Nathaniel Hawthorne and The Scarlet Letter. NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE July 4, 1804: Born in Salem, MA July 4, 1804: Born in Salem, MA Education - Bowdoin College

Nathaniel Hawthorne Nathaniel Hawthorne and and The Scarlet LetterThe Scarlet Letter

NATHANIEL HAWTHORNENATHANIEL HAWTHORNE

July 4, 1804: Born in Salem, MAJuly 4, 1804: Born in Salem, MA Education - Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Education - Bowdoin College in Brunswick,

MaineMaine 1842 - Married Sophia Peabody1842 - Married Sophia Peabody

3 Children3 Children Job at Custom House 1839-40, 46-49Job at Custom House 1839-40, 46-49 1850 – 1850 – Scarlet LetterScarlet Letter published published Moved to England, France, and Rome after Moved to England, France, and Rome after

SalemSalem 1864 - Died1864 - Died

NATHANIEL HAWTHORNENATHANIEL HAWTHORNE

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

-Hawthorne, after finishing the -Hawthorne, after finishing the novelnovel

HISTORICAL CONTEXTHISTORICAL CONTEXT


1570-1650: Early Colonial period-1570-1650: Early Colonial period- Puritan writings, no distinctive Puritan writings, no distinctive American literatureAmerican literature

1750-1800: Later Colonial 1750-1800: Later Colonial period-period- Age of Age of Reason/Enlightenment Reason/Enlightenment (Neoclassicism, Rationalism)(Neoclassicism, Rationalism)


1800-1850: American 1800-1850: American Renaissance/ Romanticism-Renaissance/ Romanticism- slave slave narratives, inner feelings, the burden narratives, inner feelings, the burden of a Puritan past, the rejection of of a Puritan past, the rejection of NeoclassicismNeoclassicism

TranscendentalismTranscendentalism was a part of was a part of this…this…


TRANSCENDENTALISMTRANSCENDENTALISM Boston-centered movement, led by Emerson, Boston-centered movement, led by Emerson,

was an important force in New England circleswas an important force in New England circles Human existence transcends the sensory Human existence transcends the sensory

realmrealm Formalism in favor of individual responsibilityFormalism in favor of individual responsibility Belief in individual choice and consequenceBelief in individual choice and consequence Focus on the positiveFocus on the positive


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

-use of supernatural-use of supernatural

-motif of double (both good and evil in-motif of double (both good and evil in

characters; sin and evil does exist)characters; sin and evil does exist)

-depression, dark forests-depression, dark forests

-Poe, Hawthorne, Melville-Poe, Hawthorne, Melville

-emphasis on symbolism -emphasis on symbolism

LITERARY ELEMENTSLITERARY ELEMENTS

CharactersCharactersMoodMoodSettingSettingPlot Plot SymbolismSymbolismThemesThemes

LITERARY LITERARY ELEMENTS:CHARACTERSELEMENTS:CHARACTERS

Hester Prynne-Hester Prynne- protagonist, married protagonist, married to Chillingworth, adultery with to Chillingworth, adultery with DimmesdaleDimmesdale


Arthur Dimmesdale-Arthur Dimmesdale- pastor, pastor, intense suffering, tragic figureintense suffering, tragic figure

Roger Chillingworth-Roger Chillingworth- physician, physician, old, evil, deformed, diabolical old, evil, deformed, diabolical vengeance on Dimmesdalevengeance on Dimmesdale

Pearl-Pearl- beautiful daughter, beautiful daughter, sometimes imp-like, rebellious, sometimes imp-like, rebellious, inquisitiveinquisitive


Gov. Bellingham-Gov. Bellingham- based on actual based on actual governor of Bostongovernor of Boston

John Wilson-John Wilson- eldest clergyman, eldest clergyman, based on actual English ministerbased on actual English minister

Mistress Hibbins-Mistress Hibbins- based on figure based on figure executed for witchcraft, appears to executed for witchcraft, appears to know a great deal about the adulteryknow a great deal about the adultery

LITERARY ELEMENTS: LITERARY ELEMENTS: MOODMOOD

SOMBER and DARK SOMBER and DARK well-defined from the beginningwell-defined from the beginning

““sad-colored garmentssad-colored garments” of spectators, ” of spectators, the prison door which is “the prison door which is “heavily heavily timbered and studded with iron timbered and studded with iron spikesspikes””

LITERARY ELEMENTS: LITERARY ELEMENTS: SETTINGSETTING

1717thth century century Puritanical New Puritanical New England (Mass.)England (Mass.)

What was America like What was America like then?then?


1630: Massachusetts Colony founded by 1630: Massachusetts Colony founded by Puritans Puritans

John Winthrop: first governorJohn Winthrop: first governor governed based on religious and civic idealsgoverned based on religious and civic ideals

People were hardworking and devotedPeople were hardworking and devoted PURITANISMPURITANISM involved belief that the church involved belief that the church

of England was too much influenced by the of England was too much influenced by the Catholic churchCatholic church Strict moral code on which people were expected Strict moral code on which people were expected

to act and be judged uponto act and be judged upon Rejected belief that divine authority is channeled Rejected belief that divine authority is channeled

through any one single person (i.e. the pope)through any one single person (i.e. the pope) THEOCRACYTHEOCRACY- state governed by the church- state governed by the church


What aspects of this type of religious society can be seen in The Scarlet Letter? What evidence from the text points to that?What evidence from the text points to that?

How does Hawthorne view this type of society? What evidence from the text points to that?What evidence from the text points to that?

The Custom House The Custom House

THINKING ABOUT WHAT THINKING ABOUT WHAT YOU’VE READ…..YOU’VE READ…..

Literary Element: PlotLiterary Element: Plot

Chapters 1-8Chapters 1-8 How does Hawthorne want the How does Hawthorne want the

reader to feel about happens to reader to feel about happens to Hester Prynne in the opening Hester Prynne in the opening chapters?chapters? What evidence from the text points to What evidence from the text points to

that?that?

““One the breast of her One the breast of her gown, in fine red cloth, gown, in fine red cloth,

surrounded with an surrounded with an elaborate embroidery and elaborate embroidery and

fantastic flourishes of fantastic flourishes of gold thread, appeared the gold thread, appeared the

letter A.”letter A.”

The PunishmentThe Punishment

Chapters 1-8Chapters 1-8““He was small in stature, with a furrowed He was small in stature, with a furrowed

visage which, as yet, could hardly be visage which, as yet, could hardly be termed aged. There was a remarkable termed aged. There was a remarkable intelligence in his features, as of a person intelligence in his features, as of a person who had so cultivated his mental part that who had so cultivated his mental part that it could not fail to mould the physical to it could not fail to mould the physical to itself…one of this man’s shoulders rose itself…one of this man’s shoulders rose higher than the other.”higher than the other.”

Whom does Hester recognize in the Whom does Hester recognize in the crowd?crowd?

How does she feel about it?How does she feel about it?

Chapters 9-15Chapters 9-15

How does Dimmesdale really feel How does Dimmesdale really feel about his role in the community?about his role in the community? What evidence from the text supports What evidence from the text supports

your response?your response? What are the differences between What are the differences between

Hester and Dimmesdale at the end, Hester and Dimmesdale at the end, with her outward punishment and his with her outward punishment and his inward punishment?inward punishment? What evidence from the text supports What evidence from the text supports

your response?your response?



Wood engraving by Barry Wood engraving by Barry Moser for the Pennyroyal Press Moser for the Pennyroyal Press from the January 1991 edition from the January 1991 edition of the of the Essex Institute Historical Essex Institute Historical

Collection.Collection.

Moser's image Moser's image shows Arthur shows Arthur Dimmesdale with Dimmesdale with his eyes his eyes downcastdowncast and the scar of an and the scar of an "A""A" clearly visible clearly visible on his chest.”on his chest.”

““..Though he were to step down from ..Though he were to step down from a high place, and stand beside thee a high place, and stand beside thee

on thy on thy pedestal of shamepedestal of shame, , yet yet better were it so, than to better were it so, than to hide a guilty heart through hide a guilty heart through life.”life.”

To which character does this quote refer?

Chapters 9-15Chapters 9-15 How does How does

Chillingworth’s Chillingworth’s appearance change appearance change over the course of over the course of time?time? What evidence from What evidence from

the text can you find the text can you find to support your to support your answer?answer?

““The Eyes of the Wrinkled Scholar The Eyes of the Wrinkled Scholar Glowed”Glowed” from 1878 edition of the novel from 1878 edition of the novel(Chillingworth called to prison cell as a (Chillingworth called to prison cell as a healer and aid to Hester and Pearl)healer and aid to Hester and Pearl)


When does the climax of the novel When does the climax of the novel occur?occur?Include:Include:

Who – characters involvedWho – characters involvedWhere – place/s involvedWhere – place/s involvedWhen – time frame or frequency When – time frame or frequency What – the things that occurWhat – the things that occurWhy – a reason for the previous four Why – a reason for the previous four

W’sW’s

Chapters 16-24Chapters 16-24 The wearing of the scarlet letter was The wearing of the scarlet letter was

intended to isolate Hester from society. intended to isolate Hester from society. Given the way in which her life ends, Given the way in which her life ends,

did it accomplish what the magistrates did it accomplish what the magistrates intended?intended? What evidence from the text supports your What evidence from the text supports your

response?response?

For Homework Which character deserves the most sympathy from

readers? Why? What evidence from the text supports your response?What evidence from the text supports your response? Include:Include:

Who – characters involvedWho – characters involved Where – place/s involvedWhere – place/s involved When – time frame or frequency When – time frame or frequency What – the things that occurWhat – the things that occur Why – a reason for the previous four W’sWhy – a reason for the previous four W’s

Be prepared to defend your response with Be prepared to defend your response with the class.the class.

SYMBOLISMSYMBOLISM

Discuss the symbolism in the following Discuss the symbolism in the following objects in objects in The Scarlet LetterThe Scarlet Letter. .

What implications are made through What implications are made through the use of these symbols?the use of these symbols?

SYMBOLISMSYMBOLISM

The Prison Gate and the RoseThe Prison Gate and the Rose

“But on one side of the portal, and rooted almost at the threshold, was a wild rosebush, covered, in this month of June, with its delicate gems…This rosebush…has been kept alive in history; but whether it had merely survived out of the stern old wilderness…It may serve, let us hope, to symbolize some sweet moral blossom that may be found along the track, or relieve the darkening close of a tale of human frailty and sorrow.”

SYMBOLISMSYMBOLISM

Hester’s and Pearl’s ClothingHester’s and Pearl’s Clothing“Her own dress was of the coarsest

materials and the most sombre hue; with only that one ornament—the scarlet letter—which it was her doom to wear.”

“The child’s attire, on the other hand, was distinguished by a fanciful, or, we might rather say, a fantastic ingenuity, which served, indeed, to heighten the airy charm that early began to develop itself in the little girl…”

SYMBOLISMSYMBOLISM

PEARL (the name)PEARL (the name)““Her Pearl!—For so had Hester called

her; not as a name expressive of her aspect, which had nothing of the calm, white, unimpassioned lustre that would be indicated by the comparison. But she named the infant “Pearl,” as being of great price—purchased with all she had—her mother’s only treasure!”

SYMBOLISMSYMBOLISMThe A!The A! “It was so artistically done, and with so

much fertility and gorgeous luxuriance of fancy, that it had all the effect of a last and fitting decoration to the apparel which she wore; and which was of a splendor in accordance with the taste of the age, but greatly beyond what was allowed by the sumptuary regulations of the colony.”

“Not a stitch in that embroidered letter, but she has felt it in her heart.”

SYMBOLISMSYMBOLISM

The LeechThe Leech

““He gathered herbs here and there”He gathered herbs here and there”

MAJOR THEMESMAJOR THEMES

Below is a list of ideas that Hawthorne Below is a list of ideas that Hawthorne explores in explores in The Scarlet LetterThe Scarlet Letter. Throughout . Throughout the novel, he develops specific themes the novel, he develops specific themes based on them.based on them.

Society vs. individualitySociety vs. individuality MoralityMorality Sin and GuiltSin and Guilt Isolation Isolation The belief in fate vs. free willThe belief in fate vs. free will

Your Job:Choose the idea that you think you can

write about the best.State the theme that Hawthorne develops

based on that idea.Find three pieces of evidence from the

text of the novel (beginning-middle-end, with pages) that show the development of the theme.

Explain the development of the theme through your examples.

Draw a conclusion about Hawthorne’s development of this theme.

MAJOR THEMESMAJOR THEMES

Your textual evidence must Your textual evidence must include:include:Who – characters involvedWhere – place/s involvedWhen – time frame or frequency What – the things that occurWhy – a reason for the previous four W’s

THE ENDTHE END

Documents

Nathaniel Hawthorne and The Scarlet Letter. NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE July 4, 1804: Born in Salem, MA July 4, 1804: Born in Salem, MA Education - Bowdoin College