
  another way, are we to take scripture on faith
  when the devil quotes it for his own use?
• Consider the essential elements of Romanticism.
  Romantics believed that mans essential nature
  would lead to a happier state. Yet in Hester,
  Chillingsworth, and Dimmesdale Hawthorne comments
  on the nature of, and the dangers of, following
  an uninstructed conscience. What is it that he is
  suggesting?

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Discussion Questions 2 Law vs. nature Sin and
Redemption Appearance vs. Reality Hierarchies of
Evil

• Consider Hester, Chillingsworth, and Dimmesdale.
  Who has the greatest sin? Why?
• How do Hawthornes use of light and dark, and his
  use of place, help frame the conflicts and
  characters in SL?
• Hester Prynne considers herself a morally
  superior individual standing in defiance of
  society. She also considers herself a contrite
  woman who is atoning in some way for her
  transgressions. Find evidence for both in the
  first 10 chpts of The Scarlet Letter, then
  present the best evidence for which
  interpretation you think is more accurate.
• Some critics have called Pearl "half child and
  half symbol." Find the best examples in the text
  to support that characterization.