In the quintessential Hawthorne manner, 17th century, Puritan Boston comes alive in the pages of The Scarlet Letter. One need not read far into the novel to realize that Hawthorne’s intent is to concern the reader with the lives and relationships of the central characters, Hester Prynne, the Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, Roger Chillingworth, and Hester’s daughter, Pearl. The fact that Hawthorne draws less attention to the Puritan leaders and their government, suggests to the reader that he may approve less of them than those who have been labeled as sinners and law-breakers.
“’My theory is,’ Hawthorne told a friend, ‘that there is less indelicacy in speaking out your highest, deepest, tenderest emotions to the world at large, than to almost any individual. You may be mistaken in the individual; but you cannot be mistaken in thinking that, somewhere among your fellow-creatures, there is a heart that will receive yours into itself.’” (Wineapple)
I fine Hawthorne’s comment very interesting. In the midst of taunting Puritan religion and tradition, Hawthorne also finds a way to share with us the inner most thoughts, emotions, and struggles of one individual who finds herself a victim of Puritan society.
In 1850, The Scarlet Letter was received with much acclaim, selling 4,500 copies almost immediately. What is it about Hester Prynne’s plight that intrigued the 19th century reader then and the 21st century reader now?
You will develop your own impressions of Hawthorne’s protagonist as you read deeper into the novel. Meanwhile, explore the ideas posed by noted Hawthorne Biographer, Brenda Wineapple, as published in the June 2008 issue of History & Now. Develop 2-3 of her ideas concerning the reader’s fascination with Hester Prynne as you respond in a 75-100 word paragraph. Post your comment by 7:00 AM, October 1st.
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