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1) Introduction: a) Nathaniel Hawthorne's background influenced him to write the bold novel The Scarlet Letter. i) One important influence on the story is money. (1) Hawthorne had never made much money as an author. (2) Birth of his first daughter added to the financial burden. (3) He received a job at the Salem Custom House only to lose it three years later and be forced to write again to support his family (4) Consequently, The Scarlet Letter was published a year later) Another influence on the story is Hawthorne's rejection of his ancestors. (1) His forefathers were strict Puritans, and John Hawthorne, his great-great-grandfather, was a judge presiding during the Salem witch trials. (2) Hawthorne did not condone their acts and actually spent a great deal of his life renouncing the Puritans in general (a) For example, before Hester emerges from the prison she is being scorned by a group of women who feel that she deserves a larger punishment than she actually receives. Instead of only being made to stand on the scaffold and wear the scarlet letter on her chest, they suggest that she have it branded on her forehead or even be put to death. iii) Perhaps the most important influence on the story is the authors interest in the dark side (1) Unlike the transcendentalists of the era, Hawthorne confronted reality, rather than evading it (2) The Scarlet Letter deals with adultery, a subject that caused much scandal when it was first published. (3) The book revolves around sin and punishment, a far outcry from writers of the time, such as Emerson and Thoreau, who dwelt on optimistic themes b) This background, together with a believable plot, convincing characterization, and important literary devices enables Nathaniel Hawthorne in The Scarlet Letter to the develop the theme of the heart as a prison. 2) a) The scaffold scenes are the most substantial situations in the story because they unify The Scarlet Letter in two influential ways. i) First of all, every scaffold scene reunites the main characters of the novel. ii) Another way in which the scenes are united is how each illustrates the immediate, delayed, and prolonged effects that the sin of adultery has on the main characters.
iii) The main characters sharply contrast each other in the way they react to Hester and Dimmesdales sin. iv) The novel revolves around two major symbols: light and darkness and the scarlet letter. (1) The book is filled with light and darkness symbols because it represents the most common battle of all time, good versus evil. 3) Conclusion: a) This background, together with a believable plot, convincing characterization, and important literary devices enables Nathaniel Hawthorne in The Scarlet Letter to the develop the theme of the heart as alison. i) Hawthorne describes the purpose of the novel when he says, Betrue! Be true! Be true! Show freely to the world, if not your worse, yet some trait whereby the worst may be inferred!
ii) The theme is beneficial because it can be put into terms in todays world. iii) The Scarlet Letter is one of the few books that will be timeless, because it deals with alienation, sin, punishment, and guilt, emotions that will continue to be felt by every generation to come.
Free research essays on topics related to: literary devices, important influence, nathaniel hawthorne, scarlet letter, main characters
Research essay sample on Nathaniel Hawthorne Scarlet Letter
