The Scarlet Letter as a puritan novel

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The Scarlet Letter as a puritan novel

Name: Ranjan P. Velari

Class: M.A. Sem.3

Paper No.: 10 (The American Literature)

Year: 2014-16

Enrollment No.: 14101032

Email Id: ranjanvelari@gmail.com

Guidance: Heenaba Zala

Submitted to:    Smt.S.B.Gardi

                          Department of English

                          M.K. Bhavnagar University

Topic: The Scarlet Letter as a puritan novel

Introduction about Nathaniel Hawthorne:

Nathaniel Hawthorne was born in Massachusetts. His first work published in 1828, a novel titled Fanshawe. The Scarlet Letter was published in 1850. He published collection of short stories in 1837 named Twice-Told Tales. Centre area of his writing is New England and his work reflects moral allegories with puritan inspiration.

Nathaniel Hawthorne has deep bonds with his puritan ancestors. The Scarlet Letter shows his attitude towards these puritans of Boston in his portrayal of characters, plot and story. 

How can we define the term ‘Puritan’?

A member of a group of English Protestants who in the 1500s and 1600s advocated strict religious discipline along with simplification of the ceremonies and creeds of the church of England.

Puritan means a person who is very strict in religious practice or moral outlook, especially someone who regards pleasure or luxury as sinful.

Man and Salvation:

Calvinists were a very introspective lot who constantly searched their souls for evidence that they were God’s Elect. The Elect were people chosen by God for salvation. According to Puritans, a merciful God had sent his son, Jesus Christ, to earth to die for the sins of man but only a few would be saved. The rest, known as the “unregenerate”, would be damned eternally.

For this reason, The New England Primer (1683),which was used to teach reading in Puritan schools, began with “A: In Adam’s fall/ we sinned all.” Most Puritans could be sure of eternal punishment in hell; the few that were ‘elect’ would go to heaven. Here we can give the example of “Paradise Lost” by John Milton that God denied to Eve and Adam that not to eat knowledge of fruit though they ate and then God gave punishment to them. It is the original sin of Eve and Adam. May be they overtake the power of God and do these things. 

In the novel where is the puritan aspect shown by Nathaniel Hawthorne?

Church and State:

Here in this novel patriarchal society represented by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Male members were chance to get vote. Minister selected the elected officials of the colony then there is a tie between church and state. The scarlet letter presented two branches of government, Mr. Roger Wilson (church) and Governor Bellingham (state) came. Puritan rules came from the Bible with spiritual and ethical standards.

There is a little space for individualism and society built by the puritans was very stern and repressive. At that time there is difference between public knowledge and private actions. Characters like Dimmesdale and Chillingworth both “sinners” for their part in this drama are presented members of repressive community, while character of Hester is an outcast because publicly she done wrong thing.

The good women of the colony discuss the community good that could be realized if they were in charge of public punishment. In the first scaffold scene in chapter 2, punishment described and they badly treated Hester Prynne. They put the brand of a hot iron on her forehead. One woman has brought shame that, “This woman has brought shame upon us all, and ought to die.”

The role of women contributed as well as housewives and child bearers. Always women treated as this way in society. Hester Prynne give birth to a baby child is not her husband’s child but lover’s child. So at this time things reveals as the crime and society give punishment to this crime. But women were found guilty of this kind of crime; men on the other hand were normally handed down a less severe punishment. For Dimmesdale there is no any difference because he hides behind his deeds and suffers in silence. He opposite of what puritan men should be like: headstrong. Hester who suffers a lot for her crime but Dimmesdale not suffers because society always blames women.

Three Scaffold Scenes in The Scarlet Letter:

The three scaffold scenes are most important in the novel to understand puritan society. This scene covers Hester’s crime and punishment. “A” is a symbol of adultery and “A” on Hester Prynne’s bosom.

 The first Scaffold scene begins with when Hester stands with an instant in her arms on the scaffold midday. People mock her and they stands below to the platform. Civil officers, magistrates and priests stand above on a balcony. The leaders of the community- Governor Bellingham, the Reverend Mr. John Wilson and the young priest Arthur Dimmesdale force Hester to reveal the name of her partner.

Hester stands alone in the world with the symbol of her sin. Character of Hester portrays here with pride. Whatever situation comes for her she must accept because there is no another way to escape from reality. The symbol of “A” compared as a meteor or angel. Dimmesdale asks Hester and Pearl to join him on the scaffold, but Pearl suggests that he should stand with there in the daylight next day. It is the symbol of his guilt. The light of the meteor also reveals Roger Chillingworth standing near scaffold.

Dimmesdale is not yet completely to apologize his sin and Chillingworth standing below the platform and gazing at the threesome in the glow of strange light. This is the scene of third scaffold. The final scaffold scene is denouement of the story. At that time every people’s attention towards the scarlet letter. It is the Election Day; a public holiday and many strangers are also among the crowd in the market place. Gazing by people is burning sensation in her bosom.

In the first scene, he wanted to know the name of Hester’s fellow-sinner. In the second scene, the suspicion about his identity turned into a conviction. And now, with the minister who is about to reveal his secret to the crowd.

Puritan Mindset reflected in The Scarlet Letter:

The novel is all about secrets and thoughts of characters. It’s through puritan society mirrored. When Hester live in a forest it is a kind of “shelter” for herald for members of society in need of a refuge from daily puritan life. Forest is symbolically puts by Nathaniel Hawthorne that it is dark and deep and characters brings forth hidden thoughts and emotions. Sometimes it is a sign of wilderness and vanishes of civilization. In puritan society women and man cannot open up their own ideas but here is a paradox that Dimmesdale openly acknowledge Hester and his unifying love for her. Hester is far away from puritan society places because she lives in forest and it provides freedom and independent spirit. Forest is an umbrella of security, where Hester lives freely. 

Puritan society believes that self-reliance is more important and no necessity for a “shoulder to cry on”. Dimmesdale told Hester that “Be thou strong for me.” And told her that “advise me what to do.” So, this plea come an interesting sort of role-reversal. When Dimmesdale asks for this help, status of Hester already rise and superior than Dimmesdale. But may be puritans would not accept this reality and emotional attachment of Dimmesdale because society is socially constructed. Puritan society can be harsh and crippling to one’s inner self.

The Scarlet Letter presented theme like revenge, bravery, boldness and also sin, crime and punishment. Character of Dimmesdale and Hester Prynne, both are the victim of puritan mindset. Through puritan society shame imposed in the character of Hester because according to society she is a sinner and that’s why she punished by society and tagged with symbol of “A”- it is for adultery. According to Bible it is illegal activity, against law and religion. This relationship of Hester and Dimmesdale is unethical relationship.

 Governor of society not think about little Hester’s child Pearl also, and attempt to remove Pearl’s from Hester’s care. When Hester goes to the governor’s mansion to plead to him and others for her light to her daughters care. Bellingham states, “woman, it is thy badge of shame!” replied the stern magistrates. It is because of the stain which that “letter indicates, that we would transfer thy child into other hands.”

“Her prison-door was thrown open, and she came forth into the sunshine, which falling on all alike, seemed to her sick and morbid heart, as if meant for no other purpose than to reveal the scarlet letter on her breast.” 

Hester’s fight to resist the stain the society she lives in attempts to leave enforces her shameful relationship with society. Society bound Hester to this symbol of “A” and controls her. Though she is a victim of oppression but refuses to allow puritan society to control her life because of her sin. 

She speaks to the public sermon: when nearly demanded to reveal the “co-sinner” to her crime, Hester criticizes Wilson and Dimmesdale by saying that “and my child must seek a Heavenly father; she shall never anyone.” She does not oppose all puritan morals and strong believer of God. When she arrives at the governor mansion she states, 

“Nevertheless, this badge hath taught me- it daily teaches me- it is teaching me at this moment lessons whereof my child may be wiser and better.”

Conclusion:

We conclude this point both side that one side Hester stands alone in puritan society and proves that she can fight for her own wishes and desires for the sake of her daughter Pearl. And other side we can say that according to puritan society it is a crime that’s why she punished. In short character of Hester present individual thought and free will. Because her husband not gives her to time that’s why she goes with Dimmesdale. We cannot give fault to Hester’s character. Every character in this novel presents mentality of puritan, inner side of human mind and public relation.

Work Cited
https://www.novelguide.com/scarlet-letter
http://www.teenink.com/reviews/book_reviews/article/1413/The-Scarlet-Letter/
http://www.newhistorian.com/the-scarlet-letter-a-criticism-of-puritan-beliefs/27/
http://www.bachelorandmaster.com/britishandamericanfiction/scarlet-letter.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathaniel_Hawthorne



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